Schedule of Events | Symposia

Mindfulness Without Imagery: Mindfulness Interventions for Individuals with Aphantasia

Poster Session B - Sunday, March 30, 2025, 8:00 – 10:00 am EDT, Back Bay Ballroom/Republic Ballroom

Madison Lindsey¹, Alexandra Roach; ¹University of South Carolina Aiken

Aphantasia, the inability to voluntarily conjure mental imagery, poses unique challenges for therapeutic and cognitive interventions that rely on visual or guided imagery. This study specifically examines the effects of mindfulness interventions on individuals with aphantasia. Using a between-subjects remote survey design, the research compares the efficacy of guided imagery mindfulness exercises and sound frequency mindfulness exercises in enhancing mindfulness, emotional regulation, and perceived stress levels. Participants were recruited through online platforms and screened for aphantasia using the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ). Eligible participants were then randomized into one of two conditions: guided imagery mindfulness or sound frequency mindfulness exercises. Each participant completed baseline assessments of mood and perceived stress using the PHQ-9 and GAD-7, which were repeated after the intervention to measure changes. Independent t-tests on pilot data for depression and anxiety scores before and after the intervention suggest a trend towards an advantage of sound frequency mindfulness exercises over guided imagery exercises. Literature shows that those with a low VVIQ scored higher in a video exercise as opposed to a guided imagery audio. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on the cognitive and therapeutic implications of aphantasia, highlighting the need for inclusivity in the design of mindfulness interventions, especially for therapeutic applications.

Topic Area: THINKING: Other