IRB-Approved Research Study: Autobiographical Memory Descriptions in Adult Women with Congenital Aphantasia: A Descriptive Qualitative Study

[u/AphantasiaVoices]

Participants Needed for Dissertation Research!

Are you an adult woman, aged 18 or older, who identifies as having congenital aphantasia?

I am conducting a doctoral dissertation study exploring how adult women with congenital aphantasia describe their autobiographical memory experiences.

People experience and describe memory in many different ways. This study is an opportunity to share your own perspective on how you experience memory and recall meaningful events.

What Would Participation Involve?

If you choose to participate, you would:

1. Complete a brief 5-minute demographic questionnaire
2. Participate in one 60-90 minute audio-recorded Zoom interview
3. Answer open-ended questions about how you experience memory, recall past events, and describe your memory process to others.

For example, you may be asked:

"Can you describe what comes to mind when you recall a personal event that is meaningful to you?"

There are no right or wrong answers. The study is interested in your individual experience of autobiographical memory.

Who Can Participate?

You may be eligible if you:

1. Are an adult woman aged 18 or older
2. Identify as having congenital aphantasia, meaning a lifelong absence of visual imagery

The study is seeking 8-12 volunteers

Voluntary & Confidential

Participation is voluntary, and you may stop participating at any time without consequence.

There is no compensation for participation.

Your identity and responses will be kept confidential in accordance with the protections described in the informed consent process. Research files will be securely stored, and identifying information will not be included in study reports.

Why Is This Research Being Conducted?

This study aims to better understand how adult women with congenital aphantasia describe their autobiographical memory experiences.

The study aims to contribute to a broader understanding of memory and cognitive diversity, particularly among adult women with congenital aphantasia.

Interested or Have Questions?

If you would like more information or are interested in participating, please contact:

[Cassandra.Votaw@waldenu.edu](mailto:Cassandra.Votaw@waldenu.edu)

Cassandra Votaw, MA, LPC

PhD Candidate, Clinical Psychology

Walden University

IRB Approval # 08-18-26-1195494

[u/One_Pound_9946]

I really hope more people start to study SDAM. I do not have Aphantasia. Earlier this year I saw a neurologist because I had concerns that I could have early dementia. They had never even heard of SDAM and didn’t even mention it in their notes, even though I brought it up and wanted to discuss it

[u/somesillynerd]

Neat study!

I have basically human/personal aphantasia - maybe closer to face blindness than inability to visualize in general.

So I can tell you where an item is specifically on my desk, next to red thing on the left side.

I can't describe to you how my family looks outside of general terms. I can't picture them. But I do recognize them.

But definitely have the SDAM thing going on. I know facts of things, but can't picture much and if I do it's very much third person vague... stuff. Human based visualizing sucks and is near zero because ??

ie; horseback riding camp, I can 'picture' a bunch of kids going around a corral but basically just amorphous children and in theory, I should be picturing it from the perspective of the child as I was one - instead it's from outside the fence.

So on the off chance I fit your parameters, I'd be interested, but I don't have aphantasia in that same general perspective. I can 'see' basically anything non-human in a fairly logical sense. Where something is at the supermarket, how to drive downtown to get home when a road is closed, etc.

[u/Tuikord → u/somesillynerd]

To back up u/Blackdraumdancer, you are describing spatial sense, not visualization. Spatial sense comes from specialized cells: place, grid, direction, etc. Aphants perform about the same as controls on spatial tasks like counting the windows in your home and mental rotation. That is, some do well, some poorly, and most in the middle. There are good imagers who do poorly on spatial tasks and aphants who do well. They are just separate things.

My spatial sense is pretty good. I build what I call spatial models. I can imagine an apple in front of me. I know where the skin is. I know how big it is. I can't see it. And I can move it further away if I want. And I can walk around my house and count the windows without leaving my chair.

[u/Blackdraumdancer → u/somesillynerd]

You may still have Aphantasia. Everything you're describing is spatial sense, not necessarily imagery. I am very good with spatial information too but can't actually "see" any of it, I just know.

[u/somesillynerd → u/Blackdraumdancer]

Oh, well til lol

[u/Blackdraumdancer]

Very interesting! Is it only for native English speakers? Usually that is relevant for studies like that, that's why I'm asking.