Aphantasia and its Effects on Spatial Memory and Navigation: A Case Study

Abstract

Spatial memory and navigation rely on multiple cognitive mechanisms including visual imagery and episodic memory. Aphantasia, the inability to generate voluntary visual imagery, provides a unique opportunity to examine how individuals navigate without visual mental maps. This case study investigates how the absence of visual imagery affects spatial memory across both recent and remote environments. Using a framework of topographical disorientation, we examine SD, an individual with aphantasia who has lived in multiple environments. We assessed how environmental familiarity impacts recall of coarse spatial layouts and fine-grained spatial details. A mixed-methods approach was used, combining the Sea Hero Quest (SHQ) task of spatial learning, with a battery of ecologically valid spatial memory tests. SD demonstrated preserved navigation abilities but exhibited difficulties with tasks that require fine-grained spatial details for flexible wayfinding. These findings suggest that visual imagery supports flexible, detailed spatial representations, offering insights into individual differences in navigation.