Beyond visual imagery: How modality-specific is enhanced mental imagery in synesthesia?

摘要

Synesthesia based in visual modalities has been associated with reports of vivid visualudimagery. We extend this finding to consider whether other forms of synesthesia are alsoudassociated with enhanced imagery, and whether this enhancement reflects the modality ofudsynesthesia. We used self‐report imagery measures across multiple sensory modalities,udcomparing synesthetes’ responses (with a variety of forms of synesthesia) to those of nonsynestheteudmatched controls. Synesthetes reported higher levels of visual, auditory,udgustatory, olfactory and tactile imagery and a greater level of imagery use. Furthermore, theirudreported enhanced imagery is restricted to the modalities involved in the individual’sudsynesthesia. There was also a relationship between the number of forms of synesthesia anudindividual has, and the reported vividness of their imagery, highlighting the need for futureudresearch to consider the impact of multiple forms of synesthesia. We also recommend theuduse of behavioral measures to validate these self‐report findings.