Osamu Sahara

4.22 Where Does Creativity Come From: Examining the Importance of Cognitive Diversity and Inclusive Approaches in Art Education Through the Aphantasia Spectrum (Paper)

Osamu Sahara – Tokushima University, Japan

Yuki Ishihara – Tokushima University, Japan

Nari Takahashi – Nagoya City University, Japan

Abstract:

This study aims to examine the origins of creative processes in art education, focusing on the spectrum of aphantasia to highlight the significance of cognitive diversity and inclusive approaches in both expressive and appreciative activities. According to cognitive psychology research by Dance and Takahashi, approximately 4% of people exhibit lifelong characteristics of the aphantasia spectrum, a condition marked by the absence of mental visual imagery. Analysis of VVIQ (Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire) scores used in this study suggests that around 40% of individuals may find it challenging to recall complex, imaginative, or creative mental visual imagery. Moreover, individuals with aphantasia spectrum traits appear to process the world through modalities other than vision, such as sound, touch, language, and spatial awareness, during recall.

The study also indicates significant variability in the resolution of these non-visual modalities, with many individuals struggling to comprehend or express metaphorical concepts. Reports from individuals with aphantasia reflect this diversity; some describe “retrieving memories as if through a constant inner radio,” while others state that “everything seen becomes encoded in language, and without linguistic cues, recall is impossible.” Such findings underscore the need to reassess the diversity of cognitive and creative processes, with potential implications for instructional methods in art education, encompassing both creation and appreciation. Additionally, the aphantasia spectrum includes multimodal aphantasia, characterized by low recall abilities across all sensory modalities – visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile, proprioceptive, and emotional – as measured by the Psi-Q (Plymouth Sensory Imagery Questionnaire). This research explores the effectiveness of how individuals with these traits utilize alternative modalities in cognitive processes, and how they construct creative interactions with real-world objects beyond mere recall.