Mental imagery is traditionally considered crucial for perception and visual working memory, relying on precise visual representations. We conducted two studies to re-examine the role of imagery vividness and strategy use during visual tasks among individuals with varying imagery abilities, from aphantasia (absence of imagery) to hyperphantasia (extremely vivid imagery).

In a conceptual replication (n=185) and a direct replication (n=56), we revisited a 2007 study suggesting that vivid imagery increases interference in a modified Stroop task. Contrary to the original findings, we found no evidence that imagery vividness amplifies interference; all participants benefited when the color word and ink were congruent. Notably, individuals with prophantasia (projecting mental images externally) exhibited stronger congruency effects, indicating a unique interaction between mental imagery and perception.

In the second study (n=98), we examined strategy use in a visual working memory task involving gratings of varying orientation. Participants reported using five strategies: visual, spatial, verbal, semantic, and sensorimotor. Behavioral results showed that aphantasics performed similarly to typical imagers. While typical imagers predominantly used visuospatial strategies, aphantasics preferred non-visual spatial and sensorimotor strategies over verbal ones. This suggests non-visual strategies are sufficient and effective in tasks traditionally thought to require visual imagery.

These findings prompt a reevaluation of the assumed central role of visual imagery in perception and working memory. They highlight the effectiveness of diverse cognitive strategies beyond the visual-verbal dichotomy and underscore the need for more inclusive models accounting for variability in human cognition.