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Mental imagery is a faculty that allows individuals to recreate what are commonly referred to as “images,” which can involve all the senses (sight, touch, kinesthesia, taste, hearing, and smell). It is therefore a complex ability, and each person tends to have strengths in imagining in certain senses more than others. For instance, some individuals are particularly adept at forming vivid visual mental images, while others may rely more on auditory or kinesthetic aspects of imagery.
Interestingly, approximately 4% of the population are unable to produce mental images (Liu et al., 2025); these individuals are described as having aphantasia. Researchers have shown that this inability is linked to a decoupling between the activations of the temporo-ventral cortex and fusiform gyrus, and the fronto-parietal regions.
This capacity to generate mental images can be used for various purposes. For example, the memory technique known as the “memory palace” leverages mental imagery to increase the number of items a person can retain. This method is notably used by memory champions. Similarly, mental imagery has proven useful in creativity and problem-solving. In certain puzzles, mentally visualizing the problem can reduce resolution time and increase the likelihood of success.
Finally, elite athletes use motor mental imagery, which involves mentally simulating movements without physically performing them, to enhance their performance. The literature shows that during motor imagery, regardless of which sensory modality is involved, there are activation patterns like those observed during actual movement. These include activation of the supplementary motor area (SMA), the premotor cortex, the basal ganglia, the cerebellum, and the parietal cortex (Gueugneau et al., 2007). Kinesthetic motor imagery (which uses the internal sense of kinesthesia) recruits a neural network more closely resembling that of real movement compared to visual motor imagery (Backes et al., 2021).
Whether you’re a student looking to improve memory retention, a professional aiming to boost creativity and problem-solving, or an athlete seeking to refine your technique, mental imagery offers a scientifically supported tool to optimize your cognitive and physical abilities. By training your mind to simulate experiences, you can prepare more effectively, react more efficiently, and perform more confidently.
So, why not harness this powerful ability to enhance your everyday performance?