The Science Behind Inside Out 2: Part 3

Inside Out 2
The way that they show Anxiety literally taking over Riley’s imagination and using it against her is such a brilliant concrete representation of the abstract nature of anxiety. However, it goes without saying that anxiety can manifest in ways that are not related to visual imagery.

Additionally, even though I said it in the video I want to reiterate that imagination is not only about visual imagery, and actually some of the most creative minds, including Ex-Pixar chief Ed Catmull, don’t experience visual mental imagery. Imagination and creativity exist separately from the mental imagery experience.

Part 4 coming on the way!

Wicken, M., Keogh, R., & Pearson, J. (2021). The critical role of mental imagery in human emotion: Insights from fear-based imagery and aphantasia. Proceedings of the royal society B, 288(1946), 20210267.

Gamble, B., Tippett, L. J., Moreau, D., & Addis, D. R. (2021). The futures we want: How goal-directed imagination relates to mental health. Clinical Psychological Science, 9(4), 732-751.

Ayres, J., & Hopf, T. (1992). Visualization: Reducing speech anxiety and enhancing performance. Communication Reports, 5(1), 1–10.

Keogh, R., Wicken, M., & Pearson, J. (2023). Fewer intrusive memories in aphantasia: using the trauma film paradigm as a laboratory model of PTSD.

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Hi 👋🏾 I’m Dr L, a developmental cognitive scientist and educational psychologist. I study how people (but particularly children) think and learn. I’m also a professor teaching courses on cognition, child development and educational psychology, which are all areas that are full of great info for parents, teachers, and anyone else. Follow me to hear more about them!