A groundbreaking study led by cognitive neuroscientists at the University of Colorado Boulder and the Max Planck Institute for Human Cognitive and Brain Sciences reveals that merely imagining a positive interaction with someone can enhance your liking for them. The research, published on December 10 in the journal Nature Communications, highlights how imagination engages brain regions associated with learning and preference, potentially influencing psychotherapy, sports performance, and more.
The study underscores that imagining a positive encounter can alter how information about a person is stored in the brain. This provides some of the most compelling evidence that vivid imagination can have tangible neural and behavioral impacts. The implications are vast, suggesting new methods for addressing mental health issues, improving relationships, and even boosting performance in sports and music.
Imagination and Memory: A Shared Pathway
Previous research has indicated that the brain regions responsible for recalling past events are also active when imagining future scenarios. This connection between memory and imagination is evident from early childhood, as children develop both abilities around age three. Similarly, these abilities tend to decline in older adults simultaneously, and individuals with damage to memory centers often struggle to imagine new experiences.
“If memory and imagination are so similar, then theoretically people should be able to learn from merely imagined events,” said Roland Benoit, the study’s senior author and associate professor of psychology and neuroscience at CU Boulder.
The Experiment: Imagining to Influence
To explore this theory, researchers recruited 50 participants for a brain imaging study focused on “reward prediction error,” a phenomenon crucial for establishing preferences and forming habits. This concept involves the brain’s response to unexpected rewards, marked by the release of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which strengthens neural connections to reinforce preferences.
Participants were asked to list 30 people they knew, ranking them from liked to neutral to disliked. Inside a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) machine, they were presented with names of those ranked as neutral and instructed to vividly imagine either a positive or negative experience with them. The results showed that participants developed a preference for those they imagined having positive experiences with.
“This provides a mechanism-level reason for how vividly imagining future scenarios, like a conversation, a social encounter, or a challenging situation, might influence our motivation, avoidance tendencies, and later choices,” said Aroma Dabas, the study’s first author.
Applications and Implications
These findings open new avenues for practical applications. In psychotherapy, imagination could serve as an alternative to exposure therapy, allowing individuals to confront fears in a controlled, imagined setting. In professional environments, imagining positive interactions with colleagues could ease workplace tensions.
However, imagination’s power is not without its pitfalls. Individuals with anxiety and depression often imagine negative scenarios, potentially worsening their conditions. “You can paint the world black just by imagining it,” Benoit noted.
The study did not find that imagining negative experiences decreased participants’ liking for individuals, prompting further research into this phenomenon.
Looking Ahead
The study’s takeaway is clear: by harnessing the power of imagination, we can potentially improve our relationships and personal experiences. As researchers continue to explore the intricacies of imagination and its effects on the brain, the potential for practical applications in various fields remains vast and promising.
