Dissociative experiences and mental imagery in undergraduate students: When mental images are used to foresee uncertain future events

In the present study we investigated the relationship between dissociation and mental imagery, by examining whether the frequency of dissociative experiences was related to the intentional generation of visual mental images of uncertain future events. A significant association was found, indicating that the higher the frequency of dissociative experiences, the stronger the tendency to generate mental images of future events. Regression analysis indicated that this association was moderated by the perceived emotional value of the event, but not by the global preference for image code. Costs and benefits of this use of mental imagery on cognitive functioning of high dissociators are discussed.