IMAGINATION
OUR BRAIN'S CORE SIMULATION FUNCTION
What is imagination?
Imagination is the brain’s ability to combine memory, emotion, and experience to mentally simulate situations, explore possibilities, and decide what to do next.
Every professional uses imagination daily - often without realizing it - when they anticipate outcomes, weigh options, or prepare for difficult or complex situations or conversations.
What is Imagination-based learning?
Imagination-based learning is an approach that activates imagination as a core part of how adults learn, understand, and apply knowledge.
Instead of asking learners to passively absorb information, imagination-based learning invites them to mentally simulate real situations, feel emotional context, and rehearse decisions. Learners become active participants and co-creators, rather than passive observers.
Common misconceptions about imagination
1: Imagination is fantasy or make-believe
Imagination is not about escaping reality. It is how the brain prepares for reality by simulating situations and consequences.
2: Only “creative types” have imagination
Everyone uses imagination — engineers, accountants, leaders, and analysts included. Any time someone anticipates outcomes or solves problems, imagination is involved.
3: Imagination is childish or unprofessional
Imagination is essential for adult judgment, ethics, leadership, and decision-making. These skills cannot function without it.
4: Imagination can’t be developed
Imagination is not fixed. It can be strengthened through deliberate practice, storytelling, scenario-based learning, and reduced dependence on constant visual input.
Why is imagination important?
Imagination is a core brain function because it brings together memory, emotion, the senses, self-awareness, and reasoning into one clear mental picture. It allows people to critically think through situations before acting, imagine different outcomes, understand how others might respond, and make better decisions in uncertain conditions.
Why do we stop imagining as adults?
We don’t really lose our imagination; instead, we stop exercising it.
As children, imagination is constantly used through play, stories, and exploration. As adults, our lives become dominated by screens, data, instructions, and visual information. We watch instead of imagine. We consume instead of create. Work rewards speed, certainty, and efficiency more than exploration.
Why traditional eLearning fails
Most professional learning environments unintentionally shut imagination down with:
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Over-reliance on visual content (slides, video, screens)
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Passive consumption instead of mental participation
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Content overload with little emotional or contextual meaning
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Focus on completion and compliance rather than application
Adults are surrounded by constant visual input: screens, dashboards, emails, social feeds. As a result, many have forgotten how to listen, imagine, and mentally simulate. They become passive consumers. Learning becomes something that happens to them, not with them.
How do I develop my imagination?
Imagination develops when it is actively engaged, not when information is passively consumed. Imagination grows when the brain is invited to picture, simulate, and explore possibilities. Learning environments that rely on storytelling, scenarios, and listening naturally exercise this ability.
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Spend time away from screens and visual overload
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Read stories and narrative-based books that require mental imagery
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Listen to audio stories, audiobooks, or scenario-based learning
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Reflect on situations by imagining outcomes before acting
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Engage with storytelling, conversation, and shared experiences
Imagination is not fantasy, daydreaming, or artistic flair. It is a fundamental cognitive process that supports problem-solving, planning, creativity, critical thinking, and decision-making.
Summary of research-backed evidence
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Mental simulation improves learning and transfer
Research shows that imagining actions and scenarios activates similar neural systems to real experience, strengthening understanding and future performance (Jeannerod, Neuropsychologia, 2001; Schacter et al., Neuron, 2012).
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Passive visual consumption increases cognitive load
Video and dense visual instruction can overload working memory, reducing comprehension and transfer compared to approaches that encourage internal processing (Sweller, Cognitive Load Theory, 1988; Mayer, Multimedia Learning, 2020).
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Narrative and imagination improve retention
Story-based learning increases attention, emotional engagement, and memory consolidation compared to expository instruction (Zak, Cerebrum, 2014; Green & Brock, Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 2000).
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Audio supports deeper internal processing
Research indicates that reduced visual input can shift cognitive resources toward internal imagery, reflection, and meaning-making - key components of learning and creativity (Kosslyn et al., Nature Reviews Neuroscience, 2006; Kühn et al., Scientific Reports, 2014).
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Active sense-making predicts behavior change
Learning approaches that require learners to actively construct meaning are more likely to result in durable knowledge and behavioral application (Bransford et al., How People Learn, National Academies Press).
Imagination inspires possibilities. Creativity turns ideas into opportunities. Innovation applies these ideas practically, and critical thinking ensures they are valuable and effective.
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Imagination, Creativity and Storytelling
A brand new StoryStyle™ Audiobook where Founders share their stories
COMPARISON: VIDEO vs STORYSTYLE
Learning Aspect | Video-Based Learning | StoryStyle™ Audio Learning |
|---|---|---|
Engagement | Relies heavily on visual stimulation, which can cause passive consumption rather than active engagement. | Highly engaging through narrative immersion and imagination activation. Learners become emotionally invested in the stories. |
Imagination & Retention | Learners are shown visuals, which can limit imaginative engagement and reduce long-term memory retention. | Activates imagination through scenarios and storytelling, proven to improve retention and knowledge application. |
Retention Rates | Retention rates vary but can be lower if learners become distracted or disengaged from visuals. | Proven to enhance retention due to narrative engagement and imagination activation. |
Cognitive Load | High cognitive load due to the need to process both visual and audio inputs simultaneously. | Lower cognitive load. Storytelling activates multiple brain regions, improving retention without overwhelming learners. |
Emotional Connection | Emotional connection depends on the quality of the visuals and storytelling. Poor visuals can reduce impact. | High emotional connection. Stories tap into empathy and relatability, which increases learner engagement and motivation. |
Accessibility | Requires dedicated screen time, making it harder to fit into busy schedules. | Truly mobile – learners can engage anytime, anywhere (e.g., commuting, exercising, cooking). No screen required. |
Mobile Learning | Requires focus and attention on a screen, limiting the flexibility to learn during other activities. | Designed for multitasking learners. Perfect for professionals to learn while walking, commuting, or cooking. |
Cost & Production Time | Higher production costs and longer time to produce, requiring actors, sets, animations, and post-production. | More cost-effective and faster to produce. StoryStyle™ courses can be created efficiently with fewer resources than video. |
Distraction | Higher risk of distraction due to visual overload, multitasking, and cognitive fatigue. | Minimizes distraction by focusing on one sensory input (audio), allowing learners to stay focused on the narrative. |
Time Efficiency | Requires dedicated time blocks for focused viewing. | Allows seamless integration into daily routines (e.g., commuting, walking, exercising). |
Learning Retention Techniques | Relies more on visual aids and demonstrations, which can be less effective for conceptual understanding. | Uses narratives, analogies, and scenarios to build emotional and cognitive connections. |
Accessibility & Inclusion | Less inclusive for auditory learners and can be challenging for those with visual impairments. | More inclusive for people with visual impairments or those who prefer auditory learning. |
Attention Span | Learners may zone out during lengthy videos, especially with passive content. | Maintains attention through storytelling, character, and engaging dialogue. Passive consumption is minimized. |
Cost to Scale | Higher costs to scale, with complex video editing required for updates or localization. | Lower costs to scale and update content, as audio requires fewer resources to produce and edit. |
LEARN TO IMAGINE
A Leader’s Journey to Discover the Powerful Secret to Effective Professional Learning
AVAILABLE NOW ON AMAZON!
A StoryStyle™ book about innovation and imagination in a corporate learning program by
ProDio CEO, Russ Cullingworth