Another thread on #metafilter about #aphantasia and it always surprises me that this is still so new to so many people.
#aphantasia
@anon_opin I'm guessing you don't have #aphantasia.
#WritersCoffeeClub 1/11 What do you need to amplify in your work?
Probably descriptions. I think largely because I don't really see things in my head I tend to glaze past a lot of description when I'm reading, and I have to really remind myself to include some description in my writing. A very good reminder that we're all different.
BTW, not having a mind's eye is NOT the same as having no imagination! I have a VERY vivid imagination, I just can't really visualise things.
Some People Can’t See Mental Images. The Consequences Are Profound - The New Yorker
"Research has linked the ability to visualize to a bewildering variety of human traits—how we experience trauma, hold grudges, and, above all, remember our lives."
Archive Link: https://archive.ph/MdOjw
Very interesting article about #aphantasia and #hyperphantasia. I discovered I have aphantasia about two years ago BTW. https://archive.ph/iMdvd#selection-3181.0-3181.628
Some People Can’t See Mental Images. The Consequences Are Profound
Some People Can't See Mental Images. The Consequences Are Profound
#HackerNews #mentalimagery #cognitivepsychology #aphantasia #neuroscience #awareness
Good article on #aphantasia.
Like many described in the story, I have never been able to 'picture' anything in my brain. Anything. I always thought when people told me they were imagining a scene or seeing something, that they were being allegorical.
I therefore have no experience of what it's like to think any differently. This is the brain that I've always had. There are no pictures in it.
An article on #aphantasia.
time.com/6155443/aphant...
Great longform piece in the current New Yorker issue about #aphantasia:
https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/11/03/some-people-cant-see-mental-images-the-consequences-are-profound (or https://archive.is/iGwKp)
Only realized in 2018 that “picture this” and “mind’s eye” and such were more than just figures of speech! Glad to see such an in-depth intro to the topic.
A long article about #Aphantasia... In fact, this piece covers many related phenomena, such as hyperphantasia, and SDAM, and goes to the absolute edges of the phenomenon (I don't like calling it a syndrome)
Some People Can’t See Mental I...
Long article on #aphantasia just dropped in the New Yorker https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2025/11/03/some-people-cant-see-mental-images-the-consequences-are-profound
@pjf I can practically hear that image… (except, y’know, not really ‘coz of #aphantasia, but still 🙃)
@jmyarlett I don’t know if this will help at all, but I discovered a few years ago that I have #aphantasia – the “lack of a mind’s eye” 🫥
one of the things that often comes along with it (or is a comorbibity) is Severely Deficient Autobiographical Memory (#SDAM), which means that we don’t seem to lay down very strong “first-person” memories
I guess it’s technically a “deficiency” (depending on context, depending on who you’re talking to), but it also seems to bring strengths with it as well (e.g. traumatic memories may not hang around / be as overwhelming)
I don’t know if it’s the same for you (re: strengths) but I hope so 🤞
Aphantasia Beginner's Guide
If you've just discovered aphantasia and feel lost in understanding it, we made this Aphantasia Guide just for you.
Apparently I'm not aphantasic, but hypophantasic, depending on who is measuring (Aphantasy Network is stricter that others).
Hypophantasic, meaning I "experience some visual imagery, but it's less vivid or detailed than average. When you try to picture something, you might see faint or fleeting images." and I'd add, that they're often sort of "CAD-esque", in that defining elements of the memory are sharper. If I know specifics about the thing, it "sharpens" the blurry mental image.
The very 1st paragraph of this article made me reflect and question my #aphantasia brain. What happens in your mind when you read it?
Dale Purves, the neuroscientis...
@anon_opin This is rather fascinating to me. I have absolutely no trace of a similar issue. Is it because I have #aphantasia so I literally can't picture an actor in a different film, even if I remember them being in it? Hmm...
To me, many of the academic discussions on #aphantasia sound too... academic, subjective or philosophical. Can we not test things (mental imagery skills) through multiple choice as proposed in (PPT, 90MB, slide 12) seeingwithsound.com/extra/Durham... #phantasia
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