Do you have aphantasia?

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Aphantasia is the inability to picture something in your mind. It is described closely in this article: Understanding Aphantasia

I personally do not have it and cannot even comprehend the fact that some people either can't picture things in their mind at all or the images are really blurry. I have a hyper realistic movie in my head of everything I read all the time.

Here. Close your eyes and picture an apple in your mind. Now, what do you see?
1: Perfectly realistic, as real as seeing it in front of you.
2: Realistic and reasonably vivid.
3: Moderately realistic.
4: Dim and vague.
5: No image; I only "know" I am thinking of an apple.

I land in the 1 and sometimes 2 category. What about you guys? Where do you land on the spectrum? Is this surprising to you to realize other people can think entirely different from you?

 

[Trish]

I'm usually 1, sometimes 2, like you. I also with some things can pull up a literal page from a book and read the words on it in my mind. It's not like a savant thing where I can read every word I've ever read and read a whole book in my mind, it's just some things that were important to me, or that I studied extensively, etc. It's very strange (and I wish I knew how to make it work at will, lol).

 

[Naomasa298]

Not important see apple.
Important... feel apple.

 

[Trish]

Not important see apple.
Important... feel apple.

Become one with the apple.

 

[Madman Starryteller]

I'm 4 most of the time.

I usually have a hard time seeing the things I imagine.

 

[Stuart Dren]

Aphantasia is the inability to picture something in your mind. It is described closely in this article: Understanding Aphantasia

I personally do not have it and cannot even comprehend the fact that some people either can't picture things in their mind at all or the images are really blurry. I have a hyper realistic movie in my head of everything I read all the time.

Here. Close your eyes and picture an apple in your mind. Now, what do you see?
1: Perfectly realistic, as real as seeing it in front of you.
2: Realistic and reasonably vivid.
3: Moderately realistic.
4: Dim and vague.
5: No image; I only "know" I am thinking of an apple.

I land in the 1 and sometimes 2 category. What about you guys? Where do you land on the spectrum? Is this surprising to you to realize other people can think entirely different from you?

I'll be honest, I'm skeptical of number 5 (lack of inner eye) and that allegedly 30% or more people don't have a routine inner voice.

 

[Trish]

30% or more people don't have a routine inner voice

I wonder what that's like. Who reminds them to switch the laundry?

 

[Stuart Dren]

I wonder what that's like. Who reminds them to switch the laundry?

And how to they constantly replay awkward social interactions in their minds instead of sleeping?

 

[Night Herald]

This is an interesting topic. I'm wildly inconsistent in my ability to visually imagine stuff.

When doing the apple test I hovered around 5, managed to bring myself up to a 4 for short periods of time if I strained a bit. I suspect that's because an apple isn't something I find remotely interesting (unless I'm about to eat it) and I know that I know what an apple looks like.

I generally have a hard time picturing specific things on command, just by closing my eyes and willing it so; but if I set time aside to focus on getting into a meditative or daydreamy state I can hit a 1 and then some. I can construct whole worlds and wander around at length, elaborating on them as I go, somewhat like a waking lucid dream, a VR video game, or at the very least a flat-screen movie. I can do that, or I can invite in a slideshow of "random" disjointed, nonsensical, but very vivid visions. It's awesome!

So I doubt I qualify for aphantasia, but again I can have some trouble visualizing specific, concrete things in any detail. I think that's mostly because my mind can be incredibly, unbearably noisy unless I actively take steps to slow it down. If I'm all Zen and chilled out, I'm pretty sure I could manage a convincing apple.

I'll be honest, I'm skeptical of number 5 (lack of inner eye) and that allegedly 30% or more people don't have a routine inner voice.

I wonder what that's like. Who reminds them to switch the laundry?

There are times when it's just not there for me, or at least quite subdued, such as during or after meditation. Feels pretty damn good to get the occasional break from it. Mine can be such a nag and, worse still, a bore.

 

[Homer Potvin]

Don't think of a pink elephant!

 

[Mogador]

Don't think of a pink elephant!

On a related note, you just made me lose The Game.

 

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Wow, me too. Come on! I was doing so well, @Mogador !