Aphantasia - The inability to see things in the mind's eye
Aphantasia - The inability to see things in the mind's eye
I have this, and I know a couple people who discovered they have it too. I think it’s likely more common than people expect. Radiolab did a fantastic podcast about it: https://one.npr.org/i/1254201231:1254201233
I don't see images or hear a voice. Everyone who's one way (sees or hears or both or neither) usually thinks everyone is the same as them but there's a ton of variance. When i learned that some people see or hear, i started asking everyone. It's funny how many people think the voice is god.
The apple test is very poorly communicated. The middle of the spectrum isn't a greyscale/washed out image, it's an image where the details only exist if you actively focus on them. Obviously that's very difficult to communicate with a real image, but I think the test leads people to conclude they have aphantasia when they're really in the middle.
I have this too. I told my wife my mind is like the Prince episode of the Chappelle Show, where Prince comes up to the screen through the fog. That's basically how my minds eye works. I can kind of see a little, but it's only like 5-10% of how my actual eyes see.
This was one of the most surprising things I had ever read on the internet, right up there with the facts that some people stand up to wipe and some see a white/gold dress. Hell is wrong with y'all?!
I wouldn't think a person could navigate modern life with what, to me, is a crippling handicap. When I read a book, it's akin to watching a movie. The graphic in the article? I'd be a -1 if it went further left.
this was a big thing on Twitter a few years ago I think John Green posted about the fact that he can't see images in his head.
I can see very clear crisp images, but if you tell me to imagine an apple, I can only hold that image for an instant before it zaps away