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183 points petalmind | 3 comments | | HN request time: 0s | source
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sharkjacobs ◴[] No.45763206[source]
> He knew, of course, that people talked about “picturing” or “visualizing,” but he had always taken this to be just a metaphorical way of saying “thinking.” Now it appeared that, in some incomprehensible sense, people meant these words literally.

This is the quintessential aphantasic experience. I still struggle to believe that other people "see" things in their heads.

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kbrkbr ◴[] No.45763475[source]
I don't find it so surprising, because I can recollect sounds, voices, songs. The same thing, another sense.

So it's probably like hearing "inner" sounds, just with motion pictures.

I wonder if there are also sound aphantasts, but it's highly likely.

Different to the case described at the beginning of the article I have lots of memories. But they are stories of what happened, not movies.

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1. the_af ◴[] No.45763623[source]
> I wonder if there are also sound aphantasts, but it's highly likely.

My friend is one such person. He is amazed I can "hear" the opening soundtrack of Star Wars. I'm amazed there are people who cannot.

It's probably a related phenomenon to visual aphantasia. My friend, poor thing, has it all.

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2. anthonypasq ◴[] No.45764198[source]
would your friend be able to hum the star wars theme song from memory? it seems impossible for me to be able to recreate the star wars theme song without being able to hear it in my head.
3. teamonkey ◴[] No.45766445[source]
It’s probably related but not directly connected. My mind’s eye is almost totally blind but I can have John Williams conducting a full orchestra in my head if I want.

(I can’t ‘hear’ lyrics though and have great difficulty remembering them)