←back to thread

Some people can't see mental images

(www.newyorker.com)
183 points petalmind | 1 comments | 30 Oct 25 17:45 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
Show context
sharkjacobs ◴[30 Oct 25 18:14 UTC] 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.

replies(6): >>45763266 #>>45763329 #>>45763380 #>>45763403 #>>45763475 #>>45763546 #
nemomarx ◴[30 Oct 25 18:19 UTC] No.45763266[source]▶
Do you see them in dreams? I normally struggle to visualize things but when I'm half asleep my imagination suddenly has color and detail that normally doesn't happen when I try to picture stuff
replies(3): >>45763311 #>>45763602 #>>45763864 #
1. godshatter ◴[30 Oct 25 18:58 UTC] No.45763864[source]▶
The hypnogogic state seems to work fine in at least some aphants, including myself. I see nothing at all when I try to visualize. I have also lucid dreamed in the past and have consciously seen things in a dream as well. I can remember the dream as having been visual in the same way I can remember seeing things with my eyes open yesterday.