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Original poster

Do you have a "mind's eye"?

237 replies

CurlewKate · 10/02/2025 09:53

I was just listening to a podcast where someone said they have no mind's eye- they can't visualise things in their heads. Apparently, some people can visualise something in colour and 3d, some in colour and 2d, some in black and white 2d, some just as a hazy image and some not at all-no image at all, just words. I realise that now I can't think about which I might be....I THINK I'm 3d colour, but I don't know! You?

OP posts:
Deadringer · 11/02/2025 14:59

Libre2 · 10/02/2025 13:00

Can I ask a question? When those of you with no mind’s eye go for a walk/run or drive somewhere in your locality (I.e somewhere you know and don’t need a Satnav for it) how do you visualise the route? In my head if I am planning a route to e.g pick up DC from an activity, I see the junctions etc in my head.

I have no internal map at all, i go by memory so i hate driving anywhere new. I find it hard to follow instructions given to me in advance, and i hate giving directions too, they just don't make sense to me, I can't picture landmarks or junctions, so describing how to get somewhere is really difficult.

pontipinemum · 17/02/2025 09:56

EmeraldDreams73 · 10/02/2025 20:03

So interesting. Yes, I can see/visualise things in 3D and colour. If I try, I can also change elements of it (for example, changing the colour of paint/curtains when considering decorating choices).

I do have a VERY active internal monologue, too.

So for you, when the example above of imagining a pink cat in a tree, can you actually see the cat in your head? Nearly the same as if there was an actual cat in front of you that you were seeing with your open eyes?

I was discussing this thread with DH last week. I asked him about the cat in the tree thing. I cannot see it at all. He said he can. But then he was saying no one can actually see things in their head properly. So I think he is more like me and can't see things. But knows what they look like.

I could give you a full blown description of the most amazing pink cat in a crazy tree but I'm not seeing it

EmeraldDreams73 · 17/02/2025 10:06

pontipinemum · 17/02/2025 09:56

So for you, when the example above of imagining a pink cat in a tree, can you actually see the cat in your head? Nearly the same as if there was an actual cat in front of you that you were seeing with your open eyes?

I was discussing this thread with DH last week. I asked him about the cat in the tree thing. I cannot see it at all. He said he can. But then he was saying no one can actually see things in their head properly. So I think he is more like me and can't see things. But knows what they look like.

I could give you a full blown description of the most amazing pink cat in a crazy tree but I'm not seeing it

Show quote history

Yes, I can absolutely see it clearly! And I could change it too if details needed altering (though that would need a bit of concentration).

pontipinemum · 17/02/2025 10:16

EmeraldDreams73 · 17/02/2025 10:06

Yes, I can absolutely see it clearly! And I could change it too if details needed altering (though that would need a bit of concentration).

Show quote history

Thank you, from reading the thread that's what I thought. That people can actually see things properly in their head. I can't at all. I have to see it 'to know'. I'll say things like 'I'll know what I want when I see it' or I'll know how to get somewhere when I see it. I think that's why I am so bad at interior design I need to actually see something.

I do have an excellent imagination though and create very descriptive stories for DS. I love audio books and while I do not 'see' the world they describe I can

TwoRobins · 03/03/2025 14:32

CurlewKate · 10/02/2025 09:53

I was just listening to a podcast where someone said they have no mind's eye- they can't visualise things in their heads. Apparently, some people can visualise something in colour and 3d, some in colour and 2d, some in black and white 2d, some just as a hazy image and some not at all-no image at all, just words. I realise that now I can't think about which I might be....I THINK I'm 3d colour, but I don't know! You?

Definitely. I can also vividly recreate how physical objects feel to my hands, and how food tastes and feels in my mouth when I eat it. I also have extremely vivid dreams.

Original poster
CurlewKate · 04/03/2025 12:20

I asked my dp about this and he said "Which side of the tree am I looking at?" Turns out he has very vivid 3d colour images and he can walk round them to see the other side of them. I thought my mind's eye was pretty good....!

He also has an almost uncanny sense of direction. I wonder if there's a connection.....

OP posts:
BeaAndBen · 04/03/2025 13:19

@CurlewKate I definitely create a 3D model in my head too - I can place my mental camera wherever it’s helpful.

AtticusCatticus · 04/03/2025 15:00

|I have a great mind's eye as long as my eyes are open. I can imagine things in vivid colour and 3d as long as I am slightly distracted by the world. The minute I shut my eyes, it all vanishes.

I have a relentless monologue in my head too - it is never silent, so I like to have the tv or radio on to distract me from myself.

Conqueeftador · 04/03/2025 21:07

CurlewKate · 04/03/2025 12:20

I asked my dp about this and he said "Which side of the tree am I looking at?" Turns out he has very vivid 3d colour images and he can walk round them to see the other side of them. I thought my mind's eye was pretty good....!

He also has an almost uncanny sense of direction. I wonder if there's a connection.....

I see absolutely nothing when I close my eyes and try to imagine or see anything. Despite that I have a great sense of direction. My partner, who does have a clear minds eye, has a terrible sense of direction.

I also have a pretty dreadful memory of things, and I believe that is potentially linked to a lack of minds eye, which makes me sad.

I definitely have a constant internal monologue. I use boring/soothing sounding podcasts or audiobooks as a way to turn it off so I can get to sleep at night and not lie there thinking about and debating a million things in my head.

Longma · 06/03/2025 07:40

I have no minds eye but I can recall things from memory, just in words, I can do things like directions, can do cubes, complete visual puzzles etc.
I can recall faces - though this can be a little limited with some similar (to me) looking children (I teach) confused at times.

It's all a bit odd.

LucyLoo1972 · 08/02/2026 09:06

weareallcats · 10/02/2025 10:30

Yes, 3D and colour, but not as fully realised as real life. I also have a very active inner monologue. Don’t know whether it is linked, but I am also a very vivid dreamer - both at night and day dreams. I have ADHD (diagnosed and pretty extreme) - again, don’t know how much that links in, but my inner world is busy! I too was amazed when I heard that some people don’t have these things.

I never knew it was abnormal for my mind to be so so busy - it is exhausting and I ended up in psychosis. my psychologist says I have CPTSD from childhood and that produces ADHD type symptoms

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