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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To ask you all about your minds eye?

342 replies

GrampieRabbit · 30/08/2017 18:16

I've had a really long running thread about this a few years ago, but I wanted to revisit it - firstly because I find it really interesting, and secondly for dissertation ideas

So I don't have a minds eye. I couldn't picture a tree in my head, or a house, or my baby's face. I couldn't tell you 100% which colour my room is painted in, or what colour my dads car is. I literally think in words.

This means I have trouble with directions, even to places I've been several times. My memory is absolutely terrible - my long term memory is practically non existent.

Does anyone else experience similar? There's a test you can take here:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-340390544*

I know I want to do my dissertation on this condition. I'm so fascinated by it, and have been ever since I realised it was actually a thing (on Mumsnet!)

But I want it to be on aphantasia AND something. I was thinking aphantasia and memory.

But I remember that last time I had a thread on this, Mumsnetters with aphantasia (and myself) read extraordinarily quickly, and always had done from a young age. So I was thinking maybe I could test the strength of participant's minds eyes (couldn't work out the grammar for that phrase!), and then timing them whilst they read something. But might have to include some comprehension questions I guess to check they've actually read it.

Then I started thinking about the fact that people said they had always read quickly - so is this something we're born with? Could I figure out a way to test kids for it? Maybe a little too complicated?

My dissertation proposal's due in a couple of days. It can be really vague - I could probably just get away with writing 'aphantasia', but I want to get paired with the most appropriate supervisor, hence the forward thinking. Am waiting on DD to go to bed then I'll research some more, but these are just some initial ideas.

Please, please share your experiences of aphantasia and thoughts on interesting dissertation ideas

OP posts:

GhostsToMonsoon · 30/08/2017 18:25

That's interesting OP. I have never heard of aphantasia. I can definitely picture things in my head. It's easier for things I'm very familiar with, for example faces of friends and family and the street I live on. I can't get such a clear picture of places I have been to less often.

When you read a novel, for example, how do you picture things in your head? I can only picture the things in the book happening in a setting I'm familiar with. Sometimes it might be my house, or the house where I grew up, even I know this is nothing like what the author is describing. (If I've seen the TV adaptation, then I picture that instead).

I have always been a fast reader, and started reading at about age 4. I remember and reading Swallows and Amazons in the playground at school when I was maybe nearly 7 and another child kept telling me I couldn't possibly read that.

If you hear speech, can you instantly picture the words in your head? I sometimes do that if I have the radio on.

hana32 · 30/08/2017 18:26

This really interests me too - and I have it. I really struggle to visualise anything. If I try to visualise a forest for example, I typically just think of the word "forest". The best I can get is a very vague hazy sense of a thing, but I can't in any way actually see it in my minds eye. My mind's eye is blind!

In keeping with what you said about reading, I was an early and voracious reader. Started reading at age 2 and at age 4 I had read most of Roald Dahl's children's books and was assessed as having a reading age several years older than I was.

I don't know what research has already been done out there but I think it would be a fascinating topic to do a dissertation on.

DailyMailReadersAreThick · 30/08/2017 18:27

Mine is pretty poor. When I try to imagine a tree I sort of see an abstract of a tree... it's very fuzzy and vague.

I'm an author and I never even imagine my characters. I can hear their conversations in my head and sort of see their outlines, but no detail. I have to comb Google pics of random people to find a photo that looks right.

Original poster

GrampieRabbit · 30/08/2017 18:31

When you read a novel, for example, how do you picture things in your head?

I don't. I just read them. My premise is that that's why aphantasia sufferers may be faster readers than those that don't - because they don't spend time picturing the scene.

If you hear speech, can you instantly picture the words in your head?

No. I'm here listening to peppa pig () and trying to think of how I process the words. I really can't explain it! Sorry - but on my old thread people were brilliant in putting it into words, so I'm sure people will come along and explain it loads better than me!

OP posts:

hana32 · 30/08/2017 18:32

Oh, and OP my memory is similar to yours! My memory for places, directions or things I have seen is quite frankly appalling. I always have to follow sat nav when I'm driving even if it's to a place I have driven to dozens of times.

In contrast, my memory for words is extremely good and if set to music even better - I can recite albums worth of lyrics from memory, even from songs I haven't heard in years. A useless skill really but shows the huge difference in my memory for words and visual things.

Doobigetta · 30/08/2017 18:33

That's very interesting. I think I might be an exception to your theory though- I'm both a very visual person and a very fast reader. Examples- when I read a novel, it unfolds like a film in my head- I see faces, rooms etc as if they were fully real, but I also get through an average length novel in a day on a beach holiday. I think that's always been the case, but was definitely honed by studying Law at university- you just can't get through all the reading if you can't do it quickly plus it's mind-bendingly unexciting stuff.

Original poster

GrampieRabbit · 30/08/2017 18:33

Yes, this is really similar to me!

OP posts:

vanillaessence04 · 30/08/2017 18:33

Hey - check the studies done on those of us born extremely prematurely (I was 2 oz and born over 3 mos early) = struggle w directions maps etc

Original poster

GrampieRabbit · 30/08/2017 18:36

*Oh, and OP my memory is similar to yours! My memory for places, directions or things I have seen is quite frankly appalling. I always have to follow sat nav when I'm driving even if it's to a place I have driven to dozens of times.

I'm exactly the same! My memory for song lyrics is crazy - I can rap entire songs that I haven't heard for years (after a few drinks ). Explains why I never struggle much in exams, even though my visual memory is so shocking. Interesting. Getting more dissertation ideas now 🤔

OP posts:

moonlight1705 · 30/08/2017 18:36

I can definitely picture things in my minds eye so completely the opposite to you OP ....but I'm also a very quick reader and always have been.

GhostsToMonsoon · 30/08/2017 18:37

I actually can't read a novel without picturing it. It just happens automatically. It's quite annoying sometimes, because I know that the place the author is describing is absolutely nothing like my house, but that's the picture that I get. Sometimes I get disappointed when in the TV adaptation the characters look nothing like how I imagined them.

Original poster

GrampieRabbit · 30/08/2017 18:38

I definitely think there will be exceptions. Though unfortunately I won't be asking you to take part - as I'm dreaming of getting published so need significant results.

Vanilla, that sounds interesting. I'll take a look. My friend's friend did her thesis on the link between aphantasia and autism.

OP posts:

Original poster

GrampieRabbit · 30/08/2017 18:41

That was a joke, btw

OP posts:

nonevernotever · 30/08/2017 18:42

I'm with Moonlight - can picture things fairly clearly but have always been a very fast reader. (As a child I sent away for one of those free books advertised in the Sunday newspaper on how to speed up your reading, and discovered that I was already reading above the speed they said the course could get you to.)

museumum · 30/08/2017 18:43

Don't want to spoil your hypothesis already but I'm a very fast reader and a very very visual learner. In my brain the shape of a word on a page links directly to a visual or abstract concept in my head. I might be the actual opposite to you OP

Original poster

GrampieRabbit · 30/08/2017 18:45

Hmm. So maybe a test on visual memory and the memory of words both on people with/ without aphantasia would be better?

Expecting people without it to have better visual memory obviously, and maybe people who have it are better at remembering words. Because their brains are used to using words to remember stuff?

Promise I'll explain it much better in my work

Sounds more interesting, and with a better premise?

OP posts:

ragz134 · 30/08/2017 18:46

I read very quickly and don't tend to picture things when I read a novel. But I do have a mind's eye... I try to slow down and picture what's happening when I read, but mostly I don't. Sorry, not much help for your dissertation.
Don't forget you may need to choose something that has a fair bit of relevant research already so you can reference things!

morningtoncrescent62 · 30/08/2017 18:47

Hana32, that's me exactly. I'm word perfect on songs I learnt at school in the 1970s! But I can't remember anything visual at all, my spatial awareness and sense of direction are beyond awful, and I can't remember directions to save my life. Also really bad at ball games etc. OP, I don't think this is much help re your dissertation, but I'd be fascinated to know what you decide to do - and what you find out. Oh, and yes, I'm a fast reader.

tiggytape · 30/08/2017 18:48

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

Original poster

GrampieRabbit · 30/08/2017 18:49

My spatial awareness is also shocking! Fab ATM whilst I'm trying to learn to drive

Daft question but if you have aphantasia, can you dream?

Just reading an article on this now! It says people with aphantasia can usually visualise whilst dreaming. I don't remember my dreams would be cool to experience what it was like, even in dreams

OP posts:

happy2bhomely · 30/08/2017 18:51

This is very interesting!

I have the opposite of this which I guess is more usual. When I read it is almost like watching a film. It's constant moving pictures. In fact, sometimes I struggle to remember if it is a book I've read or a film I've watched in the past when I think of it.

I was an early reader and I read very quickly. I was explaining to my dyslexic husband that when I read I almost read the top and bottom of the page simultaneously if that makes sense. I don't read in a straight line, in order.

I am a very visual person. I can see things easily in my mind. I have very vivid dreams too. I also make strong visual links with words or smells. For instance, Wednesday is yellow in my mind. I have a very good memory. I often feel overwhelmed by smells or noises or thoughts. My mind is always full of 'noise'.

WunWun · 30/08/2017 18:52

There was a thread about this a couple of months ago. It was interesting. I can see images in my head but they're quite fleeting and I have to concentrate and they're still quite fuzzy. Some people in the thread said they could clearly visualise films as if they were watching them on TV, which really surprised me!

According to that test I'm in the lowest 25% for being able to visualise, but the questions are quite difficult to answer.

littlepeas · 30/08/2017 18:53

I had no idea this existed!! I think I might have a very strong mind's eye - I'm certainly a very visual person and learn very visually. Listening to music, for example, conjures up imagery in my mind. I honestly didn't realise there were different degrees of this and assumed everyone was the same as me!

Kforkatie · 30/08/2017 18:58

I have very very dim pictures, vague and not really coloured. I am a visual artist though! I have an exceptional memory, was an early reader and I also experience synesthesia

WunWun · 30/08/2017 19:01

I meant to add, I have really good spatial awareness and I'm very good at remembering journeys I've already done and going in the right direction generally.

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