AIBU to think aphantasia is not rare?

[Sunninginthecorner]

I was doomscrolling insta and a video came up about aphantasia.

Rather than explain what it is badly I found this:

Aphantasia is a condition in which people do not visualize, or see, images in their minds. This rare way of processing information and recalling memories affects about four percent of people. Close your eyes and imagine a fluffy cat. What color is the cat? What is the cat doing? When asked such questions, many people will conjure up a lifelike visual image. But others do not. People with aphantasia know they are thinking of a cat. They can even describe what a cat generally looks like. But they do so without “seeing” a cat in their mind. Instead of using their ‘mind’s eye,’ someone with aphantasia may think using words, numbers or ideas.

Brain scans show that people with aphantasia respond differently to sounds than people who use mental images.

I can’t see images and my very small poll IRL hasn’t found anyone who does see images.

IABU - you can see in images and it is rare
IANBU - you can’t see images and can’t believe it’s that rare

I can’t see images I more get a sense of them instead. I am also rubbish at remembering faces/ routes / places and wonder if it’s because I can’t recall the visual.

I don't have aphantasia and i also skim read or jump over padding in books.

I’m the opposite, I have aphantasia but have excellent recall for faces. I saw someone at an event recently and knew I’d seen her somewhere before… then it clicked that I’d briefly met her at a party 25 heads ago. If I tried to picture her face in between meetings I wouldn’t be able to, though.

It’s like an audio book but with feelings so I can recalls words of dreams and also how I felt during.

All of this, great at direction, always recognise faces, even someone I saw on a train and then later see again, but cannot see anything if I close my eyes. So when someone says think of a pink elephant I know what it would be but I can't see visually see one if I close my eyes, not even a fuzzy outline or faded version. But my dreams are so vivid, it's like technicolour, with sounds, panning in and out like a film and I can do lucid dreaming and change the course of my dream if I don't like how it's going or if I'm about to be in danger in my dream.

I would pay money not to see images every time I close my eyes, even for 10 seconds. I do have really good recall of visual memory so you are probably on to something there, although as I've got older the visuals have got more intense, clear and quick but my memory has got less sharp? So my personal experience is counter to that. I'm only mid 30s so not general aging memory loss.

The funny thing is, my job is a literary editor! I don’t know, maybe I’d enjoy reading more (and be better at my job!) if I had the ‘minds eye’ thing, but reading is already my all time favourite activity! I don’t have much interest in TV/film though. I last went to the cinema 17 years ago!

Same I read a lot. I still get the sense/emotion of the book. It’s like I am thinking about for example a handsome man and feeling that he is handsome but I don’t have a picture in my head of him.

Gosh I can’t imagine that. So if I think of a foodstuff, like say garlic mushrooms I can almost taste it in my mouth.

Does your brain feel very quiet because I almost feel that my brain is too noisy. As well as my own input I’m quite sensitive to other people’s feelings as well so I think that’s why I’m often overwhelmed.

I can’t see images. I know what things look like but I have no way to visualise them. It why I’ve always struggled to draw and paint. I have a sensory processing disorder, maybe they’re linked.

I feel like this. I don't have a film playing in my head. But if I was told to picture a cat in my head I could describe it even though it's just a vague sense of it.

I do "see" things in my dreams though, which can be very vivid.

Same I read a lot. I still get the sense/emotion of the book. It’s like I am thinking about for example a handsome man and feeling that he is handsome but I don’t have a picture in my head of him.

Same. I love reading too.

I have aphantasia. I was so surprised when I found out other people could see things visually in their mind.

I thought things like counting sheep were a metaphor, I didn't have any idea that people actually saw sheep!

I can imagine things with form and movement without seeing them though. It's really hard to explain. If I think of an apple, I can think of the shape and concept of an apple without actually seeing one. If I think of someone walking I can imagine their gait, but I can't see a person.

I can't bring up faces in my mind, not even my parents not my children, and that makes me sad.

I sometimes do get very fleeting images but they are just little snatches and I have no real control over them, they feel just out of reach, I can't focus on them.

I understand now why - although I used to be an avid reader pre-kids, I found long descriptive passages boring. I guess if you have inner images it's painting a scene in your mind, where as too much description of the scene leaves me wanting to get back to the characters and the plot.

I do dream in images, however.

So if I mentioned Brad Pitt for example you wouldn’t immediately picture him in your mind’s eye?

Same.

I see them and suspect most people do.

It is actually linked to how I remember facts.

I have this, I can’t see images in my mind but I have the most amazing dreams, full of images and colours.
I’ve never been able to visualise anything , i know what things are like but the traditional “imagine yourself on a beach “ I can’t do and when I close my eyes it’s just black, reading a book is just reading the words not visualising a scene.
I do have an internal monologue though, my head is always full of conversation, mainly me chatting to myself and things I need to do .

I can't do Brad Pitt because I am not "interested" in Brad Pitt. I can do friends and family members, even those who died many years ago.

Thank you, so interesting! I still don't think I can really grasp that as when I hear an audio book it is like watching a film in my head becuase it conjures up all the images! I love how different everyone's brains are 🌟

Yes, I believe these 2 things are linked.
My daughter has aphantasia. She is also dyslexic and I do wonder if there is a link there as well.

There is aphantasia research at uni of Exeter I think.

Out of interest do you enjoy reading if you cant visualise people and places in your minds eye?

It explains a lot for me. Terrible at giving directions - can’t visualise the route - but okay at actually navigating. Always convinced I won’t recognise someone I’ve only seen once or twice - can’t visualise their face - but invariably do. Always thought I’d never be able to do a photo fit cos I don’t know what my own nose looks like out of context let alone someone else’s. Can’t tell you what shop is next to the post office but if I go and look at it and they’ve repainted the frontage I know (but can’t tell you what colour it used to be). Know you’ve got new glasses but don’t know what the old ones looked like! Terrible autobiographical memory. Never ‘got’ those relaxation exercises of imagining a beach. Aphantasia makes it all make sense.

Love to read but can’t quite explain why or how to someone who has a mind’s eye. And the inner monologue never stops.

If I think of someone walking I can imagine their gait, but I can't see a person.

That is fascinating.

Glad I'm not the only one!

For all those asking if our brains are quiet - if only! Might even ia non stop from the moment I wake up. Going through the days jobs, taks that I have to do, planning ahead etc. I'm good at coming up with a million ideas. I guess much like anyone else, my brain is full, just not of pictures. It's more like a "to do" list. Constantly.

No. I know what he looks like, so I could tell you his hair and eye colour, describe his height, etc, but I can’t see his face.

Most of my family have extremely visual memories. Lots of artists, graphic designers, architects etc. But one of my children really can’t. When he was little his art was usually monochrome and more like diagrams. He also says he doesn’t dream. Or he doesn’t ever remember a dream. He obviously does have a visual memory, because he can recognise people he knows, but it does take him longer to recognise people.

No. I know exactly what he looks like, but i can't picture him. It's hard to describe.