Page Text: How do we know people are actually seeing images in their mind?
People have taken tests in a lab like binocular rivalry and other experiments . Researchers have observed, that people who are claiming to have vivid imagery have very different responses to these tests than aphantasics. Although this doesn’t let us know positively that they’re vividly seeing an image, it all points to the fact that something is truly different between people who claim to see vividly and those who don’t. We can also see activation in the visual cortex, the area in the brain that processes images from the eyes, which further suggests actual visualization. For more about the known differences in imagery vividness, check out these shocking insights .
What causes aphantasia?
The great majority of people have aphantasia since birth, called “ congenital ” or “ lifelong aphantasia. ” Rarely, can it result from a stroke or head injury . It may also occur as a result of an episode of depression . So if someone who has previously had imagery loses it suddenly, it’s reasonable to ask and attempt to learn why .
Is there a cure for aphantasia?
Aphantasia is both a congenital and developmental condition. For those with congenital aphantasia, there is no known “cure”. Some people with acquired aphantasia, however, have described experiences of regaining imagery abilities . Important to recognize, aphantasia is not a disability but rather a unique variation in human experience with its own pluses and minuses. Many people with aphantasia don’t want “a cure”.
Must read is a Case of Apahantasia , a piece of soft science fiction about a man who’s aphantasia is cured in therapy with a fictional technology but that cure comes at a deep cost.
Is aphantasia a disability?
Aphantasia isn’t a disability, disorder, nor defect . It’s a variation in human experience, and an intriguing one. Aphantasia reminds us that there are major invisible differences between people’s inner lives. Variations that can impact how we learn, create, remember, dream, think about the future and so much more!
Can we reliably and objectively measure our mind’s eye?
There are objective ways to measure aphantasia. The most reliable that we know of so far is using a method called Binocular Rivalry , paired with a technique called perceptual priming. Binocular Rivalry is a phenomenon of visual perception in which perception alternates between different images presented to each eye, and vividness of visual imagery has been shown to affect these outcomes. Learn more about BR here .
Does aphantasia impact all senses?
It can, but not always. Some people with visual aphantasia experience imagery in other senses, they can imagine sounds, smells or tastes in their mind for example. ~26% of aphantasics will report aphantasia in all senses. What’s your sensory imagination like? Take the Imagination Spectrum to discover your Full-Spectrum Imagery Profile .