Discover the World of Aphantasia

Can You Picture This?

Imagine a world where up to 3% of people can't create mental images. That's the reality of aphantasia, a fascinating variation in human cognition discovered in 2015. Aphantasia Network is your hub for understanding, exploring, and embracing life without a mind's eye.

Joining Aphantasia Network has changed my life! I really thought aphantasia was holding me back, but now I understand that image-free thinking is my superpower.

Liana M Scott

Empowering Minds, Building Connections, & Embracing Possibilities.

New here? Get started

What is Aphantasia?

Do I Have Aphantasia?

I Want to Learn More

Research Library

Read Articles & Stories

Join the Discussions

Watch Videos

Find Support

Latest Aphantasia Activity

2024-10-03 07:24:38

Only volontary phantasia

Hi everyone,
I think I have neither aphantasia nor typical visualization, and I would like to know if there was a name / studies / other people like me.
I can create pictures in my mind. I can recall what I just saw and keep seeing it in my mind. I can see moments of my past, etc.<br

2024-09-30 16:50:13

Artists/Designers with Aphantasia

I’m a graphic designer/artist/animator.
When I start a project, I can tell myself that it’ll be in XYZ style because I’ve seen it somewhere and that’s what comes up in my thoughts. I can’t actually SEE it. I KNOW it though. So where is that coming from? I must have visually referenced it at

2024-09-23 02:25:27

Losing weight by imagining having exercise

I am taking hypnotherapy course in which I discovered I have aphantasia. Besides, I found out that I cannot "feel" the emotion when I recall memory. I would like to use hypnotherapy to loose weight. At class, mentor taught us to imagine running during trance, then our body will burn fat o

2024-09-22 11:27:16

Diagnosed

My parents say that I don’t have aphantasia because a doctor never diagnosed me with it. But I know that I have it. Are any of you diagnosed by medical professionals?

2024-09-19 01:29:01

I only see black when I try to visualize, EXCEPT during this one situation...

Many a time I've tried to visualize, but I always see black. However, there is one particular setting when I can sometimes actually see images. When I am VERY tired, and I'm in that window between wake and sleep just before I actually fall asleep, my mind will relax, and sometimes allow

2024-09-13 00:11:50

Demographics

I only discovered I’m aphan in my 70s, and believe the incidence is far larger than the 1-5% mentioned in the literature. I’m sure the numbers will grow as more people are familiar with the term — could be a large population are aphans but don’t know. It could be common, like colour blindness.

2024-09-07 13:04:19

Alzheimer’s and Aphantasia

I’m 66 years old. I’ve become aware of increased memory difficulties in the past few years. This is of concern, particularly because Alzheimer’s disease runs in my family. I’m trying to understand if my aphantasia which I’ve also discovered in the past few years is related to my memory decline. As

2024-09-04 16:58:49

Just Stumbled on this Article in Inverse

Thought I'd share an article I happened upon today.
https://www.inverse.com/science/what-is-mental-imagery-brain-researchers-explain

2024-09-01 02:10:22

Does the aphantasic mind still store visuals when making memories?

I'm curious about the distinction between whether my brain is capable of visuals yet my conscious mind finds it inaccessible, versus whether no part of my brain has access to visuals. So, for example: does my brain store visuals as part of its memories, but when the memory is triggered I am not

2024-08-30 09:32:32

Thinking Categories and Kinesthetic Thinking

I had my mind blown 2 nights ago when I realized I have Aphantasia through a YouTube video. I've been deep in the sauce since and have been consuming a ton of content on Aphantasia, one of the most insightful being a video by the "Aphantasia Network" called "Are People with Aphan

2024-08-27 03:35:48

Gaining mental imagery

Hi there,

I've recently(ish) discovered that I have congenital aphantasia. This revelation devastates me as for the longest time I naively assumed mental imagery was something you could develop with practice (I have tried and gotten nowhere lol).

I was wondering i

2024-08-25 05:37:42

Is "visualizing" like images in dreams?

I recently learned about aphantasia, and I think I have it but I'm not completely sure. I can visualize vivid images, with colors, when I dream (I'm sure about this from the rare cases when I'm semi-conscious, upon waking). But I can't when I'm awake.

Is this

Imaginal Neglect, Aphantasia & The Imagery Debate With Paolo Bartolomeo

Have you ever overlooked half of your imagination? Dr. Paolo Bartolomeo from the Paris Brain Institute shares insights on the rare phenomenon of imaginal neglect and some recent breakthroughs in understanding aphantasia in the brain.

2024-08-20 10:29:17

What are the best ways to revise for school and college exams if visuals are out?

Hi, I am trying to support my daughters as they navigate school (UK). We always have great feedback about their performance in class and in smaller tests, but this is not reflected in the "bigger" exam results. I am desperate to understand how I can best support them with materials and t

Time Perspective Inventory

Assessing your orientation toward time

2024-08-19 13:20:59

Total Aphant/SDAM filmmaker

Hello all,

I am a total aphant who also experiences SDAM (severely deficient autobiographical memory).I learned about my way of navigating this world about 5-6 years ago and it was quite life changing.

I am a filmmaker and photographer and my practice has helped me imm

2024-08-12 03:12:27

Journaling with Aphantasia – Tips and Experiences

I just read the article “How to Write with Aphantasia” by Dustin Grinnell, and parts of it really resonated with me. As someone with aphantasia, I’ve often wondered how others in our community approach journaling. Do you keep a diary or journal? Have you faced any specific challenges or discovered s

2024-08-11 21:07:01

What specifically do you mean by "visualize"?

I've never read anyone say what they mean by "visualize" when they say they "can" or "can't" "visualize". The people who say they don't "see" anything, don't explain what they mean by that, and the people who say they can visualiz

Four-Factor Imagination Scale

Asessing the frequency, complexity, emotional valence, and directedness of imagination

2024-08-07 08:19:45

Getting Visualisation Back ...?

So, I've known I've had aphantasia for quite some time now and 99% sure it's trauma-based for me. I've asked here before if there's a pattern like that with mixed responses, so I know it's different for everyone, but for me, I had a vivid imagination and strong visualis