The Apple Illusion: A Glimpse into Visualization
For many, picturing a red apple in their mind’s eye comes naturally. Yet, for those who can’t visualize (aphantasia), this seemingly simple task is an enigma. How can one explain the experience of visualization to someone who has never experienced it before? Enter the apple illusion.
This optical illusion offers a brief window into the world of visualization. By staring at an object for an extended period, one can experience a fleeting “image” even when the object is no longer present.
Key points about the apple illusion:
- Provides a visualization experience for people who can’t visualize through visual perception
- Creates a temporary “mental image” when the object disappears
- Offers insight for people with aphantasia into what visualization might feel like
This illusion has more to do with visual perception than imagination. Still, it provides a useful example for those who can’t visualize to grasp what visualization might be like for some visualizers.
How Does the Afterimage Illusion Work?
The magic behind the illusion lies in a phenomenon known as an afterimage.
The science behind afterimages:
- Step 1: Fixate on an object without moving your eyes for about 30 seconds or more
- Step 2: Receptor cells in your eyes start to tire out and deplete their photopigments
- Step 3: Your brain adjusts, interpreting the decreasing signal level as the new norm
- Step 4: When the object is removed, the least exhausted cells spring into action
- Step 5: This creates a negative image of the original, even in its absence
This experience is like visualizing something in its absence. Just as the afterimage allows you to “see” an object that isn’t physically there, visualization involves creating a mental image without the presence of the actual object. It’s a similar process of the mind filling in the gaps, conjuring up an image where there is none.
What’s It Like To Visualize?
Try the apple illusion experiment:
Experiment with the apple illusion to see for yourself. Keep your gaze focused on the centre point without moving your eyes for about 30 seconds, then turn your gaze to the blank white space and blink several times. You’ll briefly see an afterimage of a red apple.
Expected results:
- Red apple shape appears briefly
- Lasts 5-15 seconds typically
- Demonstrates perception-based “visualization.”
What is Visualization, Perception, and Aphantasia?
In the vast realm of human cognition, the lines between perception, visualization, and aphantasia can sometimes blur. While the apple illusion offers a glimpse into visualization, it’s essential to differentiate between these three concepts:
Perception
- Definition: The process of recognizing and interpreting sensory stimuli
- Characteristics: Grounded in the present moment, relying on immediate sensory inputs
- Example: When you physically see an apple with your own eyes
Visualization
- Definition: The ability to form a mental image using imagination and memory
- Characteristics:
- Involves forming a picture without direct visual input
- Varies widely in vividness between individuals
- Functions as a weaker form of visual perception for most people
- Often called “seeing with the mind’s eye”
Aphantasia
- Definition: A unique phenomenon where individuals lack the ability to voluntarily form mental images
- Characteristics:
- All we have is perception – we can’t “see” with our mind’s eye
- If you can’t visualize an apple, the idea of mentally “seeing” one baffles the image-free mind
Hyperphantasia and the Spectrum of Imagination
Aphantasia represents one end of what is commonly referred to as the visual imagination spectrum. At the complete opposite end lies hyperphantasia.
The visualization spectrum:
- Aphantasia: No voluntary mental imagery
- Typical visualization: Moderate, less detailed mental images (most common)
- Hyperphantasia: Exceptionally vivid and “perception-like” mental images
What is Hyperphantasia?
Individuals with hyperphantasia possess an exceptionally vivid ability to visualize images in their mind. Imagine not just seeing an apple but being able to visualize its every detail—from the shiny reflection on its skin to the tiny imperfections and blemishes. For someone with hyperphantasia, the mental image of an apple can be as crisp as seeing a red apple in front of them.
Important note: Contrary to what is often portrayed in movies and popular culture, most people do not experience visualization in such a highly detailed manner. For the vast majority, their ability to visualize is only moderately vivid.
Associators vs. Projectors: The Modes of Phantasia
Beyond vividness and clarity, there’s another dimension to consider: the mode in which individuals experience mental images. This brings us to the distinction between associators and projectors, as articulated by D. Samuel Schwarzkopf in this 2023 editorial entitled “What is the true range of mental imagery?”
Projectors
- Experience: Perceive their mental images as if superimposed onto their actual visual experience
- Characteristics: Imagination and reality merge, with imagined images potentially interfering with actual perception
- Example: Visualizing an apple might mean “seeing” it appear in the space in front of them as if it were really there
Associators
- Experience: Have a different experience while still having clear visual representations
- Characteristics:
- Don’t “see” images the same way projectors do
- Describe mental images as being located “off-screen,” “inside their mind,” or “behind their head”
- Have a strong sense of the imagined object without visual field interference
- Example: Strong sense of an apple, but it doesn’t interfere with their actual visual field
Understanding these distinctions is crucial in grasping the vast landscape of human imagination and its impacts. It emphasizes that imagination is not a one-size-fits-all phenomenon. Instead, it’s a rich tapestry of experiences, with each individual having their unique way of “imagining things,” shaping their perceptions and interactions with the world around them.
Key Insights From the Apple Illusion
The apple illusion, while a product of perception, serves as a bridge to understanding visualization.
Main takeaways:
- For those who can’t visualize, it’s a rare opportunity to “see” what visualization might feel like
- While no analogy can perfectly capture the essence of visualization and all its varieties, the apple illusion brings us one step closer to understanding the cognitive diversity of human imagination
- It demonstrates the spectrum of human visual experiences and promotes understanding of neurodiversity
Questions For Reflection
- How does your internal experience compare to this illusion?
- Are you more of a projector or associator type?
Share your experience! Did the apple illusion work for you? How did it compare to your usual mental imagery experience? Leave a comment below to share what you discovered.
We also invite you to share this apple illusion graphic with friends and family to spark a conversation about our invisible differences and delve deeper into the many wonders of human imagination.
Enjoyed This Illusion? Here Are Other Experiments to Try
Other Aphantasia Assessments and Experiments:
- VVIQ (Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire) – The standard assessment for measuring visualization vividness
- Visualizer tool – Interactive tool to explore different dimensions of your visualization capacity and compare with others
- Ball on the Table experiment – Distinguishes between visual and conceptual imagination
- Binocular rivalry paradigm – Scientific method for measuring mental imagery strength
- Mental rotation tasks – Tests your ability to manipulate objects in your mind’s eye
Each of these experiments offers unique insights into your personal imagination profile and helps map where you might fall on the fascinating spectrum of human imagination.
