Feel It, Don't See It
How people with aphantasia can rehearse movement without a mind's eye
๐ปVirtual๐
Scheduled๐Members Only
Athletes rehearse moves in their heads to get better. But what if you can't picture anything? New research suggests people with aphantasia can still run the rehearsal โ not by seeing the movement, but by feeling it. Sport scientist Dr. David Wright joins us live to talk through what works, what doesn't, and what you can try.
You've probably heard that athletes "see themselves" winning โ replaying the perfect serve, the clean lift, the finish line, over and over in their minds. Coaches call it visualization, and it works.
So if your mind's eye is blank, are you locked out of it?
Not necessarily. Mental rehearsal was never only about pictures. There's a second channel โ kinesthetic imagery, the felt sense of a movement in your body โ and new research shows that many people with aphantasia can tap into it, even without any visual image at all.
Dr. David Wright and his team at Manchester Metropolitan University put this to the test. They found that physically doing a movement first can prime the brain to imagine the feel of it afterward. They also tried an obvious-seeming shortcut โ following along with a video guide โ and, honestly, it didn't deliver. That's the kind of result you rarely hear scientists talk about openly.
So we asked Dave to do exactly that, live and unscripted.
What You'll Take Away
A type of mental rehearsal that doesn't need a picture. What kinesthetic imagery is, and why a blank mind's eye doesn't mean an empty toolbox.
One thing to try: move first, then imagine. The simple priming trick the study found โ execute the movement, then rehearse the feeling โ explained so you can test it yourself.
The honest version, including what flopped. Why the video-guide "fix" didn't work, who the approach helped, and who it didn't โ no overselling.
Why this matters beyond sport. What felt-movement rehearsal could mean for learning skills, rehab, and everyday motor tasks when visual imagery isn't on the table.
A real conversation โ and your questions in it. This is a discussion, not a lecture. Bring what you've always wondered about imagery and movement.
What to Expect
This is a free-flowing conversation, not a formal presentation โ an informal, in-depth chat with Dave about his findings, the things that surprised him, and the open questions still on the table. We'll leave plenty of room for your questions live.
How It Works
- Register free (instant for members โ not a member? Join in two minutes).
- Get the link โ we'll email your join details and a calendar hold.
- Show up live on July 10 for the conversation and audience Q&A.
Event Details
๐
July 10 ยท 11:00 AM ET
๐ป Virtual โ join from anywhere
โฑ ~1 hour, free-flowing discussion with live Q&A
๐ Live attendance: Members only
๐บ Can't make it? A full recording posts to Resources โ Videos & Interviews, free for everyone.
Event Details
Wed, Jul 15, 2026 โข 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM (UTC)
2 registered
Organizer
Hosted by
Tom Ebeyer@tomebeyer