Aphantasia Beginner's Guide

Many aphantasics report fewer and less sensory-rich dreams according to one study. However, there are some of us who experience a variety of imagery in dreams, ranging from full-color, moving images to stills in black and white. This is despite our inability to visualize while awake. Dream experiences are unique for everyone, whether you have aphantasia or not. For more on dreamscapes, delve into Liana M Scott’s captivating account of imagery experienced between wakefulness and sleep in her article Hypnopompia. Do you dream with aphantasia? Join the discussion.

Autobiographical memory, or the ability to recall past experiences, often poses challenges for many aphantasics. Research has indicated that we typically describe memories with less detail and express lower confidence in our recollections. This is thought to be related to altered connectivity in certain brain regions. Difficulty with memory recall in aphantasia isn’t always detrimental. For instance, having a “bad” memory can lead to benefits such as impartiality and resilience when confronting difficult past events.

Importantly, memory isn’t just about mental images. Most aphantasics can retain facts, details, and emotions. We may not “relive” our memories, but we understand what transpired. The thing to understand is that memory is tricky whether you have aphantasia or not. Some strategies for remembering are described in Learning And Remembering, With or Without Aphantasia written by biochemist Alice Grebanier. There are even certain types of events in our lives that can transcend the limitations of memory recall, as described in a story about Alice’s experience with the 1963 Solar Eclipse. These explorations and perspectives help us understand that memory, in all its forms, remains a complex and multifaceted aspect of the human experience.

Aphantasics can recognize faces. Research has shown that face recognition is not clinically impaired, and therefore there is no increased prevalence of prosopagnosia or face blindness in aphanatasia. However, in some cases, recognition performance is slightly worse than for visualizers, though this is not face-specific.

It is normal that non-visual strategies might not be sufficient for the recognition of complex scenarios. In science, this is called the “moderation effect.” Aphantasic strategies are sufficient in most cases, but in very difficult scenarios (e.g., a bus driving by, only allowing us a brief glance at a face), aphantasics might feel less confident whether they know this face or not.

For an intriguing perspective on facial recognition and aphantasia, explore Moritz Dürr’s personal story on Memories Inside Schrödinger’s Box. Do you recognize faces? Join the discussion.

If the question begins with “can you picture it,” the answer will always be no for someone with aphantasia. We cannot conjure up visual images in our mind’s eye. However, recalling a loved one isn’t solely about visual imagery. Aphants often employ different strategies to remember precious moments, such as focusing on feelings, sounds, or other sensory experiences associated with that person. For many with multisensory aphantasia, taking photos and documenting memories becomes even more significant, serving as tangible reminders of cherished times. It’s a different, yet equally profound, way of holding onto memories. For master tips to up your photography game, especially in the context of aphantasia, explore this insightful article by Master Photographer, Chris Wooley on Photography and Aphantasia.

For many, it’s just a different way of processing information. It does not necessarily limit our potential. For instance, Diane Currie Richardson is an aphant, yet she was not only able to learn sign language but spent her life as a sign language interpreter. Read her story Interpreting in the Dark – Being an Interpreter with Aphantasia. And here are two more great articles: one by Laura Rincon called Embracing Aphantasia, and one by Mette Leonard Hoeg called Aphantasia Can Be a Gift to Philosophers and Critics Like Me.

The spectrum of imagination is vast and varied. Not everyone with aphantasia describes their experience the same way. Some aphants can’t imagine visual images but can imagine textures, sounds, or smells. Others can’t imagine anything sensory at all, commonly known as total or multisensory aphantasia. Here’s a great article written by Silicon Valley techie Steven Levithan on 3 Things I Learned Having Multisensory Aphantasia That Changed My Understanding Of The World. This article by Neesa Sunar describes her life as a musician with multisensory aphantasia: ‘When I am in tune, my body knows it’: playing with multisensory aphantasia.   

Most known cases of aphantasia are congenital, meaning individuals have it from birth. However, there are documented cases of acquired aphantasia like that of patient MX. MX was the first documented case of “blind imagination,” or what would later be named aphantasia.  Here’s a great article in the New York Times (NYT) reporting on the aphantasia discovery Many People Have a Vivid ‘Mind’s Eye,’ While Others Have None at All. Not a paid member of NYT? Here’s a video with Dr. Adam Zeman on the Rediscovery of Aphantasia featuring MX himself.

Researchers do have evidence that aphantasia is hereditary. If you have aphantasia, then it’s likely your first-degree relatives may also have aphantasia, indicating a possible genetic or hereditary link. Watch this interview with Dr. Adam Zeman, who coined the name aphantasia from the Greek word “phantasia,” which means “imagination.”