Faylene Roth

@faylenerothnmcbhf

Joined about 1 month ago

I am a 78-year old female--retired from teaching high school biology and physical science (12 years) and currently working 15 hours/month as clerk for local planning commission. I learned about aphantasia about 2 years ago when reading a book about consciousness and sensory awareness. I was stunned to realize that I did not see images. No wonder: it took so long for me to learn the names of my many high school students; only one memory of a childhood birthday party and gardening with my dad; feeling that my memory was better than any photograph. I was stunned to hear that "mind's eye" was not a metaphor. I am now so curious about how I have stored these experiences as memories that can sometimes be very detailed. When I think of a table, I can feel drops of memories being transferred very quickly to my frontal lobes. I know what a table (multiple tables) look like: height, length, width, shape, texture, color.

Comments4

Faylene RothComment4 days ago

Is my imagination unique?

I have noticed that sometimes at the moment of falling asleep I am aware of colorful images--usually masses of people but the faces are not clear; it's not people I know. It's not like a dream because there is no plot or story line. A sleep aid article I read said that psychologists called this as an hallucination not a dream. This seemed to fit the discussion outline but is nothing like your "day dreams". At first I thought they were visual for you, but it sounds as though you have a vivid imaginatin. We;re word people.

Faylene RothComment4 days ago

Benefit of Noticing that I have Basic, Fleeting Visualization Ability

I, too, have those occasional fleeting, tiny images--always black & white for me. It never happens when I'm testing myself about seeing the red apple or some other object. Only when I'm actively thinking about things and just for a microsecond. I think it is never faces--usually animals so far. Helen, I'm curious about your aversion to the term aphantasia, but it sounds as though you may not be aphasic in regard to music, possibly some of the other senses. It feels to me that I'm aphantasic to most all of my senses. Don't get caught up in the negative aspect of the word.

Faylene RothComment4 days ago

imagining your own face vs. other people's faces

Lots to think about here. I didn't know I was aphantasic until a few years ago (78 now). I've always had the strangest feeling about not knowing who I am or how others would describe me--both physically and my nature or presentation to the world. Whenever I pass a window or a mirror, I am pulled to look at myself--to see who I am, as though I forgot since the last time I looked. This could be due to self-consciousness, self esteem or some other psychological explanation, but I can't help but think it has something to do with my not having that image of myself.

Faylene RothComment4 days ago

Getting lost

I'm 78 and just discovered that I was an aphant a year or two ago. I'm just now exploring what it means to who I am and why I'm the way I am. It should be interesting to learn what are the range of experiences we all have. I happen to have good spacial orientation and am pretty good at following directions as long as I'm in a place where I know the direction of north. I seem to remember directions by using common street numbers and names, not so much landmarks unless it's a major corporate name. I'm also good with left and right. My husband (who is not aphantasic) is not good with left and right.