Refusing to imagine? On the possibility of psychogenic aphantasia. A commentary on Zeman et al. (2015)

Abstract

This research commentary explores whether aphantasia - the inability to create mental images - might sometimes have psychological rather than purely brain-based causes. The authors question whether some people might be "refusing to imagine" due to emotional or mental health factors. The discussion centers around a famous 1883 case called "Monsieur X," a man who suddenly lost his ability to visualize. While originally thought to be caused by brain damage, some researchers now suggest his condition might have been psychological. Before losing his imagery, Monsieur X experienced severe stress, anxiety, and depression. He described feeling like a completely different person - going from being emotional and imaginative to feeling "calm, cold, and without imagination." Historical medical records reveal similar patterns. Several patients who lost their ability to visualize also suffered from anxiety, depression, and feelings of detachment from reality (called depersonalization). Some felt so disconnected from their mental experiences that they believed they were dead. These psychological symptoms often appeared alongside or before the loss of mental imagery. The authors argue that aphantasia might fall into different categories: some cases caused by brain damage, others by psychological factors, and possibly a third group where both physical and psychological causes combine. They suggest that people reporting aphantasia should receive not only brain scans and neurological tests, but also mental health evaluations. This perspective adds complexity to our understanding of aphantasia, suggesting that the mind's inability to create images might sometimes reflect the mind's unwillingness to do so, particularly during times of emotional distress.

Authors

• Stefania de Vito1
• Paolo Bartolomeo11

Refusing to imagine? On the possibility of psychogenic aphantasia. A commentary on Zeman et al. (2015)

Abstract

This research commentary explores whether aphantasia - the inability to create mental images - might sometimes have psychological rather than purely brain-based causes. The authors question whether some people might be "refusing to imagine" due to emotional or mental health factors. The discussion centers around a famous 1883 case called "Monsieur X," a man who suddenly lost his ability to visualize. While originally thought to be caused by brain damage, some researchers now suggest his condition might have been psychological. Before losing his imagery, Monsieur X experienced severe stress, anxiety, and depression. He described feeling like a completely different person - going from being emotional and imaginative to feeling "calm, cold, and without imagination." Historical medical records reveal similar patterns. Several patients who lost their ability to visualize also suffered from anxiety, depression, and feelings of detachment from reality (called depersonalization). Some felt so disconnected from their mental experiences that they believed they were dead. These psychological symptoms often appeared alongside or before the loss of mental imagery. The authors argue that aphantasia might fall into different categories: some cases caused by brain damage, others by psychological factors, and possibly a third group where both physical and psychological causes combine. They suggest that people reporting aphantasia should receive not only brain scans and neurological tests, but also mental health evaluations. This perspective adds complexity to our understanding of aphantasia, suggesting that the mind's inability to create images might sometimes reflect the mind's unwillingness to do so, particularly during times of emotional distress.

Authors

• Stefania de Vito1
• Paolo Bartolomeo11