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“Diversity makes the richness of humanity”: the emergence of mental imagery after self-reported psilocybin mushrooms intake in an autistic woman with “blind imagination” (aphantasia): a 1-year retrospective case report

DOI: 10.31234/osf.io/c9fpj
Rebecchi, K. (n.d.). “diversity makes the richness of humanity”: the emergence of mental imagery after self-reported psilocybin mushrooms intake in an autistic woman with “blind imagination” (aphantasia): a 1-year retrospective case report. doi:10.31234/osf.io/c9fpj

Abstract

This retrospective case report explores the impact of psilocybin mushroom intake on the emergence of mental imagery in an autistic woman with aphantasia. Aphantasia refers to the inability to generate visual mental images, which can significantly affect individuals' experiences and cognitive processes. The case study focuses on a 34-year-old autistic woman who had been living with aphantasia since childhood. After consuming psilocybin mushrooms, she reported experiencing vivid mental imagery for the first time, with the ability to manipulate and explore images in her mind. The effects persisted even after the psychedelic effects of psilocybin subsided. The woman's retrospective assessment using the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire revealed a significant increase in imagery vividness scores post-intake. The findings align with previous research on the effects of psilocybin on brain connectivity, neuroplasticity, and visual processing. The case report highlights the potential of psilocybin to modulate mental imagery in individuals with aphantasia and suggests avenues for further research. Moreover, it raises questions about the classification and pathologization of aphantasia, emphasizing the importance of recognizing cognitive diversity and promoting the well-being of individuals with different cognitive profiles, including aphantasia.

Authors

  • Kevin Rebecchi2

What This Study Is About

Researchers wanted to know if a psychedelic substance called psilocybin (found in "magic mushrooms") could "switch on" the ability to see mental images in someone who has spent their whole life with a blank mind’s eye.

How They Studied It

This was a case study, which is a deep dive into the experience of just one person. The researchers followed "Anastasia," a 34-year-old autistic woman with aphantasia—the inability to create mental imagery (picturing things in your mind). Anastasia shared her personal journey and took a visualization test called the VVIQ to measure how vivid her mental pictures were both before and a year after her experience.

What They Found

Before the study, Anastasia’s mind was like a computer with the monitor turned off; she could process information, but there was no "picture." After taking psilocybin, she experienced vivid mental images for the first time ever. She could suddenly "zoom in" on objects or change their colors in her head.
The most surprising part? The change lasted. A year later, she still had the ability to visualize. Her test scores jumped from a 16 (the lowest possible score, meaning no imagery) to a 59—which is actually higher than the average person!

What This Might Mean

This suggests that for some people, the "hardware" for mental imagery might already be in the brain, but it’s just not "plugged in" or communicating correctly. Psilocybin is known to help the brain form new connections, which might have acted like a bridge to help her access these visual pathways.
However, we must be very careful: because this was a study of only one person, we can’t say for sure if this would happen to everyone. It’s a fascinating "suggestion" rather than "proof." Also, many people with aphantasia don't feel like they need to be "fixed"—they just see it as a different, equally cool way for a brain to work!

One Interesting Detail

Before her experience, Anastasia had a unique way of thinking called "typographical" imagery. Instead of seeing a picture of a dog, she would see the *word* "DOG" floating in front of her eyes like subtitles in a movie!
This summary was generated by AI and may contain errors. Always refer to the original paper for accuracy.