Topic: Altered States

From psychedelics to hypnosis, altered states of consciousness provide a fascinating window into how aphantasia affects unusual perceptual experiences. For those without voluntary mental imagery, these states can reveal unexpected capacities for visualization or confirm the persistence of image-free cognition even in altered consciousness.

These diverse experiences offer valuable insights into the relationship between aphantasia and perception, challenging our understanding of mental imagery and consciousness. The contrast between everyday imagery abilities and those during altered states helps illuminate the complex mechanisms behind mental simulation.

On this page, you’ll find research, personal accounts, videos and discussions about psychedelics, dreams, hypnosis and other altered states of consciousness.

A hypnotherapist with aphantasia explains hypnosis and how hypnosis can work for aphantasics.
On rare occasions in the morning, between sleep and awake, when the images from my dreams float behind my eyes, that’s when I revel in what it must be like to “see” imagery.
Many easy ways to meditate without a mind’s eye. Next time you find yourself frustrated by the inability to visualize in meditation, give some of these alternatives a try.
Ganzflicker is known to elicit the experience of pseudo-hallucinations... But how is it that some people see complex hallucinations such as "old stone castles"?
Can aphantasics be hypnotized? My experience learning to be hypnotized with imagery-free inductions.
Finding out I was aphantasic was a blessing for me. It gave me a kind of – subliminal permission – to free myself of the burden of visualization and explore other ways to meditate.
August 6, 2024
I have just today realized that I have had complete Aphantasia since birth. I never knew. I suppose I found a way around it in my early 20's. Here'...
July 15, 2024
I have bipolar disorder 1 with psychosis. I definitely have aphantasia, but my question is what is the difference between a hallucination and a visualization...
June 24, 2024
Hi, I've only become aware of aphantasia for the first time last evening after watching a video in YouTube. I took the VVIQ just minutes ago and the res...
November 13, 2022
I have aphantasia – lifelong – in all senses  – very little episodic memory.  And yet I dream vividly.  I can’t picture my Mother, or my so...
Hi! I recently found this article and wondered if any of you guys know anything about it. I am willing to try anything at this point in my life since I canno...
As an aphant, on a day to day basis my imagination and recall is devoid of senses which could be said to relate to the phenomena of the eyes or ears. However...
July 8, 2021
I have been researching aphantasia since discovering the term and feeling a rush of relief that the way I experience mental visualization,  or lack thereof, ...
  I am truly aphantasic and have been this way throughout my life. I became aware of this when studying meditation and discovered I could not “visualiz...
December 20, 2020
I knew from a very young age I realized I couldn’t see faces in my mind just and knew facts about them. In fact I remember looking up not being able to...
October 28, 2020
Has there been any research on Aphantasia and psychedelics. I seriously think that there is something major to look into. I know for a fact someone with Apha...
Watch this extended interview with Mac Shine answering the community’s questions about "What It's Like To Be A Neuroscientist With Aphantasia" in this live Q&A session. Hosted by Tom Ebeyer.
August 30, 2023
Neuroscientist Mac Shine delves into aphantasia—a condition he personally experiences—to challenge conventional views on perception, explore the neuroscience of imagination, and draw unexpected parallels between the cognitive functions of aphantasics and large language models like ChatGPT-4.
August 30, 2023
Researcher Alexander Sulfaro answers the community’s questions about 'Why Don't We Hallucinate Our Mental Images' in this live Q&A. Hosted by Tom Ebeyer.
April 20, 2023
Have you ever wondered why mental images aren't as vivid as real images? What's the difference between imagining something and hallucinating it? Alexander Sulfaro joins Aphantasia Network to discuss this and more.
April 20, 2023