Auditory aphantasia is the inability to voluntarily create mental sounds, music, or voices in one’s mind – sometimes called the ‘silent mind’ or sound-free imagination. This can manifest as a singular experience affecting only auditory imagery, or as part of multisensory aphantasia where multiple forms of mental imagery are affected.
Like other forms of aphantasia, it can be present from birth (congenital) or develop later in life (acquired). Those with auditory aphantasia often process sound-related concepts more abstractly, without the internal “playback” that others experience. On this page, you’ll find research, personal stories, videos and community discussions about auditory aphantasia.
