This special conversation features Professor Adam Zean, author of “The Shape of Things Unseen: A New Science of Imagination,” discussing his groundbreaking work on aphantasia with Tom, who was one of the original 21 cases in Adam’s research on congenital aphantasia in 2015. The discussion explores imagination in its various forms, from everyday daydreams to creative insights, and examines the neural mechanisms that make imagination possible.
The Aphantasia Journey
Adam shares how his work on aphantasia began about 20 years ago when he encountered someone who had lost their ability to imagine. This initial case study led to a 2015 coining of the term “aphantasia,” describing people who cannot form mental images. After appearing briefly on television to discuss this condition, Adam was astonished by the overwhelming response, revealing that what he thought was a rare condition actually affects a few percent of the world’s population.
Science of Imagination vs. Visualization
Adam explains that there are at least three senses of imagination:
- The technical sense of an “image” (like the retinal image)
- The colloquial sense of imagining something not present (often involving visualization)
- Creativity and reconceiving the world
The discussion highlights how aphantasia demonstrates that creativity doesn’t require mental imagery, despite the etymology of “imagination” coming from “image.” Many highly creative people with aphantasia, such as Ed Catmull(former president of Pixar) and animator Glenn Keane (The Little Mermaid), show that visual imagery isn’t necessary for creative achievement.
The Distinctiveness of Human Imagination
Adam argues that imagination is our most distinctive human capacity. Studies show that people spend a significant portion of their time (up to half) daydreaming or mind-wandering, often using mental imagery. This ability to detach from the immediate present and engage with thoughts about the past, future, or fictional scenarios is fundamental to human experience and cultural development.
The Brain and Aphantasia
Adam discusses the neural basis of mental imagery, explaining how visualization involves “driving the visual system in reverse.” Recent brain imaging studies suggest that people with aphantasia may have differences in connectivity between the front of the brain and visual areas. Interestingly, the visual areas still activate in people with aphantasia when thinking about visual information, but they don’t experience the subjective sensation of seeing mental images.
Memory and Aphantasia
One of the most significant differences between people with aphantasia and those with typical imagery relates to autobiographical memory. While people with aphantasia generally have normal working memory and can recognize things fine, their memories of personally significant past events tend to be more fact-based and less sensory or emotional. Adam describes this as having “semantic” rather than “episodic” memory of personal experiences.
Imagery Beyond Vision
The conversation touches on how aphantasia can extend beyond visual imagery to affect other sensory modalities like auditory or tactile imagery. However, there are exceptions, with some people experiencing aphantasia in only one sensory domain. Additionally, many people with aphantasia maintain spatial imagery (a “mental map”) even without visual imagery, suggesting different neural pathways for spatial versus object imagery.
PTSD and Aphantasia
When discussing potential protective effects of aphantasia, Adam notes that while people with aphantasia can still experience PTSD, there’s preliminary evidence suggesting aphantasia might be somewhat protective against recurring traumatic imagery. This area needs more research, but some studies indicate that people with aphantasia are less troubled by intrusive thoughts after viewing distressing content.
Conclusion
The interview concludes with Adam expressing hope that his book on a new science of imagination will give readers an appreciation for “the extraordinary power of the brain and its complexity.” He suggests that understanding the unique way each person’s imagination works might lead us to treat each other better, recognizing that “each of us inhabits his own imaginative universe.“
The conversation highlights how the discovery of aphantasia has touched thousands of lives and opened new research directions into the diversity of human conscious experience.