Aphantasia - Mind Blown

[luvthatduke]

I am astounded at this new knowledge!
All of my memories are visual - if I say to DM, as I did the other night,
"I can see Uncle Al like he's standing right in front of me,"
I mean EXACTLY that - with my eyes open!
Now that I've learned this I feel so badly for the ones who don't have this visual ability.
I never knew that others didn't see what/how I see memories.
Wow, just wow.
I'm guessing that those that don't have this ability literally
don't know what they're missing, so you don't miss it?

Also, I am the number 1 example in the Apple chart.

 

[Genie+]

Don’t feel bad or overly proud. There are pros and cons to the way each group processes info. We all chip in our strengths making things better for everybody. The world would not be as fun if we were all only great at numbers, or only artistic, or only good at directing others, etc. It takes all of us to build a city that’s worth living in.

 

[nw6675]

I'm weirdly obsessed with this *** thread

 

[Karin1984]

I consider myself fairly intelligent so I’m a little ashamed to think I’m just figuring this out.

This has nothing to do with intelligence. Especiay brain processes are something we do not talk about because they are so logic to each person.

Sometimes you only learn about other options by coincidence.

Chromestesia is another example. Someone who has always seen colours together with sound, will think this is the norm. And only when it comes up in conversation will be surprised to learn that most people don't.

If no one ever talked about colours, why would a colourblind person realize there are colours?

 

[Disneychick13]

I had no idea that not everyone can see images in their head. How interesting the human mind is!

 

[Christine]

I learned at the age of 50 not everybody can hear their heartbeatI was quite shocked to find out that most people can’t hear their own heartbeat when you’re trying to sleep that is some of the most annoying sound in the world - so to me it’s not surprising that some people can’t picture things in their head I can do math in my head but the majority of people can’t
My depth perception is terrible but other people don’t have a problem with it that’s what makes everybody original

I thought that "hearing your heart beat" was basically pulsatile tinnitus?

 

[WDWEPCOT]

Is that what it’s called ? I have no idea I just know it’s annoying

 

[ChrisFL]

I've heard of the OP's situation before, or someone I know who doesn't remember what textures feel like.

It does make me curious though, like if you're not able to see an image in your head anymore, how do you know if you see a photo of, main street usa, again? unless it's labeled

 

[ronandannette]

I’m the same as you. It’s like I’m looking at a memory, not like I’m standing in front of whatever I’m imagining and can see it clear as a bell.

Hmmm, this is all fascinating. I think I see my memories, but am I really just processing a million words to describe them? I’m very left-brain dominant and highly verbal. I definitely think in words, not pictures.

 

[Shadeaux]

I had no idea that not everyone can see images in their head. How interesting the human mind is!

I've never really thought about this; I just assumed everyone can visualize images in their head. Very interesting discussion!

 

[ramee]

I've heard of the OP's situation before, or someone I know who doesn't remember what textures feel like.

It does make me curious though, like if you're not able to see an image in your head anymore, how do you know if you see a photo of, main street usa, again? unless it's labeled

There’s memory. But no image. People who can see pictures sounds trippy to me.

This topic reminds me of an article about Brad Pitt not being able to remember people’s faces. I thought that was odd.

 

[amylevan]

I've heard of the OP's situation before, or someone I know who doesn't remember what textures feel like.

It does make me curious though, like if you're not able to see an image in your head anymore, how do you know if you see a photo of, main street usa, again? unless it's labeled

I suspect in the same way that I know 2+2=4? I know what things look like, but I just don’t “see” them in my brain.

Hmmm, this is all fascinating. I think I see my memories, but am I really just processing a million words to describe them? I’m very left-brain dominant and highly verbal. I definitely think in words, not pictures.

I am extremely left brain dominant and very analytical and my inner monologue is almost nonstop. I just apparently have no video like some of you.

 

[ChrisFL]

There’s memory. But no image. People who can see pictures sounds trippy to me.

This topic reminds me of an article about Brad Pitt not being able to remember people’s faces. I thought that was odd.

If it helps, anytime someone tells me their name, I forget it immediately

 

[ChrisFL]

I suspect in the same way that I know 2+2=4? I know what things look like, but I just don’t “see” them in my brain.

Ah, this makes sense as it possibly relates to the connection between the left and right side of the brain.

When I was in school....decades ago...we saw a video about a woman who doctors had disconnected that connection between the two sides. They asked her a question, she couldn't verbally say the answer BUT she could easily write down the answer...fascinating stuff

 

[ronandannette]

If it helps, anytime someone tells me their name, I forget it immediately

I’m not sure if the things are connected, but this is me, too. Always has been. To make the connection I have to say the name out loud or write it down several times.

 

[CGB]

I am extremely left brain dominant and very analytical and my inner monologue is almost nonstop. I just apparently have no video like some of you.

Did you know that not everyone has that inner monologue? Just like this thread's topic, I was fascinated to learn that not everybody has that voice in their head. I'm constantly telling kids "In your head..." when they blurt comments out loud. I have to remind myself that they might not have that ability though. Same for the visualizations...

I can visualize and have a conversation in my head about it. That's why I can't watch horror movies.

 

[monsterkitty]

Really?

So many questions.... What goes on when you read? Do scary stories scare you or no effect?

I came across this today in a book club discussion, where someone was talking about what they see when they read.

They had this picture and asked you to visualize an apple. There is a wide range in what people “see”. I am a 5 in this picture, I don’t see any apple.

Many struggling or reluctant readers are not able to see pictures in their heads while they read. They don't see the words on the page turn into pictures or videos in their minds.

When I taught band and orchestra, I would have the students picture what the song sounds like to them. Is it water running gently down a stream, and can you see that stream, or something else? Those who couldn't picture what they were reading (Visual) could picture what they were playing (auditory).

I'm a weird person, while I do have movies playing in my head as I read a book, I also see things I hear in colors.

 

[TipsyTraveler]

Many struggling or reluctant readers are not able to see pictures in their heads while they read. They don't see the words on the page turn into pictures or videos in their minds.

When I taught band and orchestra, I would have the students picture what the song sounds like to them. Is it water running gently down a stream, and can you see that stream, or something else? Those who couldn't picture what they were reading (Visual) could picture what they were playing (auditory).

I'm a weird person, while I do have movies playing in my head as I read a book, I also see things I hear in colors.

That’s sound-color synesthesia.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

My husband has a coworker who has this. He didn't realize people could see things in their minds for a long time but then most people don't realize there are people who can't (it was our first introduction to it).

Probably the saddest part for his coworker was explaining he can't get images of his wedding in his mind. They only exist to him via photos really but even so looking at photos takes on a different vibe than it does for most of us where we usually start immediately recalling it in our mind visualizing details like a dress and what it looked like or decor. For him that does not exist. He knows he is looking at his wife's wedding dress in a picture but that actual image doesn't get manifested in his mind.

The other part that gets impacted for my husband's coworker is on the dreams scale, he reports not really having them, some with this condition do still report dreaming but it's not everyone. In fact that's actually how the topic randomly came up one day at my husband's work was discussing dreams and then more and more info about how the guy doesn't visualize xyz came up.

 

[BlueStarryHat]

Not only can I picture things in my head, at my therapist's suggestion I created a 'safe space' room in my brain where I can go when I'm feeling overwhelmed or when I can't sleep because of stress. I'm picturing the room as I type. I could tell you the details of this room down to the smallest things.

I didn't know that a lot of people have no visual memory. I have memories in my head from childhood complete with sounds and smells.