tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post2157425429965432202..comments2024-03-09T09:06:35.288+00:00Comments on Notes from Two Scientific Psychologists: Can’t form a mental image? No big deal.Andrewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16732977871048876430noreply@blogger.comBlogger199125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-78121370647338377182022-09-25T12:32:59.150+01:002022-09-25T12:32:59.150+01:00" I don't assign a word description to so..." I don't assign a word description to something, I can't remember it. I'd be a terrible police witness."<br />I'm now wondering whether non-imagers might have historically been the drivers of the evolution of language.tnthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05478569541469140077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-78837789798966035272022-09-25T09:54:32.934+01:002022-09-25T09:54:32.934+01:00This is interesting. The first incidence of someon...This is interesting. The first incidence of someone saying they can't imagine, but do have mental images when they dream.<br />@andrew?tnthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05478569541469140077noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-1094321030051955072017-05-18T15:37:21.119+01:002017-05-18T15:37:21.119+01:00Try self-hypnosis. Works well for me - and I'...Try self-hypnosis. Works well for me - and I'm aphantasiac.Anonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06645601582503846183noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-22577318826950937482017-03-18T19:27:45.669+00:002017-03-18T19:27:45.669+00:00I used to be able to visualise things with my mind...I used to be able to visualise things with my mind's eye, until I went through a period of acute stress. I was taking antipsychotic medication for past experience of psychosis, and when I was very stressed it was as if my mind got so overloaded there was a rush of loud thoughts like voices at the same time as being very sensitive to sounds around me, and then after that, next to no visualisation. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-67553970930327972522017-03-08T10:27:01.163+00:002017-03-08T10:27:01.163+00:00It's so nice to hear that there are other peop...It's so nice to hear that there are other people out there like me. I often get the question "But if you can't picture an image in your head, how do you write books?" But the honest answer is that I've become so good at describing things and people to myself that I don't need to picture them to do it. I can craft a believable character and a wonderful image without having to picture it. What's interesting to me is that I didn't find out that I was different until 2 years ago (when I was 20) because I was watching a movie with my boyfriend at the time and they were showing a memory. It was shown the way all memories are shown during movies and TV shows.<br /><br />I laughed and said "I really hate that they exaggerate memory like this. It's not like that at all." He paused the movie and just stared at me in disbelief for about 10 minutes. Then he went into this long explanation of how everyone's memory works like that. How when he has a memory, it's like watching a movie in first person. We finished the movie and then I started researching this and found out I'm not the only person out there who finds it impossible to visualize anything in my "mind's eye". It's never caused me any problems, not with describing a person or a situation or being able to identify anything. I was forced to take an IQ test at a super young age because I was told I might be gifted. I had scored 167 on the test so I've never seen my inability to imagine or picture things as a disability. One of the most fascinating things about this, however, is that I can't hallucinate or imagine something. So if I see something, that means it's there. Which makes certain things a tad freaky for sure.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14967940487727721504noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-24023205730311135412017-01-20T23:33:06.609+00:002017-01-20T23:33:06.609+00:00I have always known i cant conjure mental images b...I have always known i cant conjure mental images but never really bothered as i was an alcoholic for 14 years.now im sober i went for hypnosis to try and combat a fear of hights this is were i was really exposed to the fact as visualisation is the main way to be hypnotised i thought i was one of the very few who can't be hypnotised but no it is aphantasia now i am going to do some research <br />Dose anyone have any good leads for research many thanks.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14590917077336743530noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-66114579092176039542016-12-22T11:44:32.614+00:002016-12-22T11:44:32.614+00:00My team at the University of Edinburgh is currentl...My team at the University of Edinburgh is currently running an online survey about visual imagery experiences. Everyone is welcome to participate. We plan to summarize our results later in 2017. Here is a link to our survey: https://edinburghppls.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_7aphPJ3t0Xb76sdAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04789441488992390296noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-13465540161066781082016-12-08T19:42:27.000+00:002016-12-08T19:42:27.000+00:00That's exactly as I have been for almost 90 ye...That's exactly as I have been for almost 90 years. have always read a lot and almost never forget numbers. Really good with cryptography, ciphers,phone numbers, etc. But when reading that the protagonist is going down the stairs, I have no problem with that. I neither"see" him nor can describe him. This is great; I knew others "visualized" these things but didn't know it was this common.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-49864636818837143312016-11-27T18:28:20.908+00:002016-11-27T18:28:20.908+00:00Im absolutely relieved i have no visual memory i d...Im absolutely relieved i have no visual memory i didnt get this third eye. I honestly thought people were hallucinating i would love to learn how to visualise i really would.Sandynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-81576035889709513062016-06-27T11:13:44.963+01:002016-06-27T11:13:44.963+01:00I have the mind eye, I can visualize in my head si...I have the mind eye, I can visualize in my head simple images... But that's not surprising, alot of people has this ability. Something I discovered to have is the ability to see inside my mind as the thoughts are coming directly from the optic nerve! This happens when I dream, I'm conscious of being dreaming and I can visualize my thoughts... For example happened to me that in a lucid dream I took a pencil and wrote down some hard calculation and I woke up with the result. Another time I asked my mind to give me a forgotten piece of data and I got in response the forgotten data, as soon as I woke up I looked to check if my mind gave me the right answer and surprisingly it was right.<br /><br />Believe it or not, this is what happened few time to me. I'm surfing the net in search of help to develope this ability and recall when I need to.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08091179445427199347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-41503242354628631272016-06-27T11:04:26.792+01:002016-06-27T11:04:26.792+01:00I have the mind eye, I can visualize in my head si...I have the mind eye, I can visualize in my head simple images... But that's not surprising, alot of people has this ability. Something I discovered to have is the ability to see inside my mind as the thoughts are coming directly from the optic nerve! This happens when I dream, I'm conscious of being dreaming and I can visualize my thoughts... For example happened to me that in a lucid dream I took a pencil and wrote down some hard calculation and I woke up with the result. Another time I asked my mind to give me a forgotten piece of data and I got in response the forgotten data, as soon as I woke up I looked to check if my mind gave me the right answer and surprisingly it was right.<br /><br />Believe it or not, this is what happened few time to me. I'm surfing the net in search of help to develope this ability and recall when I need to.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08091179445427199347noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-24614222280562996832016-05-31T18:38:13.674+01:002016-05-31T18:38:13.674+01:00I also can't visualize memories or imagine thi...I also can't visualize memories or imagine things. I do have (per MRI report) lesion within deep white matter in right side of frontal love. Goggled this and found interesting neuropsychological studies on that describes exactly what everyone here is experiencing. Refers to inability to recall autobiographical memories in detail and not being able to envision future events in any detail ..feels like I'm missing a soul . Please have MRI.done and look up research. May explain a lot.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-87781794354887658702016-05-05T08:32:38.095+01:002016-05-05T08:32:38.095+01:00To everyone who is interested, I emailed Dr. Adam ...To everyone who is interested, I emailed Dr. Adam Zeman and was signed up for the study. You should do the same.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17463317595521167202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-63886095695505710372016-05-04T22:35:40.884+01:002016-05-04T22:35:40.884+01:00I have aphantasia. i too always thought it was jus...I have aphantasia. i too always thought it was just a figure of speech when someone would say "picture this." My wife used to get frustrated with me when we would go shopping. She would ask me if I thought something would "look good in our living room", I always answered I don't know. I see no images at all. But, I have very vivid dreams and have a great memory (better than most people). I can remember a lot of details about something I have seen or heard..I have a great memory for faces and objects that I have only seen once or just a few times. You can't gross me out nor do I have a problem going to sleep after watching a gory movie because I get no images. I do regret not being able to picture my wife or children though. I would love to be part of a study on Aphantasia. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18224128161529870368noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-6227291828090891602016-04-10T08:10:35.913+01:002016-04-10T08:10:35.913+01:00I agree, my brain has almost certainly made up for...I agree, my brain has almost certainly made up for my inability to visualise in other ways. Specifically, I am a competitive chess player and coach. Every day I hear players speak of visualising the position, seeing what the position will look like in a few moves. I can do this, just... not the same way as everyone else. More of a series of data points, combined together.<br />My memory is great. I remember numbers with extreme ease, I recognise people and sounds and feelings very quickly. I can't see things in my mind, but I can certainly feel them.<br /><br />The decades of seeing things "as data" (a simplified way of putting it, but the closest I have) have given me the ability to crunch data really well. I'm not as quick a chess player as others, and I certainly don't have all the knowledge. But my ability to break down the position and understand it bests that of many stronger players than myself, who rely on their visual memories.<br /><br />I do feel jealous of people who can make pictures, seeing landscapes and watching stories. But I have learned to feel these images, rather than see them, and I wouldn't give up my ability to crunch data for any amount of visualisation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-49611918712559336972016-03-15T05:09:51.089+00:002016-03-15T05:09:51.089+00:00This seems to have become a signup list for aphant...This seems to have become a signup list for aphantasia. Count me in. I always thought seeing in mind's eye was a metaphor for thinking. It's all black when I close my eyes. I studied art. Had migraines as a kid. Would love to be included in a study.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17463317595521167202noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-81962360841283086422016-03-04T13:24:17.833+00:002016-03-04T13:24:17.833+00:00Is there any techniques to improve his mental imag...Is there any techniques to improve his mental image? I cannot see any mental images but I've heard that it can be possible to improve it in somnehow. I'm looking for that technique. Best Regards, MarekAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-87408785519758844162016-03-03T20:25:26.246+00:002016-03-03T20:25:26.246+00:00i have just discovered this condition exists, and ...i have just discovered this condition exists, and i'm literally freaking out just now for the reasons described above -- i just assumed that words like 'visualizing' and 'photographic memory' were just metaphors. i have known for a long time that i see things pretty differently from most people and i'm wondering now the role this condition, which i was born with, has played. <br /><br />on the flip side, while i am unable to conjure images in my minds eye, my memory for words/discourse, information, events, and concepts is spooky good and this has been proven to me time and time again throughout my life, to the extent that it has become almost a problem. on a gut level, i suspect that over time my brain has compensated for this 'deficiency' by putting more resources into other methods of recalling information. curious if others have experienced this as well?<br /><br />a lot of the reading i've found seems to automatically frame aphantasia as a problem or even disability, but i'm of the opinion that i've benefitted immensely from this in many other ways. i really hope there is more research into this condition! Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-85346537501442587162016-01-30T15:13:41.511+00:002016-01-30T15:13:41.511+00:00I realise this is an old post, but I wanted to chi...I realise this is an old post, but I wanted to chime in -- I too am very sensitive to other conversations happening around me. If two people are talking near me it is very, very difficult for me to concentrate on anything I might be trying to read.<br /><br />I wouldn't say that I have zero mental imagery, but my ability to image things is poor and fleeting - I can't hold a complex image in my mind for long.<br /><br />Anyway, maybe there's some link between being very sensitive with other senses and having difficulty with mental imagery. Introversion also is (arguably) related to having a nervous system with a generally higher level of baseline activation.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-6584129545510397502016-01-28T08:28:24.955+00:002016-01-28T08:28:24.955+00:00I have no ability to visualize, I do dream but the...I have no ability to visualize, I do dream but they are never vivid images. I'm terrible at maths and I have a poor memory. Like most people in here, its very hard to describe it - it's almost like a flash pops into my head, so quick that you can't see it but the feeling remains. It's like an image flashing on a TV in a blink of an eye - you know something flashed on the screen but you have no idea what it is. It's like those silly optical illusions where when I try and focus on the image, it disappears.<br /><br />When I close my eyes all I see is darkness, I can't make any images appear. Back in my youth I took mushrooms once and I could see vivid, colourful fractal images - but without the aid of drugs, nothing.<br /><br />It always makes me laugh when I hear or read that stupid "try not to think of purple elephants" - as I find it very easy to not think of it lol..I'm sure a lot of people in here feel the same way.<br /><br />I think I am very good at remembering sounds - I can easily imagine any instrument or voice and I wish I could play an instrument as I can create music in my head on the fly.<br /><br />One thing that I also suffer from which I haven't read on any of the comments is sleep paralysis. About once a week I wake up half way through sleeping only to find myself completely aware yet totally unable to move (sometimes even breathe). This lasts about 5 minutes and then I fully regain my movement. Without question, my lack of visualization is a God send when it comes to sleep paralysis as I have read reports of other people seeing deamons, aliens, evil spirits and shapes...supposedly the fear response kicks in and they have terrible visions - a lot of alien abduction stories can be described by sleep paralysis. This is definitely an occasion where my lack of visual skills is a blessing.<br /><br />Overall it's great to read everyone's stories - at least we arent alone. I would be interested in finding out of any medication people have taken which could help them visualize, even as a side effect.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-4906129057646841222015-12-10T23:26:01.324+00:002015-12-10T23:26:01.324+00:00U know,only a few years back I realized that I was...U know,only a few years back I realized that I wasnt normal and that there was something different about me,when trying to imagine anything there is nothing but darkness,I can remember details about things and have great memory but cant exactly see a picture in my head..<br />Recently I had a wonderful experience when I took lsd for tge first time I had a taste of how people who can visualize see the world..all of the sudden I could see things in my head and imagine things at will, anything was possible inside my head also I could control the shades of colors,it was awesome all I wanted to do was to shut my eyes and imagine away..it was like a dream but I was awake.there really is no words to describe the feeling it gave me being able to see things in my head there was a moment of<br />"this is what its supposed to be like".it was bitter sweet because it only lasted for a few hours..:( in the days after overall I felt great,and was very grateful to have this experience.I confirmed my suspicions that day that I wasnt all that normal..also glad to know im not the only one..when I try to ask people about it they kinda give me this look like im crazy or they simply dont believe I cant see pics or imagine things,so I felt kinda alone on this..Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-59852328741105681822015-12-09T04:19:45.771+00:002015-12-09T04:19:45.771+00:00HI RACHEL - WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT THE WRITING ...HI RACHEL - WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU PUT THE WRITING ON THE SCREEN INTO A 3D FONT?<br />IS IT ONLY WORDS YOU SEE IN 3D? R CAN YOU SEE A CARTOON ANIMATION, DRAWN N 2D - CAN YOU SEE THAT IN 3D?ANDY JONESnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-21874106989068457842015-12-09T04:05:50.373+00:002015-12-09T04:05:50.373+00:00LOST THE ABILITY TO VISUALISE - I REMEMBER AS A CH...LOST THE ABILITY TO VISUALISE - I REMEMBER AS A CHILD WATCHING AND CREATING MOVIES IN MY MIND - I HAD A VERY VIVID IMAGINATION AND VISUALISED EVERY CRAZY THOUGHT. HOWEVER, AT SOME POINT I LOST THE ABILITY TO DO THIS. WHEN OR WHY IT HAPPENED I DO NOT KNOW. I REMEMBER HAVING GREAT TIMES ALONE WATCHING MOVIES IN MY HEAD, SO I KNOW I HAD IT. ANYWAY, POINT IS, I AM NOW 35 YEARS OLD, I WENT TO A HYPNOTHERAPIST FOR GAMBLING ISSUES I HAVE - I WAS ASKED TO VIUSALISE THIS DREAMERS IDEAL RELAXING SCENE - AND I NOTICED THEN THAT I COULDNT DO IT - I WAS A BIT SHOCKED, BUT ACTED COOL - I TOLD THE HYPNOTHERPIST I CANNOT SEE ANYTHING, I KNOW WHAT SHE IS DESCRIBING BUT FOR THE POINT OF ME PAYING FOR TREATMENT WHICH OBVIOUSLY ISNT GOING TO WORK I DECIDED TO SPEAK OUT CALMLY TELLING HER I CAN ONLY SEE BLACKNESS .... SHE WAS SHOCKED, I GOT THE IMPRESSION SHE THOUGHT I WAS BEING RUDE OR SOMETHING. HER REACTION MADE ME THINK 'OH SH!T' I HAVE A MAJOR PROBLEM HERE - IT WAS THE FISRT TIME SHE HAD MET SOMEONE LIKE THIS BEFORE SO I DIDNT MAKE ME FEEL COMFORTABLE ABOUT MYSELF - FOR THE LAST FEW WEEKS IVE BEEN THINKING - WHEN DID I LOSE THE ABILITY? IT IS SCARY TO HAVE SUCH A VIVID IMAGINATION, FOR IT TO DISSAPEAR - AND ALSO TO DISSAPEAR WITHOUT ME NOTICING? SO I WENT FROM SPENDING HOURS ON END, EACH DAY, IMAGINING AND VISUALISING - TO ONE DAY NOT BEING ABLE TO DO IT - AND FOR ME NOT TO NOTICE? WHAT DID I DO TO FILL IN THE GAPS TO FILL THE TIME WHEN I LOST MY MOVIE MIND? DID I GO FROM 'DAYDREAMING' TO MR LOGICAL OVERNIGHT AND NOT EVEN NOTICE IT HAPPENED -- WOW -- MY STORY, SORRY --- I HAVE A QUESTION -- DOES ANYONE HAVE A RECENT LINK OF ANY RECENT STUDIES WHICH HAVE BEEN DONE ON THIS PLEASE? REGARDS - AND WISH YOU ALL WELL -- THE MIND IS A COMPLEX THING -- MAYBE ITS AN ILLUSION THAT I CANNOT SEE ANYMOREANDY JONESnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-4640921191513694322015-11-29T15:34:55.346+00:002015-11-29T15:34:55.346+00:00Question. For about two years, maybe more or less ...Question. For about two years, maybe more or less I have been seeing images that are explicitly 2d (like words on the back of a book, on a sign or on a phone or computer screen) and they appear to be completely 3D to me. However, no one sees them in 3D but me. I'm afraid I may have neurological damage or a tumor. I have no idea. I haven't seen a doctor yet, I'm starting to think I need to. I cannot find any information on this anywhere. Maybe it's not a problem. I don't know. Maybe some advice or ideas. Thank you. Rachel Bradleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01506281460739335771noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9192597712746432631.post-11044404400760726232015-11-25T11:31:40.133+00:002015-11-25T11:31:40.133+00:00Im 24 and i generally don't have an imaginativ...Im 24 and i generally don't have an imaginative memory.i can see pictures in my mind of things ive seen before.Imagining for instance a yellow ball is extremely frustrating to do.i know what itll look like but i have difficulty picturing it.. I only know what i look like by remembering a picture of myself which i've taken (i cant remember what i see in the mirror.) Sometimes i can remember features of a persons face or clothing but never the entire face or physique.However i have mental notes of these features, so i can describe them .Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com