What I wanted to say is that this is why I can't 'imagine' plans - for how to lay out my garden for example. Once I get started, it becomes obvious how it all should be, but if I don;t start, I just can't see or imagine it in any way. I'm very good at making and building and mending things, and I also am a lifelong musician. I 'discover' the steps in the creative process as I go along, they are revealed, rather than visualise it as a complete thing I have to build / write / make. I think th analogy is like in a computer game where you have a map that slowly gets revealed and mapped out as you travel the area, and you build up a larger, well . . not picture. . . but an operational map of it all. I don't get any imagery in my mind's eye. It hurts to try! And I;ve realised I probably couldn't handle that much extra input, it wold be very distracting.
I discovered that I have Aphantasia 2 years ago, shortly after turning 61. I can see very faint images of very strong memories, like traumatic events. But I am basically completely without images. I can hear sounds in my head, not very clearly. I have a strong internal dialogue.
Thank you for sharing your experience. It's fascinating how diverse the spectrum of internal experience can be. Some people have no imagery at all, while others, like you, might have faint images tied to strong memories. Some can only conjure these faint recollections "involuntarily," meaning without conscious control. It's interesting you describe a strong internal dialogue. We're currently conducting some preliminary research into inner speech and imagery extremes. Is there a link or if, in the absence of visual imagery, internal dialogue might be heightened? If you're interested in participating to help us better understand the potential relationship, you can check it out here > aphantasia.com/study/inner-speech/
I saw the dress as pale blue and gold, but the blue could be white-in-shadow. The audible file I heard as yanny. My immediate thought is to investigate both digital files to ascertain if there is a built in device/program bias causing the differences experienced. I would need them presented in person to agree the differences are of perception. (Yes😂 I’m a suspicious witch.)
On a Star Trek episode, a crewman said he couldn't see his father. He got a Klingon explanation. It wasn't till later that it occurred to me that I couldn't either.
I remember someone describing how they used their imagination to build a starship as they went to sleep. I was like, wait, you can see all that in your mind???/ He was like . . yeah of course . . what - you can't? I was like, no, it's just black. He didn;t believe me!
Here you go! Lupyan, G., Uchiyama, R., Thompson, B., & Casasanto, D. (2023). Hidden differences in phenomenal experience. Cognitive Science, 47(1), e13239. doi:10.1111/cogs.13239
No! We don’t want them to feel sympathy. We want them to feel empathy for us! Empathy is putting self in our shoes. Sympathy is a loss. Sorry for a loss.
What I wanted to say is that this is why I can't 'imagine' plans - for how to lay out my garden for example. Once I get started, it becomes obvious how it all should be, but if I don;t start, I just can't see or imagine it in any way. I'm very good at making and building and mending things, and I also am a lifelong musician. I 'discover' the steps in the creative process as I go along, they are revealed, rather than visualise it as a complete thing I have to build / write / make. I think th analogy is like in a computer game where you have a map that slowly gets revealed and mapped out as you travel the area, and you build up a larger, well . . not picture. . . but an operational map of it all. I don't get any imagery in my mind's eye. It hurts to try! And I;ve realised I probably couldn't handle that much extra input, it wold be very distracting.
I discovered that I have Aphantasia 2 years ago, shortly after turning 61. I can see very faint images of very strong memories, like traumatic events. But I am basically completely without images. I can hear sounds in my head, not very clearly. I have a strong internal dialogue.
Thank you for sharing your experience.
It's fascinating how diverse the spectrum of internal experience can be. Some people have no imagery at all, while others, like you, might have faint images tied to strong memories. Some can only conjure these faint recollections "involuntarily," meaning without conscious control.
It's interesting you describe a strong internal dialogue. We're currently conducting some preliminary research into inner speech and imagery extremes. Is there a link or if, in the absence of visual imagery, internal dialogue might be heightened? If you're interested in participating to help us better understand the potential relationship, you can check it out here > aphantasia.com/study/inner-speech/
I saw the dress as pale blue and gold, but the blue could be white-in-shadow. The audible file I heard as yanny. My immediate thought is to investigate both digital files to ascertain if there is a built in device/program bias causing the differences experienced. I would need them presented in person to agree the differences are of perception. (Yes😂 I’m a suspicious witch.)
On a Star Trek episode, a crewman said he couldn't see his father. He got a Klingon explanation. It wasn't till later that it occurred to me that I couldn't either.
This was so interesting, thank you!
You're welcome! We're glad you found it interesting!
I have multisensory aphantasia and an internal monologue
I remember someone describing how they used their imagination to build a starship as they went to sleep. I was like, wait, you can see all that in your mind???/ He was like . . yeah of course . . what - you can't? I was like, no, it's just black. He didn;t believe me!
Hi Tom! Can you please post a link to the paper on hidden differences that was mentioned?
Thanks :)
Here you go! Lupyan, G., Uchiyama, R., Thompson, B., & Casasanto, D. (2023). Hidden differences in phenomenal experience. Cognitive Science, 47(1), e13239. doi:10.1111/cogs.13239
I saw the dress as blue and tan/gold. I heard Yammy in the audio clip.
Golden brown and white
No! We don’t want them to feel sympathy. We want them to feel empathy for us! Empathy is putting self in our shoes. Sympathy is a loss. Sorry for a loss.
Gold and white. And Laurel
Blue and dark gray dress and I hear laurel.
Almost sounds like Yanny
Blue-black dress and Yanny