Do I Have Aphantasia?

Think of a friend or family member. Try to conjure an image of their face in your mind. Do you have difficulty clearly seeing their features, face, hair, and shape?

Do you have difficulty clearly picturing their characteristic movements and gestures?

Do you have difficulty vividly picturing that person's clothing?

Based on your answers, it is unlikely that you have aphantasia. Most of us are able to conjure an image of a person or scene in our mind. However, someone with aphantasia is unable to visualize imagery. Their imagination is blind. Imagine that it’s a hot summer day, and you are enjoying your time on the beach. The sun is shining bright and you see children playing in the sea. You will probably be able to visualize images as you think about this scene. A person who suffers from aphantasia will be unable to do that. The ability to visualize images plays an essential role in life.

Based on your answers, you may be displaying a sign of aphantasia. Aphantasia is a condition in which someone is unable to visualize imagery. People who suffer from aphantasia may remember details of a past event, such as what the weather was like that day and the names of the persons that were there. However, they will not be able to form a mental image of the event. Some people even have difficulty recognizing faces or navigating space. Even though it may be frustrating, this lack of visual memory may also have some advantages. For example, people with aphantasia are less likely to suffer from disturbing flashbacks.

Unfortunately, you are displaying several symptoms typically seen among individuals who have aphantasia. Someone with aphantasia is unable to (voluntarily) visualize imagery. However, they do experience visual imagery while dreaming. The good news is that aphantasia is a normal variation of human experience, and it does not require treatment. Having aphantasia does not necessarily have negative consequences for a person’s success in life. On the other hand, it can be distressing for people to not be able to picture the face of a loved one who has passed away, for example. Besides, mental imagery is important in learning, so if a person is not able to visualize scenes it makes learning sometimes more difficult.