Aphantasia Explained: The World Without a Mind’s Eye

Last winter I sat on my front patio every morning imagining the changes I wanted to make to my front yard landscape in my new house. I envisioned mature plants, an improved dry creek bed, and a rose tree lined walkway. As the cold weather past, and spring arrived, I set to work, bringing the imagery stuck in mind to the reality of my front yard. With my grand vivid images in my head, I excitedly tried to describe the plans to my wife. However, between the vivid pictures in my head, and what she could envision herself there was a great disconnect.

We have encountered this before. At first, I thought it was my inability to describe what I was seeing. Later, I learned it was a deficit in her ability to conjure up vivid images in her mind.

Aphantasia, a relatively lesser-known phenomenon, refers to the inability to conjure images within the mind’s eye. For individuals with aphantasia, the experience of visualizing is markedly different or altogether absent. This condition sheds light on the vast spectrum of human perception, challenging traditional notions of imagination and cognition.

The Spectrum of Visual Imagery

Human imagination is a multifaceted tapestry, encompassing a diverse range of perceptual experiences. At one end of the spectrum, individuals with hyperphantasia experience exceptionally vivid and detailed mental imagery. At the opposite end lies aphantasia, where the mind seems devoid of visual components, leading to an absence of voluntary mental imagery.

Most of us can conjure up images of scenes and objects without them being in our present environment. We often find joy in these visual images that typically are less vivid than ‘real seeing’ but maintain a distinctively visual feel. “Visual imagery plays a prominent role, for most of us, in the subjective experience of daydreams, autobiographical recollection, future thinking, and nocturnal dreaming; it can influence perception, exerts a potent influence on emotions, and has been implicated in creative and mental practice” (Milton, et al., 2021).

History of Aphantasia

One of the earliest recorded observations of aphantasia is credited to Sir Francis Galton. In his book Inquiries of the Human Faculty and Development, he discusses his discovery of differences in the human ability to practice visual imagery. Galton was surprised when discussing the concept of mental imagery with ‘men of science’ and discovered that a great many of them thought the concept was one of fantasy. He wrote, “they had no more notion of its (visual imagery) true nature than a colour-blind man, who has not discerned his defect, has of the nature of colour. They had a mental deficiency of which they were unaware, and naturally enough supposed that those who affirmed they possessed it, were romancing” (Galton, 1883, p. 83).

Galton’s research discovered that some people experienced great life-like vividness in visual imagery while others expressed almost zero ability to visualize imagery in their minds.

The phenomenon of inability to visualize imagery was mostly ignored after Galton’s discovery until 2010. Adam Zeman conducted research on individuals who lost the ability to visualize imagery (Zeman, et al., 2010). In this article, Zeman refers to the condition as ‘blind imagination. After publishing his 2010 research, Zeman reports that over twenty individuals contacted him reporting that they have experienced ‘blind imagination’ from birth.

In a 2015 paper, Zeman and his colleagues address lifelong blind imagination. In this paper, Zeman coins the term congenital phantasia for the phenomenon (Zeman, et al., 2015).

The Inner Workings of Aphantasia

The cognitive processes underlying aphantasia continue to elude comprehensive understanding. Current research suggests that the condition may stem from differences in the functioning of the mind’s eye, specifically the brain’s visualizing networks. Neuroimaging studies have shown variances in the neural activity of individuals with aphantasia when attempting to visualize, pointing towards potential neurological origins.

Zeman et al. point to activity in the fronto-parietal ‘executive‘ systems and in the posterior brain regions as the geographical brain locations involved in generating imagery. Voluntary visual imagery requires multiple functions, including the ability to pull images from stored knowledge of images (Zeman, et al., 2015).

Robert DeMoss suggests that storage of visual imagery most likely is processed differently than “factual” information (DeMoss, 1999). This suggests that the inability to voluntarily pull up visual imagery may be a problem with storage, retrieval, or both. Andrea Blomkvist explains this in her paper. She wrote, “either there is a problem with the memory index itself, or with the retrieval process downstream from the memory index, or with the recombination” (Blomkvist, 2023).

We typically refer to the inability for visual imagery as aphantasia but total aphantasia may refer to the ability to produce any mental images of any sensory modalities (Krempel, 2023).

Navigating Daily Life

Living with aphantasia can present unique challenges in various aspects of daily life. From struggles with memory recall to unconventional learning methods, individuals with aphantasia often adapt their cognitive processes to accommodate their distinctive perceptual framework. Zeman et al. found that individuals with full or partial aphantasia reported difficulties with autobiographical narratives, they compensated for their weaknesses on other areas. Subjects often exhibited strengths in “verbal, mathematical, and logical domains” (Zeman, et al. 2015).

Other researchers report that the condition creates little disturbance in day-to-day functioning. Margherita Arcangeli wrote, “Intuitively it may seem that we cannot have a normal life without the possession of imaginative abilities. Yet, aphantasics do not seem to be much affected by their condition” (Arcangeli, 2023).

Understanding and awareness of aphantasia and the spectrum of ability with visual imagery plays crucial roles in fostering inclusive environments and adapting teaching methods to cater to diverse modes of cognitive processing. Basically, we all have similarities but we also have differences. In communication, we should consider the complexity of the individual, learning from their strengths and offer patience for their weaknesses.

Interestingly, hyperphantasia may contribute to creativity but may also invite use of autistic fantasy as a defense mechanism.

Aphantasia: Debunking Myths and Misconceptions

In a world rich with visual stimuli, aphantasia prompts important conversations regarding the nature of human perception. Dispelling myths and misconceptions surrounding aphantasia is integral in nurturing empathy and understanding for individuals with this unique cognitive trait. Accordingly, through education and awareness, the societal landscape can become more inclusive and accommodating for diverse modes of experiencing the world.

Associated Concepts

• Schema Therapy: A therapeutic approach that focuses on identifying and modifying maladaptive cognitive-emotional schemas that contribute to psychological distress.
• Cognitive Styles: This refers to research on individual differences in how people think, learn, and process information. It could involve topics like learning styles, cognitive biases, or problem-solving strategies.
• Feature Integration Theory: A theory in cognitive psychology that explains how we perceive and attend to visual stimuli. It suggests that we initially process visual information in a preattentive stage, and then focus our attention on specific features to form a coherent perception.
• Attentional Control Theory (ACT): This theory explores the influence of anxiety on attention, highlighting the delicate balance between goal-directed and stimulus-driven attentional systems. Research supports that anxiety increases cognitive load, impacting attentional control and cognitive performance.
• Anhedonia (A Psychological Disorder): Anhedonia is a condition characterized by the inability to experience pleasure. It can be a symptom of various mental health conditions, including depression and bipolar disorder.
• Circumplex Model of Arousal and Valence: This model suggests that emotions can be categorized based on their valence (positive or negative) and arousal level (high or low). This framework helps to understand the complexity of human emotions and their underlying physiological and psychological processes.

A Few Words by Psychology Fanatic

Aphantasia stands as a compelling example of the diverse ways in which the human mind processes and interprets the world. Embracing neurodiversity entails recognizing and celebrating the manifold ways in which individuals perceive and engage with their surroundings. By fostering an environment of acceptance and understanding, we pave the way for a more empathetic and inclusive society.

In essence, aphantasia serves as a striking illustration of the intricate tapestry of human cognition. Consequently, by shedding light on the spectrum of mental imagery, we embark on a journey towards embracing the rich diversity of perceptual experiences within the human experience.

Last Update: July 22, 2025

References:

Arcangeli, Margherita (2023). Aphantasia demystified. Synthese, 201(2). DOI: 10.1007/s11229-022-04027-9 (Return to Article)

DeMoss, Robert T. (1999). Brain Waves Through Time. Basic Books. (Return to Article)

Galton, Francis (1883/2010). Inquiries Into Human Faculty and Its Development. FQ Books. (Return to Article)

Blomkvist, Andrea (2023). Aphantasia: In search of a theory. Mind & Language,38(3), 866-888. DOI: 10.1111/mila.12432 (Return to Article)

Krempel, Raquel (2023). Aphantasia, Unsymbolized Thinking and Conscious Thought. Erkenntnis, OnlineFirst, 1-20. DOI: 10.1007/s10670-023-00706-2 (Return to Article)

Milton, F., Fulford, J., Dance, C., Gaddum, J., Heuerman-Williamson, B., Jones, K., Knight, K., MacKisack, M., Winlove, C., & Zeman, A. (2021). Behavioral and Neural Signatures of Visual Imagery Vividness Extremes: Aphantasia vs. Hyperphantasia. Cerebral Cortex Communications, Advance Article, 1-1. DOI: 10.1093/texcom/tgab035 (Return to Article)

Zeman, A., Della Sala, S., Torrens, L., Gountouna, V., McGonigle, D., Logie, R. (2010). Loss of imagery phenomenology with intact visuo-spatial task performance: A case of ‘blind imagination’. Neuropsychologia. DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2009.08.024 (PDF download). (Return to Article)

Zeman A, Dewar M, Della Sala S. (2015) Lives without imagery – Congenital aphantasia. Cerebral Cortex. 2015 Dec; 73:378-80. DOI: 10.1016/j.cortex.2015.05.019 (Return to Article)