Aphantasia

I read that this morning and it was really interesting. I asked on my Facebook if anyone had this and so far one an ex of mine has responded and said that it totally blew her mind and she didn't realise people could actually visualise things when they closed their eyes.

No, but I'm pretty sure I have Severely Deficient Autobiographical Memory http://sdamstudy.weebly.com/what-is-sdam.html .

So I can visualise things in my head, but all of my visualisations are my imagination rather than memories. I know a bunch of stuff but don't really have memories of anything.

I keep a notepad and pencil by my bed. Sometimes I wake up at 3.00am with an idea, write it down or draw it before I forget it.

Sometimes its just jumble, but occasionally there's a good song melody or design.

The subconscious brain takes over free of the everyday life clutter.

That's not what this about tho, Chambers. It's about the inability to perceive imagery when you close your eyes.

I'm slightly the opposite of Arbiter in that I find it much easier to close my eyes and visualise things that have happened than to visualise things that I'm imagining and haven't experienced.

I'm not great at visualizing things, but not being able to visualize a sphere is something I find astounding.

What do they mean by vizualise though?

For example, I know what a particular car looks like but when I close my eyes and try to see it I don't see the car in picture form in my head.

I know what it looks like.. but everything is still grey it's not like there is a picture of it I am looking at inside my head.

do you have to close your eyes. I can visualise with my eyes open too.

Scylla - I can actually imagine a grey car, though. I have a picture of a grey car (a weirdly 80s one for some reason?!??!) in my mind right now.

Dusty

Nope. At best I can imagine physically drawing where the lines of the car might be. In the grey.

"That's not what this about tho, Chambers"

heh

Upon some experimentation I can't even 'see' a colour in my head.

Maybe its a different thing Dusty. I know I talk about Lego sometimes, but I often visualise something when staring at a tray of random parts. No instructions.

It just eventually appears, then I build it.

And don't make me angry little duckling. You wouldn't like it if I got angry.

I don't see you as a duckling, Chambo - more a magnificent swan.

aphantasia sounds like hell

It's part of the female spatial awareness problem

You couldn't imagine what a brown horse looks like for instance or the green sea

I know what both of those look like, I don't need to imagine.

But when I can think of them but I don't see them in my head I only know that I'm thinking about them.

Well Scylla that does sound like what the article is describing. You’re in good company if so, anyway.

:(

It's never even occurred to me that other people can actually create pictures in their heads.

Maybe this is why I find the idea of Mutters synesthesia so fascinating.... because the whole idea of visual triggers and memory is just bonkers to me.

Don’t feel bad, some of the best animators of all time have it, and chambo doesn’t. It’s just different.

I think I can visualise but I don't often. Aren't most people's brains just... well.... loud. Mine is all words and not images.

I don't remember scenes from past events very well (or at all), but I do remember a description of the event in my mind.

Doggers can you imagine right now a yellow sphere? Or a green triangle?

You're a painter with a blank canvas in front of you. You have brushes and paint.

Visualise something and paint it. Slightly different for me because I think in three dimensions, but basically the same.

You’re like a Lego savant.

Does Chambo miss the point on purpose or is it an autism?

I think he's talking about visualisation and being able to see something to build it, which does align with the article in saying there are some animators who can visualise an entire film and then draw it. But that's the direct opposite of someone with aphantasia.

I actually think it’s a very elaborate long standing wind up given how successful he asserts he is and was in other fields.

I don't have this Zero... but I don't think visually often..

I don't know what chambo is wittering on about... 3d as opposed to everyone else.... but I rarely do.

ps and for what it's worth - I think in 3D, I am not watching a Bugs Bunny cartoon in my head (I can't think why anyone who can visualise in their head wouldn't be thinking in 3D?!).

I visualise in great detail all the time.

What about sounds? Can you hear an orchestra in your head?

Yes. I can play entire songs in my head. I can also replay bits of films etc.

I had never realised others had quite such impoverished inner lives tbh, but I suppose I should have concluded that from the other evidence available.

Some people can't dream in colour

It's all in black and white

A lot of blind people dream in sound...I remember learning that fact and thinking "wooooooah" because it had never crossed my mind before that they would do that. The human brain, maaaaan...