Aphantasia - Aether Mug
I have aphantasia, meaning that I can't form mental images at will. Nor, in my case, sounds, smells, flavors, tactile sensations, or emotions. When I close my eyes, I enter a blank world. Here I'll try to express what that is like for those who don't have aphantasia.
I've had the opportunity of participating in a research project on aphantasia at a major university. By "participating", I mean "letting them take detailed MRI snapshots of my brain as I look at pictures, try to imagine killer whales, and other things that brains do".
I've also been engaging with some aphantasia communities online for a few months and showering questions on my friends and family members who don't have aphantasia. These are my notes on what I've observed.
What is it like to not have a mind's eye (and "mind senses")? Does it mean that aphants (slang for people with aphantasia) have no imagination? Not at all!
