Imagine you are talking to a friend about your last trip. Do you see the places you went and the things that happened in your mind like a movie? Or, when someone says 'a red ball', do you see an image of that ball in your mind? This is very normal for most people. But for some people, this is not possible. That is what we call aphantasia in medicine.
Simply put, what is Aphantasia?
Aphantasia is not a disease or a disability. It's just a change in the way your brain processes information. In fact, it's part of your personality.
There is a part of our brain that processes visual information. We call this the `visual cortex`. This part is where you understand what you see with your eyes. It is also where you visualize or remember things. This part of the brain works a little differently in people with aphantasia.
The important thing is, aphantasia is not a lack of ability on your part. You understand and remember information in other ways, without images. That's very special.
This mental imagery ability is different for everyone. It's like a spectrum.
- At one end, there are those who cannot imagine any kind of image (complete aphantasia).
- At the other end of the spectrum, there are those who can imagine unimaginably clear, bright, and vivid images (Hyp ERP hantasia).
- Most people are somewhere in between. Some see blurry, unclear images.
Research has found that between 2% and 4% of the world's population has this condition. However, since many people are unaware that they have it, this number may be much higher.
What are the reasons for this?
Scientists have yet to find a definitive reason for this, but several main reasons are being discussed.
A congenital condition
Many people are born with aphantasia. They live healthy, normal lives. It may also be genetic . This means that if you have the condition, there is a good chance that a close family member (mother, father, sibling) also has it.
Acquired Aphantasia
Some people lose their ability to form mental images at some point in their lives. This is called `acquired aphantasia`. This can be caused by:
- Brain injuries : A head injury from an accident, such as a concussion.
- Stroke: Damage to brain cells due to reduced blood flow to the brain.
- Mental health problems: Very rarely, some mental health conditions (mood disorders, depersonalization-derealization disorder) can also cause these difficulties with imagining images.
- After COVID-19 infection: Some people have experienced various brain-related problems ( brain fog , fatigue, anxiety) after contracting COVID. Among them, there are those who say that they used to be able to visualize well, but then lost that ability. Research is still ongoing on this.
What are the symptoms of aphantasia?
If you have aphantasia, you may lose the visual experience of your thoughts and memories. Instead, you may use words, facts, numbers, or other sensations to store and understand information.
Let's explain this further in the table below.
| Characteristic/Discomfort | A simple explanation |
|---|---|
| Difficulty reliving life events | When you remember something like a trip on your last birthday, it may seem like a video to others, but you may not see it that way and only remember the details (like who was there and what you ate). |
| Difficulty imagining the future or hypothetical things | When asked a question like "What would you do if you won the lottery?", it can be difficult to visualize what you would do with the money. Instead, you might make a mental list of things to do as a plan. |
| Problems with factual memory | It can be difficult to remember things like how many windows a building has or what a friend's face looks like. Because you don't have a visual memory, you rely on facts instead. |
| Decreased or changed dreaming | Some people with aphantasia dream normally, but others do not dream at all, or their dreams are very vague. Some say they dream not in images, but in words or feelings. |
How do I know if this is available?
Since aphantasia is not a disease, there is no official 'diagnosis' for it. However, there are ways to measure your ability to form images in your mind.
A doctor can get some idea about this from scans (`CT`, `MRI`, `EEG`) that check brain function.
But a more common and easy-to-use method is to use a questionnaire . It's called the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ) . It's a simple 16-question test. You can take it online for free. It asks you to rate how vividly you can imagine four different situations on a scale of 1-5.
If you have a test like this and have any doubts or questions about the results, the best thing to do is talk to your family doctor (physician). He or she can give you the guidance you need.
Is there a treatment for aphantasia?
There is no 'cure' or 'medication' for this. The reason is, as we have said before, that Aphantasia is not a disease. Therefore, there is no need for treatment. Many people live successful lives with this unique way of processing information in their brains without any problems.
However, if you have acquired aphantasia, meaning it was caused by a brain injury, stroke, or mental health issue, it is important to seek treatment for the underlying cause. It is very important to seek medical advice for this.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Aphantasia
What does a person with aphantasia see?
A person with aphantasia sees the world through their own eyes exactly as others see it. There is no difference. The only difference is when they close their eyes and try to imagine an image in their mind. Then they don't see an image.
Is there a connection between aphantasia and intelligence (IQ)?
Some research suggests that people with aphantasia have higher intelligence than those with hyperphantasia. However, there is still limited research on this, so it is not yet possible to say for sure whether there is a link.
Is Aphantasia a type of Autism?
No. Aphantasia is a characteristic of the way a person processes information. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder. Although some research suggests a link between the two, more research is needed to draw firm conclusions.
Take-Home Message
- Aphantasia is a condition where your mind is unable to form images. It is not a disease or a weakness.
- Even though you have lost your mental images, you can still think, remember, and understand information. You use other methods, such as words, facts, and sounds, to do so.
- Many people adapt to life without any problems, not knowing they have this condition.
- If you develop this condition suddenly, after an accident or illness, it is important to talk to a doctor about it and find the underlying cause.
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