Aphantasia (Inability to Visualize): What It Is, Triggers, & How to Cope

What Is Aphantasia?

Aphantasia is the inability of someone to process images through their mind’s eye. They are not able to create mental images of objects and scenarios and are unable to visualize these things in their mind mentally. This may include difficulties trying to picture places, objects, faces/people, and scenes. People who have aphantasia use other types of sensory processes to decipher information, such as verbalized descriptions and logical reasoning, to aid in the process of mental visualizations.¹

The Aphantasia Spectrum

Someone with aphantasia may process information the same as everyone else, however, they are unable to create mental images to go along with their processing. This means that if they are asked to visualize a situation or object, they may struggle to come up with pictures in their mind. In this scenario, their mind stays blank, and they are unable to come up with a mental image of the object. This occurs despite their being able to see the object and identify it in person. Some people may be able to visualize images more than others, as the ability to visualize exists on a spectrum, and some people might have partial or grayscale imagery.²

Not everyone experiences aphantasia the same way, and variations include:

• Experiencing a complete lack of images
• Inability to imagine other senses
• Dim or grayscale visuals

Signs Of Aphantasia

There may be some common and some uncommon signs of aphantasia. Some of the obvious signs include an inability to picture objects in your mind and difficulty recalling past experiences.³

Other signs of aphantasia include:

• Partial or vague mental pictures
• No vivid memories
• Poor memory
• Difficulty with imaging future or past situations
• Inability to recognize faces
• Challenges with other mental and sensory inputs like sight and touch

Common Triggers & Causes

There is no understood cause of aphantasia. However, it is believed that it can be congenital or brought on by traumatic brain injuries. Some other neurological conditions may also trigger instances of aphantasia. When aphantasia is congenital, it is likely going to be there your whole life. As a result, they may not realize they have this trait to begin with. If someone develops aphantasia later on in life as a result of an illness or diagnosis, it can be harder to reconcile the loss of the mind’s eye.³

What Does The Research Say About Aphantasia?

Aphantasia is still a new phenomenon that scientists are still learning about. It is understood to be an uncommon trait that about 1%-5% of the population experiences. According to current research, this trait is a condition of how the neural pathways develop and change over time. There is currently no test or cure for this trait, and coming up with a diagnosis can be challenging as there are many other sensory processing disorders that can occur with aphantasia that can be related.⁴

Is Aphantasia A Type of Autism?

Aphantasia is not a type of autism. Though those with autism also experience poor mental imagery, it is common for those with aphantasia to have other traits that mimic autism. Another common co-occurrence with aphantasia that mirrors autism is inconsistent social skills or an inability to read social cues. It is important to note that aphantasia is not a diagnosis or condition on its own, rather, it can be categorized as a neurodivergent trait.⁵

Aphantasia & Memory

Aphantasia can impact learning and memory as many people use visual cues to learn. Imagery is a big component in how people learn and remember things, so those with aphantasia may struggle with memory recall and retaining information and may rely on other sensory processing techniques. This may include verbal instructions, written instructions, and step-by-step hands-on learning.⁶

Living With Aphantasia

Someone with aphantasia might experience life differently than others. Aphantasia differentiates between external and internal sensory experiences. Those with aphantasia may need more external sensory imagery to help conjure up an internal image or help process something. This may be done by using other sensory inputs, such as what they see, hear, smell, and touch. It can cause distress and anxiety when trying to recall important events and people and have difficulty doing so. There may also be potential benefits someone may experience from aphantasia such as not reliving certain life events that may have been painful to experience.⁷

How To Cope

Coping with aphantasia can be challenging, but there are ways to cope and gain support. There are many online forums available for those with this characteristic where people can come together and share coping strategies and feel less isolated. There can be a perceived stigma. However, it is important to note that having this characteristic does not indicate a cognitive condition, and many people live happy, full lives with this trait that involves a great deal of imagination and creativity.

Many with aphantasia develop unique coping strategies such as:

• Relying on verbal or analytical thinking
• Strengthening other senses
• Utilizing auditory or tactile aids

When to Seek Professional Help

If you are struggling to recall and place objects, faces, and images in your mind, and it is triggering anxiety or depression, it is time to seek professional support. You can search an online therapist directory and use an online therapy platform to help get connected to the service. It is a good idea to find someone who specializes in aphantasia or other neurodivergent conditions or neuropsychological conditions.