J David Muyskens

Aphantasia describes the condition where individuals cannot intentionally create mental images. This stands in contrast to hyperphantasia, which involves exceptionally vivid mental imagery. The phenomenon was initially documented by Francis Galton in 1880, but it remained largely unexplored for many years. Significant attention was rekindled in 2015 following a study led by neurologist Adam Zeman. Zeman's team introduced the term 'aphantasia,' derived from Greek words meaning 'without appearance or image.' People experiencing this are called aphantasics. Early observations noted that many scientists Galton surveyed claimed no experience of mental imagery. Later, a 'typographic visual type' of imagination was described, where individuals perceived ideas as printed words rather than images. This condition gained wider public awareness around 2020 through social media discussions, revealing to many that their own visualization abilities were not universal.

The concept of aphantasia was first brought to light by Francis Galton in 1880 during a study on mental imagery. To his surprise, many scientifically-minded individuals reported having no capacity for mental visualization, viewing the idea as peculiar. The term 'aphantasia' itself was coined much later, in 2015, by Adam Zeman and his colleagues at the University of Exeter. It is derived from the Greek prefix 'a-' (without) and 'phantasia' (appearance or image). This period of renewed interest followed a case study published in 2010 of a patient who lost visualization abilities after surgery, leading others to report lifelong difficulties with mental imagery. The term 'congenital aphantasia' was introduced to describe individuals who have never possessed the ability to voluntarily form mental images.

Modern research into aphantasia, often employing tools like the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ), has revealed that most individuals with aphantasia experience involuntary visualizations, such as during dreams. Studies suggest potential trade-offs in neural systems, possibly impacting emotional intensity in dreams. Research has also explored differences in perceptual priming and visual working memory, with some studies indicating that aphantasics may perform differently on tasks requiring high precision or relying heavily on visual cognition. Furthermore, aphantasia has been linked to reduced imagery in other senses, less vivid autobiographical memories, and differences in spatial memory recall. Some studies have also investigated physiological responses to stimuli, suggesting a connection between visual imagery and emotional amplification.

Beyond visual imagery, research indicates that aphantasia may be associated with reduced auditory imagery, sometimes referred to as 'anauralia,' and a lack of an 'inner voice.' Some studies suggest a correlation between aphantasia and increased autistic traits, alongside noted weaknesses in imagination and social skills. The phenomenon can be congenital (lifelong) or acquired, with cases reported following brain injury, psychological factors, or even illness like COVID-19. Prevalence estimates suggest a small percentage of the population experiences complete absence of visual mental imagery, with a larger percentage having dim or vague imagery. There is also speculation that progressive forms of aphantasia might be an early indicator of dementia.

“To my astonishment, I found that the great majority of the men of science to whom I first applied, protested that mental imagery was unknown to them, and they looked on me as fanciful and fantastic in supposing that the words "mental imagery" really expressed what I believed everybody supposed them to mean. They had no more notion of its true nature than a colour-blind man who has not discerned his defect has of the nature of colour.”