"The mind's eye"/Mental Visualization - Do you have Aphantasia??
Comments
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That is interesting amethrgr8 - I am not sure I really understand how one can visualize something but not be able to reproduce it in a painting or drawing. But I guess of course that is often the case, since if it weren't everyone would be an amazing artist!amethgr8 said:Self discovery is a great thing!
I learned people don't thing the same, hear the same, etc. We are all different in so many ways and it can be our asset or liability based on how we live and learn.
to learn a new character or symbol, I would look at the board or book example and just copy. Once that symbol was committed to memory (which is different than ability to visualize) I am able to reproduce it. I can visualize images in my head, but cannot reproduce them in a painting or drawing. I know what Bart Simpson looks like but not so much I can reproduce it, not sure I could accurately describe it.
i can imagine myself flying like super an, riding a horse, a wide variety of things. If you give me a blank room and tell me to build my dream kitchen, I have a hard time imagining my perfect kitchen. If I had multiple choice of kitchens, I could pick one.
fwiw pj soul, I think your posts are of the most insightful, sensitive and down to earth as anyone with a different way of thinking.
Do you think this has something to do with the link between thought or memory and dexterity or motor control??
And thank you, that is very kind of you to say that.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0 -
Holy, I hadn't thought of that. Yes, I can see how that would be awful and invasive. I can certainly recall something terrible I've seen, but only emotionally and in terms of the facts, like a description of the scene (which is bad enough), not in any visual way. That extra layer of recall could certainly be very disturbing... Hmm. I wonder if aphantasia has any impact on PTSD for soldiers or other victims of extreme trauma?? That would be interesting statistic to look into. Perhaps those who can't visualize are not so negatively impacted because they at least don't have to suffer from having those images actually in their heads. Of course up until the other day, I thought "having those images in your head" meant something completely different than what it actually means... Knowing what it really means changes my concept of trauma as it is experienced by others in a really big way.RogueStoner said:
Me too! Perfect way to describe it...like nonstop movies. I'm sure you've read about some of them. Imagine what you'd all think if I shared all the visions in my mind.chadwick said:never heard of this. i'm having a difficult time grasping this condition. for me, i'm bombarded, i've nonstop movies goin on.
I never knew this existed, so its interesting to know how people "see" (or don't see) things. I've come to rely so much on what I see in my mind...can't imagine life without it. But it has major drawbacks. Like when I'm reading a news story and I can "see" the accident, the abuse, whatever it may be. That part is awful. And very invasive.
Post edited by PJ_Soul onWith all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0 -
No shit! I took this test and actually thought I had done pretty well:PJ_Soul said:
Sounds like you have an issue with spatial visualization maybe?? Have you ever taken a spatial visualization test? There are many of them online.brianlux said:A little off topic, I suppose, but what this reminds me of is that some people have a great ability to visualize something that is not there. For example, if I see a room that is arranged in a way that is pleasing to me, I know it right away. But give me an empty room and ask me to fill it with familiar objects, and I'm pretty much at a loss. I will break my back moving every piece of furniture and putting every picture on every wall in every possible combination before I can say, "Ah ha! That looks good!" Makes me crazy!
https://www.123test.com/spatial-reasoning-test/id=1YJO4E1WKVJK
And then I looked at my results: "You answered 0 out of 10 questions correctly."
Honest to God. Shit!
"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0 -
brianlux said:
No shit! I took this test and actually thought I had done pretty well:PJ_Soul said:
Sounds like you have an issue with spatial visualization maybe?? Have you ever taken a spatial visualization test? There are many of them online.brianlux said:A little off topic, I suppose, but what this reminds me of is that some people have a great ability to visualize something that is not there. For example, if I see a room that is arranged in a way that is pleasing to me, I know it right away. But give me an empty room and ask me to fill it with familiar objects, and I'm pretty much at a loss. I will break my back moving every piece of furniture and putting every picture on every wall in every possible combination before I can say, "Ah ha! That looks good!" Makes me crazy!
https://www.123test.com/spatial-reasoning-test/id=1YJO4E1WKVJK
And then I looked at my results: "You answered 0 out of 10 questions correctly."
Honest to God. Shit!
Well I guess that puzzle is solved! 
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0 -
I'm glad you can laugh with me.PJ_Soul said:brianlux said:
No shit! I took this test and actually thought I had done pretty well:PJ_Soul said:
Sounds like you have an issue with spatial visualization maybe?? Have you ever taken a spatial visualization test? There are many of them online.brianlux said:A little off topic, I suppose, but what this reminds me of is that some people have a great ability to visualize something that is not there. For example, if I see a room that is arranged in a way that is pleasing to me, I know it right away. But give me an empty room and ask me to fill it with familiar objects, and I'm pretty much at a loss. I will break my back moving every piece of furniture and putting every picture on every wall in every possible combination before I can say, "Ah ha! That looks good!" Makes me crazy!
https://www.123test.com/spatial-reasoning-test/id=1YJO4E1WKVJK
And then I looked at my results: "You answered 0 out of 10 questions correctly."
Honest to God. Shit!
Well I guess that puzzle is solved!
"It's a sad and beautiful world"-Roberto Benigni0 -
Close enough!PJ_Soul said:
Wow, another interesting point. I hadn't considered the fact that you all have mental images of each other!Thoughts_Arrive said:I often have these mental images of what you guys and girls all look like.
PJ_Soul, you are brunette with glasses.
I am not brunette - I've got long, dark blond hair. Interestingly, I never wore glasses until maybe 2 months ago. I just got my first prescription (and I mostly only wear them at work or at a concert or movie). If you've had that mental image longer than that, maybe you're psychic!
Adelaide 17/11/2009, Melbourne 20/11/2009, Sydney 22/11/2009, Melbourne (Big Day Out Festival) 24/01/20140 -
I thought that test was challenging but did pretty well. It takes all types of thinkers to gain balance in the universe and on the forum! I'm not sure what trains a young brain for this or that. We had a lot of outdoor activities as children, farm chores, bicycles, motor bikes, horses, racing, obstacles corse-Inge each other, swimming, sparring, there were four of us till we started school. Played monopoly, clue, life, war, rummy, solitaire, cartoons at certain times. Public schooling, some religion. "They say" a human general personality is formed in the first two years of life and I can't remember what I was exposed to during that time, so who knows. We are all here for our own purpose and our specific thinking patterns are to that end, Taylormade for each, eh....Post edited by amethgr8 onAmy The Great #74594
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Oooh. I love the way you think. I know what I'm googling when I can't sleep tonight.PJ_Soul said:
Holy, I hadn't thought of that. Yes, I can see how that would be awful and invasive. I can certainly recall something terrible I've seen, but only emotionally and in terms of the facts, like a description of the scene (which is bad enough), not in any visual way. That extra layer of recall could certainly be very disturbing... Hmm. I wonder if aphantasia has any impact on PTSD for soldiers or other victims of extreme trauma?? That would be interesting statistic to look into. Perhaps those who can't visualize are so negatively impacted because they at least don't have to suffer from having those images actually in their heads. Of course up until the other day, I thought "having those images in your head" meant something completely different than what it actually means... Knowing what it really means changes my concept of trauma as it is experienced by others in a really big way.RogueStoner said:
Me too! Perfect way to describe it...like nonstop movies. I'm sure you've read about some of them. Imagine what you'd all think if I shared all the visions in my mind.chadwick said:never heard of this. i'm having a difficult time grasping this condition. for me, i'm bombarded, i've nonstop movies goin on.
I never knew this existed, so its interesting to know how people "see" (or don't see) things. I've come to rely so much on what I see in my mind...can't imagine life without it. But it has major drawbacks. Like when I'm reading a news story and I can "see" the accident, the abuse, whatever it may be. That part is awful. And very invasive.
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I've definitely pictured you naked.PJ_Soul said:
Oh my god, I hadn't even thought of that!!!HughFreakingDillon said:rgambs said:Ok, I don't want to freak you out, but I'm gonna lol
You realize now that the phrase "picture you naked" is literal?
oh, is it ever! ... Holy shit.... 
That is actually a little unsettling, lol. WOW! #FHP0 -
that song is the first thing I thought of when I saw this thread!PJ_Soul said:
I forgot all about Wolfmother and haven't listened to them in years - thanks for the reminder! That is a solid song!eeriepadave said:By The Time They Figure Out What Went Wrong, We'll Be Sitting On A Beach, Earning Twenty Percent.0 -
maybe this is why I have so much trouble. when I read something, I am literally IN the situation. When the Greyhound bus decapitation happened, I couldn't stop imagining every single gory detail about it. It literally put me in an emotional tailspin. I couldn't get it out of my mind for months. It was the straw of my emotional breakdown back then.RogueStoner said:
Me too! Perfect way to describe it...like nonstop movies. I'm sure you've read about some of them. Imagine what you'd all think if I shared all the visions in my mind.chadwick said:never heard of this. i'm having a difficult time grasping this condition. for me, i'm bombarded, i've nonstop movies goin on.
I never knew this existed, so its interesting to know how people "see" (or don't see) things. I've come to rely so much on what I see in my mind...can't imagine life without it. But it has major drawbacks. Like when I'm reading a news story and I can "see" the accident, the abuse, whatever it may be. That part is awful. And very invasive.By The Time They Figure Out What Went Wrong, We'll Be Sitting On A Beach, Earning Twenty Percent.0 -
Wow. had some time to think about this and I would def say that I suffer from this disorder.
Pretty amazing when I have conversations with other people. they can't believe that I can't "see" images in my mind.
I had no idea that people had that ability. so weird. so weird.
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Interesting choice of words. That is about how I thought about it when I first made this discovery as well.... Now my thoughts on that have changed somewhat, but I am still very much processing it all (clearly I'm obsessing about it ... which is just fine with me. It's the most intriguing thing I've been confronted with in a long time... probably ever).lolobugg said:Wow. had some time to think about this and I would def say that I suffer from this disorder.
Pretty amazing when I have conversations with other people. they can't believe that I can't "see" images in my mind.
I had no idea that people had that ability. so weird. so weird.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0 -
Horos said:
I've definitely pictured you naked.PJ_Soul said:
Oh my god, I hadn't even thought of that!!!HughFreakingDillon said:rgambs said:Ok, I don't want to freak you out, but I'm gonna lol
You realize now that the phrase "picture you naked" is literal?
oh, is it ever! ... Holy shit.... That is actually a little unsettling, lol. WOW! So I mentioned this to a gay co-worker - told him someone online informed me that he and pretty much everyone else can visualize me naked any time he wants, and isn't that funny? - and my co-worker took that way more dramatically than I expected. He was like, "Oh my god! Don't say that! I'm leaving, lol! Just stop!" So I was all, "wtf?? Why are you running away?? What's wrong with what I said?!" And he said, "Duh, because I can visualize Alli! This is not appropriate!!" Wow!! I sincerely hadn't considered that part of it, lol!
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0 -
that was a bit dramatic. I would have just stood there looking at you blankly and drooled.PJ_Soul said:Horos said:
I've definitely pictured you naked.PJ_Soul said:
Oh my god, I hadn't even thought of that!!!HughFreakingDillon said:rgambs said:Ok, I don't want to freak you out, but I'm gonna lol
You realize now that the phrase "picture you naked" is literal?
oh, is it ever! ... Holy shit.... That is actually a little unsettling, lol. WOW! So I mentioned this to a gay co-worker - told him someone online informed me that he and pretty much everyone else can visualize me naked any time he wants, and isn't that funny? - and my co-worker took that way more dramatically than I expected. He was like, "Oh my god! Don't say that! I'm leaving, lol! Just stop!" So I was all, "wtf?? Why are you running away?? What's wrong with what I said?!" And he said, "Duh, because I can visualize Alli! This is not appropriate!!" Wow!! I sincerely hadn't considered that part of it, lol! By The Time They Figure Out What Went Wrong, We'll Be Sitting On A Beach, Earning Twenty Percent.0 -
Yeah, but he's gay, and is actually newly out of the closet because he's from an extremely traditional, religious, Eastern European family. So I think female sexuality is a dark mystery to him anyhow, and an uncomfortable topic.HughFreakingDillon said:
that was a bit dramatic. I would have just stood there looking at you blankly and drooled.PJ_Soul said:Horos said:
I've definitely pictured you naked.PJ_Soul said:
Oh my god, I hadn't even thought of that!!!HughFreakingDillon said:rgambs said:Ok, I don't want to freak you out, but I'm gonna lol
You realize now that the phrase "picture you naked" is literal?
oh, is it ever! ... Holy shit.... That is actually a little unsettling, lol. WOW! So I mentioned this to a gay co-worker - told him someone online informed me that he and pretty much everyone else can visualize me naked any time he wants, and isn't that funny? - and my co-worker took that way more dramatically than I expected. He was like, "Oh my god! Don't say that! I'm leaving, lol! Just stop!" So I was all, "wtf?? Why are you running away?? What's wrong with what I said?!" And he said, "Duh, because I can visualize Alli! This is not appropriate!!" Wow!! I sincerely hadn't considered that part of it, lol!
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0 -
It just drew a picture of an extremely stereotypical "gay guy" response, that's all.PJ_Soul said:
Yeah, but he's gay, and is actually newly out of the closet because he's from an extremely traditional, religious, Eastern European family. So I think female sexuality is a dark mystery to him anyhow, and an uncomfortable topic.HughFreakingDillon said:
that was a bit dramatic. I would have just stood there looking at you blankly and drooled.PJ_Soul said:Horos said:
I've definitely pictured you naked.PJ_Soul said:
Oh my god, I hadn't even thought of that!!!HughFreakingDillon said:rgambs said:Ok, I don't want to freak you out, but I'm gonna lol
You realize now that the phrase "picture you naked" is literal?
oh, is it ever! ... Holy shit.... That is actually a little unsettling, lol. WOW! So I mentioned this to a gay co-worker - told him someone online informed me that he and pretty much everyone else can visualize me naked any time he wants, and isn't that funny? - and my co-worker took that way more dramatically than I expected. He was like, "Oh my god! Don't say that! I'm leaving, lol! Just stop!" So I was all, "wtf?? Why are you running away?? What's wrong with what I said?!" And he said, "Duh, because I can visualize Alli! This is not appropriate!!" Wow!! I sincerely hadn't considered that part of it, lol! By The Time They Figure Out What Went Wrong, We'll Be Sitting On A Beach, Earning Twenty Percent.0 -
Well it was an accurate picture, so I guess he's a stereotypical gay guy? .... I mean, he used to be a male cheerleader, and is now a girl's cheerleading coach in his free time, he says "oh snap!" on occasion, he loves to shop, he talks about skin and hair products, he complains about being too fat even though he looks like a 6'2" Greek God, lol, he wears clicky men's dress shoes, and he gets really excited about Christmas decorations and shopping for throw pillows online, lol. Is that stereotypically gay? Yes, nobody could say it's not. Stereotypes exist for a reason, haha. And that works for me. This guy is my favorite person in the whole office by a long shot.HughFreakingDillon said:
It just drew a picture of an extremely stereotypical "gay guy" response, that's all.PJ_Soul said:
Yeah, but he's gay, and is actually newly out of the closet because he's from an extremely traditional, religious, Eastern European family. So I think female sexuality is a dark mystery to him anyhow, and an uncomfortable topic.HughFreakingDillon said:
that was a bit dramatic. I would have just stood there looking at you blankly and drooled.PJ_Soul said:Horos said:
I've definitely pictured you naked.PJ_Soul said:
Oh my god, I hadn't even thought of that!!!HughFreakingDillon said:rgambs said:Ok, I don't want to freak you out, but I'm gonna lol
You realize now that the phrase "picture you naked" is literal?
oh, is it ever! ... Holy shit.... That is actually a little unsettling, lol. WOW! So I mentioned this to a gay co-worker - told him someone online informed me that he and pretty much everyone else can visualize me naked any time he wants, and isn't that funny? - and my co-worker took that way more dramatically than I expected. He was like, "Oh my god! Don't say that! I'm leaving, lol! Just stop!" So I was all, "wtf?? Why are you running away?? What's wrong with what I said?!" And he said, "Duh, because I can visualize Alli! This is not appropriate!!" Wow!! I sincerely hadn't considered that part of it, lol!
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0 -
sounds like Will and Grace. LOLPJ_Soul said:
Well it was an accurate picture, so I guess he's a stereotypical gay guy? .... I mean, he used to be a male cheerleader, and is now a girl's cheerleading coach in his free time, he says "oh snap!" on occasion, he loves to shop, he talks about skin and hair products, he complains about being too fat even though he looks like a 6'2" Greek God, lol, he wears clicky men's dress shoes, and he gets really excited about Christmas decorations and shopping for throw pillows online, lol. Is that stereotypically gay? Yes, nobody could say it's not. Stereotypes exist for a reason, haha. And that works for me. This guy is my favorite person in the whole office by a long shot.HughFreakingDillon said:
It just drew a picture of an extremely stereotypical "gay guy" response, that's all.PJ_Soul said:
Yeah, but he's gay, and is actually newly out of the closet because he's from an extremely traditional, religious, Eastern European family. So I think female sexuality is a dark mystery to him anyhow, and an uncomfortable topic.HughFreakingDillon said:
that was a bit dramatic. I would have just stood there looking at you blankly and drooled.PJ_Soul said:Horos said:
I've definitely pictured you naked.PJ_Soul said:
Oh my god, I hadn't even thought of that!!!HughFreakingDillon said:rgambs said:Ok, I don't want to freak you out, but I'm gonna lol
You realize now that the phrase "picture you naked" is literal?
oh, is it ever! ... Holy shit.... That is actually a little unsettling, lol. WOW! So I mentioned this to a gay co-worker - told him someone online informed me that he and pretty much everyone else can visualize me naked any time he wants, and isn't that funny? - and my co-worker took that way more dramatically than I expected. He was like, "Oh my god! Don't say that! I'm leaving, lol! Just stop!" So I was all, "wtf?? Why are you running away?? What's wrong with what I said?!" And he said, "Duh, because I can visualize Alli! This is not appropriate!!" Wow!! I sincerely hadn't considered that part of it, lol! By The Time They Figure Out What Went Wrong, We'll Be Sitting On A Beach, Earning Twenty Percent.0 -
HughFreakingDillon said:
sounds like Will and Grace. LOLPJ_Soul said:
Well it was an accurate picture, so I guess he's a stereotypical gay guy? .... I mean, he used to be a male cheerleader, and is now a girl's cheerleading coach in his free time, he says "oh snap!" on occasion, he loves to shop, he talks about skin and hair products, he complains about being too fat even though he looks like a 6'2" Greek God, lol, he wears clicky men's dress shoes, and he gets really excited about Christmas decorations and shopping for throw pillows online, lol. Is that stereotypically gay? Yes, nobody could say it's not. Stereotypes exist for a reason, haha. And that works for me. This guy is my favorite person in the whole office by a long shot.HughFreakingDillon said:
It just drew a picture of an extremely stereotypical "gay guy" response, that's all.PJ_Soul said:
Yeah, but he's gay, and is actually newly out of the closet because he's from an extremely traditional, religious, Eastern European family. So I think female sexuality is a dark mystery to him anyhow, and an uncomfortable topic.HughFreakingDillon said:
that was a bit dramatic. I would have just stood there looking at you blankly and drooled.PJ_Soul said:Horos said:
I've definitely pictured you naked.PJ_Soul said:
Oh my god, I hadn't even thought of that!!!HughFreakingDillon said:rgambs said:Ok, I don't want to freak you out, but I'm gonna lol
You realize now that the phrase "picture you naked" is literal?
oh, is it ever! ... Holy shit.... That is actually a little unsettling, lol. WOW! So I mentioned this to a gay co-worker - told him someone online informed me that he and pretty much everyone else can visualize me naked any time he wants, and isn't that funny? - and my co-worker took that way more dramatically than I expected. He was like, "Oh my god! Don't say that! I'm leaving, lol! Just stop!" So I was all, "wtf?? Why are you running away?? What's wrong with what I said?!" And he said, "Duh, because I can visualize Alli! This is not appropriate!!" Wow!! I sincerely hadn't considered that part of it, lol! I never even thought of that, lol.
With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy. ~ Desiderata0
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c5-FsZc_Als
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