Are there any benefits to aphantasia?

Aphantasia and Memory They often recall specific imagery that stands out about the memory. This lack of visual memory might have some possible advantages, however. Because aphantasia leads to a lack of visual imagery, people could be less likely to be troubled by intrusive recollections or disturbing flashbacks.

What percentage of the population has aphantasia?

Some people, when asked to form an image, will report they cannot “see” anything. This recently-identified variation of human experience was named in 2015 as aphantasia. It is estimated that 2\% to 5\% of the population have a lifelong inability to generate any images within their mind’s eye.

Is aphantasia a mental disorder?

It seems that aphantasia exists on a spectrum, because some people with the condition report a complete inability to create a mental image while other people have a greatly reduced ability. Many people with aphantasia are self-diagnosed since there are no agreed-upon criteria for diagnosis.

Is aphantasia a real thing?

Aphantasia is the inability to voluntarily create mental images in one’s mind. The phenomenon was first described by Francis Galton in 1880 but has since remained relatively unstudied. Hyperphantasia, the condition of having extremely vivid mental imagery, is the opposite of aphantasia.

How does aphantasia affect learning?

Students with aphantasia can still memorize and recall information. Information is just retrieved without images. In fact, some researchers, such as Dame Gill Morgan from England, believe the lack of mental images may enhance the ability to memorize, as memorization is necessary for recalling information.

Is aphantasia a disability?

Aphantasia as a Disability Because so little is known about it, it is not recognized with other learning disabilities. Those that have aphantasia have other ways of learning and coping without mental images. People who are most affected are those who have acquired aphantasia because they know what they are missing.

Can aphantasia be caused by trauma?

So, at least in our cases, trauma may be associated with aphantasia. It could be genetic or it could be the result of emotional trauma.

How does aphantasia affect memory?

While people with aphantasia lack visual imagery, they appear to have intact spatial memory, which is distinct from imagery and may be stored differently, according to Bainbridge. “Their verbal representations and other compensatory strategies might actually make them better at avoiding false memories.”

How do people with aphantasia learn best?

How do people with aphantasia remember faces?

One finding of Pearson’s team is that people with aphantasia often have good spatial imagery: they can rotate shapes in their minds, even though they can’t visualise them. To do this they seem to use compensatory mechanisms, like imagining how the shape would feel if they turned it in their hands.