Some people can’t create mental pictures or “see” in their minds—a condition known as aphantasia. This fascinating neurological difference affects how individuals imagine, remember, and even dream. In this article, we’ll explore why some people can’t visualize images, how aphantasia works, its connection to dreams, and what research reveals about the science of mental imagery.
Close your eyes and picture an apple. Do you see a shiny red fruit sitting on a table? Maybe an orchard full of trees or a basket brimming with apples at the market? For most people, these mental images appear effortlessly. But for some, nothing appears at all.
This inability to form mental pictures is known as aphantasia—a fascinating neurological condition where the mind’s eye simply doesn’t visualize. People with aphantasia don’t “see” images in their imagination, yet they can still think, plan, and remember perfectly well.
According to cognitive neuroscientist Joel Pearson, founder of the Future Minds Lab at the University of New South Wales, individuals with aphantasia simply process information differently. He explains that while most people rely on visual imagery, those with aphantasia use alternative mental strategies to reach the same results—much like solving a math problem in a different way but arriving at the same answer.
Why Some People Can’t Visualize Images and May Dream in Words
Close your eyes and picture a sunrise. Can you see it—the colors, the glow, the sky?
For most people, the answer is yes. But for a small percentage of the population, there’s nothing to see at all—just darkness. These individuals experience aphantasia, a condition where the mind’s eye is blind to mental images.
Interestingly, people with aphantasia may also dream in words, sounds, or abstract thoughts rather than vivid pictures. This raises a profound question: What does imagination look like without imagery?
In this article, we’ll uncover what aphantasia is, how it affects visualization and dreaming, what neuroscience says about it, and how those with the condition perceive the world differently.
1. What Is Aphantasia?
Aphantasia is the inability to voluntarily visualize mental images. Coined by neurologist Adam Zeman in 2015, the term describes people who can think about things conceptually but can’t “see” them in their mind.
Example:
When asked to picture a friend’s face, someone with aphantasia knows what their friend looks like but cannot form a visual image of them mentally.
According to a 2023 study from the University of Exeter, about 3–5% of people experience some level of aphantasia.
Key Characteristics of Aphantasia:
- Absence of mental imagery (no “mind’s eye”)
- Ability to recall facts without visual memory
- Often dream in words, sounds, or emotions
- Can still think creatively and conceptually
2. How the Brain Creates—or Fails to Create—Images
Mental imagery is typically linked to the visual cortex in the occipital lobe—the same brain region responsible for sight. In people with aphantasia, studies show reduced activity in these visual areas during imagination tasks.
Research Insight:
A 2021 fMRI study in Cortex Journal found that individuals with aphantasia show minimal neural activation in brain regions associated with visual memory, suggesting a disconnect between thought and sensory imagery.
In simple terms, their brains process ideas without turning them into pictures.
3. Why Some People Dream in Words Instead of Pictures
Dreaming is another fascinating aspect of aphantasia. While most people dream visually, those with the condition often report dreams filled with dialogue, emotions, or abstract concepts instead of scenes or faces.
Possible Explanations Include:
- Different sensory focus: The brain may use verbal or auditory pathways instead of visual ones.
- Reduced visual cortex activity: The same neural difference that affects imagination might also shape how dreams form.
- Individual variation: Some people with partial aphantasia experience vague or muted visuals rather than none at all.
Interestingly, a 2023 survey from the Aphantasia Network found that about 60% of aphantasic individuals dream primarily in non-visual forms.
4. Living Without a Mind’s Eye: Daily Impacts and Advantages
Aphantasia affects memory, creativity, and emotional recall—but not always negatively.
Challenges People May Face:
- Difficulty remembering faces or visual scenes
- Trouble using visualization techniques (like guided imagery)
- Harder time recalling visual details from past experiences
Surprising Strengths:
- Stronger reliance on analytical or verbal thinking
- Reduced likelihood of visual flashbacks or intrusive imagery (helpful for trauma recovery)
- Exceptional skill in abstract reasoning or logic-based problem-solving
Fun Fact:
Famous figures such as Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar, have spoken about having aphantasia—and how it hasn’t hindered their creativity.
5. Can Aphantasia Be “Fixed”? What Research Says
Currently, there’s no cure or medical treatment for aphantasia. However, neuroscience research is exploring neuroplasticity and visualization training as potential ways to strengthen mental imagery.
Some people report minor improvements through:
- Guided meditation or descriptive visualization exercises
- Mindfulness practices that heighten sensory awareness
- Creative arts (writing, music, conceptual design) that use non-visual imagination
However, experts emphasize that aphantasia isn’t a disorder—it’s simply a different way of experiencing thought.
6. The Future of Aphantasia Research
Aphantasia has gained significant scientific attention over the past decade. Researchers are investigating how different types of imagination—visual, auditory, emotional—interact and how this diversity shapes learning and creativity.
Emerging findings suggest that aphantasia exists on a spectrum, with varying levels of visualization ability. As brain imaging techniques advance, we’re gaining deeper insight into how the human mind constructs inner experience—or doesn’t.
FAQ
1. What is aphantasia?
Aphantasia is the inability to visualize images in the mind, affecting how people imagine, remember, and sometimes dream.
2. How common is aphantasia?
It affects about 3–5% of the global population, though awareness is growing.
3. Can people with aphantasia dream?
Yes—but many dream in words, emotions, or concepts rather than vivid visuals.
4. Is aphantasia a disability?
No. It’s considered a neutral cognitive variation, not a disorder.
5. Can aphantasia be treated or reversed?
There’s no known cure, though some people experiment with visualization and mindfulness exercises.
6. Do people with aphantasia lack creativity?
Not at all—many are highly creative, just in non-visual ways such as writing, coding, or problem-solving.
Conclusion
For those who can’t visualize images or dream in pictures, aphantasia offers a fascinating glimpse into the diversity of the human mind. It challenges the idea that imagination must be visual—and reminds us that thought can take many forms.
While science continues to uncover the mysteries of aphantasia, one thing is clear: not seeing with the mind’s eye doesn’t mean not imagining. For some, the inner world is built not from images, but from words, logic, emotion, and sound—and it’s every bit as vivid.