Adam Zeman: Can you "see" images in your mind? Some people can't

Can you "see" images in your mind? Some people can't

When reading "Alice's Adventures in Wonderland," most readers visualize the queen’s croquet game play out in their heads. A few might see the scene in vivid detail. However, a small fraction of readers have a drastically different experience: within their heads, they "see" absolutely nothing. Why do some people have an inability to visualize images? Adam Zeman explores the science of aphantasia. [Directed by Biljana Labović, narrated by Alexandra Panzer, music by Cem Misirlioglu, WORKPLAYWORK].

While most people picture scenes vividly in their minds, about 4% cannot visualize images at all—a trait called aphantasia. Mental imagery spans a spectrum, from seeing nothing to experiencing pictures as real as sight itself. Scientists have found that people with aphantasia lack the typical physical responses to imagined events, like pupils narrowing when picturing bright light. Surprisingly, these individuals can still dream in images, and their unique minds may even shield them from certain mental health struggles.