Name: Can you picture things in your mind? I can't
Uploaded: 2026-01-13T16:02:54Z
Duration: 7 min 43 s
Description: Picture this: a rocket ship crash-lands on a planet, and an alien approaches the spacecraft. What do you see in your mind when you visualize this scene? For Alex Rosenthal (and many others), the answer is: absolutely nothing. Exploring the fascinating science of aphantasia, or the inability to generate mental images, he shows why our minds are much more different than we think.

Picture this: a rocket ship crash-lands on a planet, and an alien approaches the spacecraft. What do you see in your mind when you visualize this scene? For Alex Rosenthal (and many others), the answer is: absolutely nothing. Exploring the fascinating science of aphantasia, or the inability to generate mental images, he shows why our minds are much more different than we think.

Can you picture things in your mind? I can't

Puzzle wizard, editorial director of TED-Ed Animations

People process reality in remarkably different ways, from seeing vivid mental images to none at all. Around two to four percent experience aphantasia, the inability to visualize, while others have hyperphantasia and picture scenes with striking clarity. These invisible differences shape how individuals remember, solve problems, and collaborate. Embracing diverse ways of thinking unlocks new forms of creativity and innovation in teams and communities.

Neurological Diversity Is the Secret Engine of Creativity

Brains process the world in remarkably different ways, sometimes as stark as being unable to picture a rocket ship landing on a planet. Around two to four percent of people have aphantasia, meaning they cannot form mental images, while others experience vivid internal movies. These differences shape everything from memory to creativity. Teams that embrace cognitive diversity consistently outperform those with similar minds, revealing that what seems like a deficit can actually drive innovation.