I have aphantasia, a mental disorder where I lack all internal visualization. I cannot “picture” things in my mind, I think in words and numbers and such. With this, I am very curious how the mental imagery works for the rest of you. Do you see it separate from your main vision? Does it get interposed? Is it like picture in picture? I’m baffled!
TIA.
In: 55
Like a 3D rendering on a computer screen. It’s always black and white, but you can spin the image and look at it from different angles and build or modify it at will. It’s fairly useful when problem solving any architectural designs. Sometimes it takes more focus than others though.
Personally I think the feeling is similar to being zoned out. Images tend to be very blurry except for the main subject (if I am recalling the scene of a dog running in a grass field, probably the face of the dog is decently defined, everything else blurry to the point of being basically undefinable) and the colors are pretty faded. in my case, it is on top of my actual vision. Considering it is translucent, I still have some perception of my surroundings, but I am not paying attention when I am visualizing something.
Yes, it is separate from your main vision. If an author describes a scene or character, the details come together in your mind. You know how you can use your mind to do two things at once – like driving and singing – well it’s like your mind is seeing two images at once, the actual page in front of you and the imagined scene in your mind
I can imagine things in my mind or in reality. For example: I can see a spinning cartoon magnet in my mind – which disrupts my ability to ‘pay attention’ to my natural surroundings. It’s almost like daydreaming but quicker and less clear.
I can also stick my hand out palm open and imagine a spinning magnet above my palm. I can imagine animals running around my apartment. I think this is why I played with army men and toys till age 14.
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