Now that we know what aphantasia is, you might wonder (well, you probably didn’t, but hey, it is my duty to inform you): how do people with it function in daily life? The answer might surprise you—they do just fine. In fact, many people with aphantasia go through much of their lives not knowing they’re any different, until a conversation or test reveals it.
Someone with aphantasia might read a novel and enjoy the plot without picturing the characters or scenes. Their memory is often based on facts and concepts rather than vivid recollections. Ask them to describe a beach, and they might tell you “there was sand, water, and umbrellas” rather than painting a mental picture. Their dreams can vary—some experience visual dreams, others don’t. And while some feel it’s a limitation, others see it as a relief: fewer mental distractions, less rumination, and a different kind of creative freedom.
Interestingly, creativity isn’t hindered by aphantasia. Many artists, composers, and scientists with the condition have found alternative mental strategies. Rather than “seeing” their ideas, they might think spatially, logically, or through physical sketches and diagrams. Renowned figures like Ed Catmull, co-founder of Pixar, have openly discussed having aphantasia—and it clearly didn’t stop him from building a world of imaginative stories.
Aphantasia raises big questions about the diversity of human cognition. For years, we assumed that mental imagery was universal, but this condition reveals that the mind has many ways to imagine, remember, and create. It’s a reminder that our internal worlds can be wildly different—and that’s not a flaw, but part of the beautiful complexity of being human. As neuroscience continues to evolve, we may uncover even more cognitive variations that reshape how we think about thinking itself.
RELATED POSTS
View all
