this post was submitted on 01 Apr 2024
41 points (90.2% liked)

science

14726 readers
731 users here now

just science related topics. please contribute

note: clickbait sources/headlines aren't liked generally. I've posted crap sources and later deleted or edit to improve after complaints. whoops, sry

Rule 1) Be kind.

lemmy.world rules: https://mastodon.world/about

I don't screen everything, lrn2scroll

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
m3t00@lemmy.world
Joleee@lemmy.world
laverabe@lemmy.world
DeadPand@midwest.social
41
Aphantasia: Why I cannot picture my children in my mind (www.bbc.com)
submitted 7 months ago by MicroWave@lemmy.world to c/science@lemmy.world
7 comments fedilink hide all child comments
 

Most people can picture images in their heads - the look of an apple, the appearance of their kitchen or the smile of their best friend - but not everyone can.

Those who cannot visualise anything in their mind's eye are probably among 1% of people with extreme aphantasia, according to a review of studies on the phenomenon.

They are also less likely to recognise faces, remember the sound of a piece of music or the feel of sandpaper, and more likely to work in science, maths or computing.

And up to 6% of people may experience some degree of aphantasia. 

It is not a disorder and does not imply a lack of imagination but can have subtle effects on everyday life, says Prof Adam Zeman, honorary professor of neurology at the University of Exeter, who came up with the term nearly 10 years ago.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Cyth@lemmy.world 4 points 7 months ago

One of my favorite authors, Mark Lawrence, has this and he does just fine. Funnily he seems to straddle the line of creative / technical since he was a scientist before becoming an author. It's interesting, but like the article says it's not a disorder. Just a different way the brain can work.