The ability to visualize images in one’s mind is called visual imagery or mental imagery. Some people have extremely vivid mental images, while others have no such images at all. The phenomenon of not being able to voluntarily visualize mental images is called aphantasia. In recent years, there has been growing research and awareness around aphantasia, though historically it has been an understudied topic. This article will explore what percentage of people are estimated to have aphantasia based on the limited research available.
What is Aphantasia?
Aphantasia is the inability to voluntarily create mental images in one’s mind. People with aphantasia are unable to visualize familiar faces, scenes from their memory, or anything at all in their “mind’s eye.” They may still dream at night and have imagery while dreaming, but when awake cannot conjure imagery through conscious effort. Aphantasia is thought to affect all sensory modalities, so people with aphantasia would also be unable to imagine smells, tastes, textures, or sounds.
How Common is Aphantasia?
Given the lack of historical research on visual imagery and aphantasia, it is difficult to pin down exact prevalence rates. However, based on a handful of recent studies, it is estimated that aphantasia affects between 1-3% of people. This means that about 2-3% of the population may have an innate inability to voluntarily create mental images.
One of the first studies to examine the prevalence of aphantasia was conducted at the University of Exeter and published in 2015. This study surveyed over 2000 people and found that 1.8% of respondents self-reported a complete lack of visual imagery. Another 1.2% reported poor visual imagery. So combined, about 3% of respondents met the criteria for aphantasia based on their self-reported abilities.
Other Prevalence Estimates
Another study published in 2018 gave a test of visual imagery to 285 participants. This test, called the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ), asks people to visualize various scenes and rate the vividness of their mental images. Based on responses, 2.1% of participants scored highly suggestive of aphantasia.
In 2019, a study used an online version of the VVIQ to assess over 1000 people. This study found that 1.4% of respondents scored in the range consistent with aphantasia.
Overall, most studies converge on a prevalence rate of 1-3% in the general population for aphantasia based on reported visualization abilities. However, some experts believe this could be an underestimate given that visualization skills are on a spectrum and the cutoff for aphantasia is not perfectly defined. Additionally, many people may not realize they have aphantasia until it is brought to their attention.
Characteristics of People with Aphantasia
What are some general traits and experiences of people who have aphantasia? Here are a few common characteristics:
No Voluntary Mental Imagery
The primary experience of people with aphantasia is the inability to consciously generate mental images. They cannot “see” pictures, faces, scenes or anything else in their mind’s eye, regardless of how hard they try. Some report that the concept of “visualizing” something feels like a figure of speech rather than something they can actually do.
Dream Normally
Most people with aphantasia still have imagery while dreaming at night. So the lack of imagery seems specific to conscious, wakeful efforts. Dreams are often a source of surprise for people with aphantasia as they can experience vivid imagery in dreams that they cannot recreate while awake.
Reliance on Verbal Thinking
To compensate for the lack of voluntary mental imagery, people with aphantasia often report relying heavily on verbal thinking and descriptors. Names, words, facts and concepts are used to remember, think through and describe situations in place of mental pictures.
Difficulty with Facial Recognition
Recognizing faces out of context is often challenging for people with aphantasia. Without the ability to visualize faces, they cannot conjure up mental images of familiar people to help identify them. Some report difficulty recognizing family members or close friends if unexpectedly encountered.
Normal Intelligence and Cognition
People with aphantasia have normal intelligence levels and are able to function fully in daily life. While mental imagery is lacking, other cognitive processes related to memory, learning, attention and language are intact. So aphantasia does not impair overall cognitive functioning.
Possible Causes of Aphantasia
Research into the root causes of aphantasia is still in early stages. There are several theories on contributing factors:
Neurological Differences
Aphantasia may arise from subtle differences in the neurological wiring or architecture of visual processing areas in the brain. Some studies have found less connectivity between the frontal lobe and visual cortex in people with aphantasia compared to controls. However, the exact neurological correlates are still being explored.
Low Cortical Excitability
There is speculation that people with aphantasia may have chronically low levels of excitability in the visual cortex. This could prevent mental imagery from arising even when willed. More research on cortical excitability levels in aphantasia is needed.
Links with Congenital Blindness
Some researchers propose a connection between aphantasia and the lack of visual input in cases of blindness from birth. Rates of aphantasia seem to be higher in those with lifelong blindness, hinting at a role of visual experience in developing imagery skills. However, aphantasia does occur in sighted individuals as well.
Genetic Contributions
Aphantasia is known to run in families, suggesting possible genetic components. However, no “aphantasia gene” has been identified. It likely involves complex interactions between multiple genes that predispose to the condition, rather than one sole genetic cause. More research on the genetics behind aphantasia is required.
Daily Life with Aphantasia
While aphantasia is a neurological difference, most people with aphantasia live full, normal lives and do not feel the lack of mental imagery as a major impairment. However, there are some areas where challenges can arise:
Memory
Episodic memory retrieval may be more difficult without visual cues. People with aphantasia often rely more heavily on semantic memory for facts rather than visual-spatial contextual memory. Memorization techniques relying on visual imagery generally do not work well.
Spatial Navigation
Imagery supports spatial awareness and navigation of environments. Without mental images, people with aphantasia may get lost more easily and struggle with orienting themselves spatially. Landmarks and verbal directions are heavily utilized.
Creative Pursuits
Tasks that leverage mental imagery like visual art, creative writing or design can be more challenging with aphantasia. Alternative, non-visual approaches must be adopted. But creative success is still absolutely possible.
Recreation of Past Events
Reliving memories or imagining hypothetical scenarios is difficult without visual cues. Aphantasia reduces the ability to mentally recreate detailed scenes from one’s past or vividly envision possible future events.
Recognition of Familiar Faces
Facial recognition abilities are reduced for unfamiliar faces. Even familiar loved ones may be unrecognized if unexpectedly encountered out of context due to the inability to visualize their face.
Treatments and Support for Aphantasia
Currently, there are no scientifically validated treatments for aphantasia. Some potential options that have helped some people include:
Mental Imagery Training
Practicing visualization through guided exercises may help strengthen imagery skills in some cases. No programs have been rigorously tested for aphantasia support specifically. Benefits seem limited based on anecdotal reports.
Hypnosis
Hypnosis has subjectively helped a small number of people tap into mental imagery temporarily. However, results seem to be quite variable and the effects temporary. More research is needed on hypnotic approaches.
Learning Coping Strategies
Developing verbal thinking, memory and spatial orientation strategies to compensate for the lack of imagery can help smooth out challenges. Connecting with others with aphantasia to share tips can be very valuable.
Online Communities
Online forums and resources provide support, information and connection for people with aphantasia. Being able to put a name to the experience and realize others share it is often reported as immensely helpful.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
CBT could potentially help address emotional difficulties related to aphantasia, like grief over the loss of imagery skills. More research is needed on CBT approaches tailored to aphantasia.
Famous & Successful People with Aphantasia
While aphantasia is still gaining awareness, a number of famous and highly accomplished people from many different fields are known or believed to have aphantasia:
Ed Catmull
Pixar co-founder and computer animation pioneer Ed Catmull, who revolutionized computer graphics in filmmaking, has aphantasia. He publicly disclosed his lack of mental imagery in 2021.
Glen Keane
Renowned Disney animator Glen Keane, famous for iconic hand-drawn animated films like Aladdin and Beauty and the Beast, has aphantasia as well. He learned to draw solely through technical skill without mental imagery to guide him.
Blake Ross
Blake Ross, co-creator of the web browser Mozilla Firefox, is unable to visualize mental images. He has spoken and written extensively about his experiences with aphantasia.
Dawna Markova
American writer and business consultant Dawna Markova did not realize until adulthood that others could actually visualize what they read. The successful author has complete aphantasia.
Craig Cheaney
Notable Scottish singer-songwriter Craig Cheaney publicly shared his inability to visualize due to lifelong aphantasia and how he has adapted as a musician.
Conclusions
In summary, current research estimates aphantasia affects between 1-3% of the population based on self-reported mental imagery vividness and abilities. People with aphantasia lack voluntary mental images but have normal intelligence, dreaming and overall cognitive function. Possible causes may involve brain connectivity patterns and genetics, but questions remain unanswered. While challenges can arise, aphantasia is compatible with a successful and fulfilling life, as evidenced by many accomplished individuals who have aphantasia. Further research will continue illuminating this fascinating neurological trait and improving support available for those impacted.
| Study | Year | Sample Size | Aphantasia Prevalence |
|---|---|---|---|
| University of Exeter | 2015 | Over 2000 | 1.8% |
| Al-Kitaab et al. | 2018 | 285 | 2.1% |
| Zeman et al. | 2019 | Over 1000 | 1.4% |