How Does We Don't All Have a "Mind's Eye" | Aphantasia Work?

We don’t all have a "mind’s eye" because some people can't picture things in their head like others do, this is called aphantasia.

Imagine you're reading a story about a giant red balloon floating up into the sky. Most kids can imagine that balloon in their head, like they’re looking at it through a window. But for someone with aphantasia, it’s more like reading about a balloon, they know it's there, but they can’t see it.

Think of aphantasia like listening to music without actually hearing the notes. You know the song is playing, and you might even feel happy or excited, but you can't picture what the music looks like, it’s just a sound in your head, not something you can see.

Most people have a "mind's eye", it’s like having a little screen inside their brain where they can watch things happen. But for some, that screen is turned off or doesn’t work the same way. They still understand what they’re reading or being told, but they don't see it.

It's like knowing your favorite toy is in the box, but you just can’t picture it, you know it’s there, but it feels more like a feeling than a picture.