Neurodiversity Advent Calendar

Day 5 - Aphantasia

❓ What Is It ❓

It is an inability to 'voluntarily create mental images'. People with aphantasia cannot visualise scenes, faces or objects. Basically the opposite of a strong visual memory.

For example: You can ask someone with aphantasia to visualise a beach. They know what a beach looks like but cannot create that image in their mind.

❓How can this feel ❓

Aphantasia does not affect cognitive function, however, individuals will rely on other cognitive senses like logical and verbal thinking. Having aphantasia can go undiagnosed and the individual could be unaware until comparing themselves to others and it can lead to confusion or frustration.

❓ What's the big deal❓

Having aphantasia does not mean they are any less creative and they tend to have strong verbal and analytical skills. As mentioned, it doesn't affect cognitive function but it can affect how people do tasks

People with aphantasia will know and remember details but they will not be able to visualise faces, objects or scenes. Imagine you're in a meeting about a design project and everyone is asked to 'imagine a building lit up with Christmas light' - someone with this will not be able to visualise this even though they know what Christmas lights look like and what the building looks like.

🌟 Notable people with Aphantasia

Ed Catmull (Co-founder of Pixar and former president of Walt Disney Animation Studios)

Blake Ross (Co-creator of Mozilla Firefox)

Laura Kate Dale

James Harkin

These people have proven that having aphantasia does not have to be a barrier to success with the right tools and support. A lot of notable people with it have become successful authors.

It is estimated that 2-5% of the population have aphantasia 🧮

Come back tomorrow for the next and see if you've heard of all 20!

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