Tuesday 23 April 2024

In My 'Mind's Eye' ?

Hyperphantasia is a condition where an individual has a particularly vivid 'mind's eye'. They can visualise recent events in graphic detail. They can even imagine (like William Blake) mystical things. Hyperphantasia may, however, be far from rare. 1 in 30 claim to evidence this form of neurodiversity. Hyperphantasia has now become a topic of scientfic study. It's hoped it will give insights into everything from creative inspiration to mental conditions, like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and psychosis (https://www.theguardian.com/science/2024/apr/20/like-a-film-in-my-mind-hyperphantasia-and-the-quest-to-understand-vivid-imaginations). What then of folk, like myself, with Aphantasia? We effectively have no 'mind's eye'. We can't even 'see' the face of a loved one in our minds! Perhaps, we are completely without 'creative inspiration'? I would argue that we may have other skills. When operating in science, we seem less likely to be distracted by imagined 'solutions' (although Charles Darwin was reportedly Hyperphantasic). Aphantasics are probably more likely stick to the facts, rather than follow expectations. I've actual enjoyed finding things that run contrary to popular predictiuons. We may also prove to be less prone to PTSD and other mental conditions. It seems worth looking as us, as well. In deed, neurodiversity may have survival value for the human species. Different strokes for different folks?

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