noun
- Plural of aphantasia; the condition of being unable to voluntarily create, visualize, or recall mental images in the mind's eye.
Usage: medical/psychological term; relatively recent coinage (early 2000s); often used in neuroscience and psychology contexts
Examples
- Researchers have identified several cases of aphantasias in their study of visual cognition.
- People with aphantasias report that they cannot picture objects or scenes in their minds.
- The prevalence of aphantasias among the general population remains unclear.
- Some individuals with aphantasias compensate by relying more heavily on verbal and spatial reasoning.
- Neuroimaging studies of aphantasias have revealed differences in brain activation patterns.