Quote:
Originally Posted by arjaybe
There is a hypothesized condition called aphantasia where people can't visualize things. They apparently have no mind's eye. So I guess there's a spectrum for it, with people at either extreme. That would allow for people who can just follow their characters around and describe what they do. As you say, they might be just short of a condition where they don't realize that it's not real. |
My mind's eye is legally blind.
I don't know what the experience of 'seeing' things in one's mind is like bar an confused impression of color (which is rarely correct). As for remembering images (such as faces) my recall is nonexistent but my recognition isn't bad. I can't just look at an image and remember it. I must look, think, categorize and then I may able to construct a description later (although I have a strong tendency to leave out details other people think obvious).
Interestingly, I can feel things with my mind's 'skin' very clearly, which is occasionally disconcerting as I will automatically translate sight into touch and end up with tactile impressions of things I've never actually touched.
This has not interfered one bit with my enjoyment of fiction or my tendency to dream up stories for myself BTW.
My hubby on the other hand can, if he chooses, see something that isn't there (the example he used was 'seeing' one of our cats on the dashboard of our car). I think the critical point is 'if he chooses'.
If I choose I can feel the warmth and weight of an imaginary cat on my lap including the vibration of its purring but I assure you that I'm in no danger of believing in invisible cats.