I have a good imagination. After meeting people with aphantasia it seems I have an exceptional ability to call to mind sights, smells, sensations, sounds, and simulate the interactions they would have entirely in my mind. I can imagine a different set of curtains on the wall and tell you if it would clash with your paint, and I can taste a spoonful of a soup and go through a mental library of tastes and combine it with more salt, onion, wine etc and make a suggestion based on what “tasted” the best. I thought everyone could do it but some people don’t have a “mind’s eye” at all. Some people only can see in their imaginations, not smell or taste or hear etc.
It’s funny - I am very good at knowing what will look good, design sense is strong, and I can throw together food and know what it will taste like.
But I wouldn’t say I literally see or taste when I do this. It’s a different sort of perception.
I do absolutely see, hear, taste and feel in dreams so I know my mind CAN do it, it’s just not how I figure things out, it’s a different sort of imagining.
Same, but it sounds like you’re a little better than I. Reading posts on reddit years ago was what made me realize that some people can’t picture things in their head.
I have a good imagination. After meeting people with aphantasia it seems I have an exceptional ability to call to mind sights, smells, sensations, sounds, and simulate the interactions they would have entirely in my mind. I can imagine a different set of curtains on the wall and tell you if it would clash with your paint, and I can taste a spoonful of a soup and go through a mental library of tastes and combine it with more salt, onion, wine etc and make a suggestion based on what “tasted” the best. I thought everyone could do it but some people don’t have a “mind’s eye” at all. Some people only can see in their imaginations, not smell or taste or hear etc.
It’s funny - I am very good at knowing what will look good, design sense is strong, and I can throw together food and know what it will taste like.
But I wouldn’t say I literally see or taste when I do this. It’s a different sort of perception.
I do absolutely see, hear, taste and feel in dreams so I know my mind CAN do it, it’s just not how I figure things out, it’s a different sort of imagining.
Same, but it sounds like you’re a little better than I. Reading posts on reddit years ago was what made me realize that some people can’t picture things in their head.
I’m a solid 1 on this scale, had assumed everyone else was as well.
The downside is that when I get a song stuck in my head, it’s really in there.