aphantasia

American  

[ay-fan-tay-zhuh] / ˌeɪ fænˈteɪ ʒə /

noun

1. the inability to voluntarily recall or form mental images.

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Example Sentences

Those who cannot visualise anything in their mind's eye are probably among 1% of people with extreme aphantasia, according to a review of studies on the phenomenon.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2024

"The connectivity between the hippocampus and the visual cortex correlated with the imagination in people without aphantasia, whereas there was no correlation in those affected," explains Leelaarporn.

From Science Daily • Feb. 27, 2024

When people visualize dark and light objects, their pupils dilate—unless they happen to have aphantasia.

From Scientific American • Jul. 20, 2023

But Dr. Segerman has aphantasia, an inability to construct mental pictures, or “visually hallucinate images at will,” as he puts it.

From New York Times • Jan. 1, 2023

Williams says he learned early in the directorial process that he lives with aphantasia, an inability to visualize mental images in one’s mind.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 14, 2022