When she first found out about her afantasia, alice started doubting herself as an artist. She's also built up knowledge over time about anatomy and human proportions that she doesn't need to visualize. So it's kind of like the analogy of using google maps verses reading the directions. Some one else might see their image, but my brain will say, ok, i'm going to do an eight and a half by 11 piece. I'm going to use friend momo as a reference. Alice says apantasia wasn't something that she had to over come. It can be a strength.
Close your eyes and try to imagine an apple. Can you see anything? Aphantasia is the inability to see with your mind’s eye. Since it was discovered, scientists have been asking the question: What is the mind’s eye even for?
This is the fifth episode of our six-part series, Making Sense.
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