Aphantasia is the suggested name for a condition where one does not possess a functioning mind's eye and cannot visualize imagery. The phenomenon was first described by Francis Galton in 1880, but has remained largely unstudied since. Interest in the phenomenon renewed after the publication of a study conducted by a team led by Prof. Adam Zeman of the University of Exeter, which also coined the term aphantasia. Research on the subject is still scarce, but further studies are planned.
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History
The phenomenon was first described by Francis Galton in 1880 in a statistical study about mental imagery. Galton described it as a common phenomenon among his peers. However, it remained largely unstudied until 2005, when Prof. Adam Zeman of the University of Exeter was approached by a man who seemed to have lost the ability to visualize after undergoing minor surgery. A team led by Zeman published its findings in 2015, sparking renewed interest in the phenomenon, which they now termed aphantasia. Research on the subject is still scarce, but further studies are being planned.
In popular culture
In April 2016 an essay by Blake Ross was published on Facebook, describing his own aphantasia and his recent realisation that not everyone experiences it. His account gained wide circulation on social media.
Related concepts
Aphantasia is similar to invisible disabilities such as color blindness, face blindness, word blindness, and tone deafness, though aphantasia itself has not been associated with any discomfort, distress, or functional deficits.