So even individuals who “think in words” are reliant on subconscious imagery. While the visual-verbal distinction has a certain utility, it’s also true that language is in many respects fashioned on our visual observations. Those who don’t experience a lot of mental imagery may… fancy themselves a “verbal” person. Moreover, those with aphantasia may consider themselves “verbal” thinkers, that is, as “thinking in words.” But as I argue in my aforementioned post, language is in many regards constructed on images, as well as spatial metaphors, both of which may operate just beneath the surface of consciousness: However, I will contend, in concert with professor Bill Faw’s discussion, that their spatial abilities are very much intact and are merely functioning unconsciously or subliminally. Granted, those with aphantasia may report low conscious levels of spatial imagery. The reverse is generally true in females. Even as children, males are more drawn to moving objects-to “physics” if you will-than they are to human faces. Spatial visualization can be traced back to higher testosterone levels, which tend to be significantly higher in men than women. Those using this style often prefer schematic diagrams and sketches when reading a textbook, can sketch blueprints for familiar buildings from memory, can intuitively “wayfind” without landmarks, and may excel in mechanical / spatial reasoning. ![]() The mental imagery of spatial visualizers omits many of an object’s details in favor of its general contours. The second style, spatial visualization, emphasizes visual features like location, movement, spatial relations and other spatial attributes. Object visualization involves seeing or recalling mental images of objects / scenes with full color, vividness, and detail-which appears to be the most salient and talked about deficit of those with aphantasia. According to scientist Maria Kozhevnikov, there are two distinct styles of visualization: object and spatial. Most of the aphantasia papers, as well as the instruments used to measure it (e.g., Vividness of Visual Imagery Quiz or “VVIQ”), seem geared toward a particular type of visualization called object visualization. Feelers: Visual, Spatial & Verbal, which we will consult at various points for the remainder of this post. Much of the background for this assertion can be found in my post, Cognitive Styles of Thinkers vs. In light of its ostensible correlation with male gender, I will hypothesize that men are prone to aphantasia for the same reasons they are disposed to spatial rather than object visualization. ![]() Is Male Gender the Primary Factor in Aphantasia? Since the general characteristics of aphantasia have been well described elsewhere, in this post we will discuss a couple of oft-overlooked issues that may be critical to understanding the underlying causes of aphantasia. Preliminary findings suggest that aphantasia affects about 2% of the population, predominantly those of male gender. Although aphantasia was described as early as 1880 by Francis Galton, it didn’t receive its official scientific name until 2015.Īs of 2021, we still know relatively little about this phenomenon. Aphantasia, also known as congenital aphantasia, involves an inability to readily or reliably visualize mental images in the waking state.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |