Did You Know Some People Think in Words While Others Think in Pictures? Exploring Aphantasia & Thinking Styles

Close your eyes and picture a red apple. Can you see it clearly, or is it blank?

My enthusiasm to write this article on aphantasia came from a TikTok video and an article titled "Woman just realized that not everyone can visualize images in their mind due to a mental disorder" by Vani Khokar, published on December 30, 2022, on Scoop Upworthy. The article depicts the TikTok video, the woman expressed her surprise upon discovering that not everyone can picture things in their mind's eye.

What is Aphantasia?

Imagine trying to recall a vivid dream as it slips away the moment you wake up—that's what living with aphantasia can feel like when attempting to summon a mental image.

For most people, closing their eyes and imagining a sunset might bring to mind a glowing horizon of reds, oranges, and purples. However, for someone with aphantasia, the same exercise produces only darkness or an abstract awareness of what a sunset might look like. Instead of "seeing" it, they might describe it verbally, relying on memory and logic rather than mental imagery.

Aphantasia, the inability to voluntarily generate mental images, significantly affects thinking styles, primarily steering individuals away from visual thinking and toward verbal or abstract reasoning. People with aphantasia often rely on internal dialogue, logical processing, or other non-visual strategies to process information, problem-solve, or recall memories. This condition highlights the brain’s diversity in cognitive styles and underscores the adaptability of human thought processes when one modality is unavailable.

Aphantasia was first formally described and named in 2015 by cognitive neurologist Professor Adam Zeman and his colleagues at the University of Exeter. The term originated from their research into individuals who reported an inability to visualize mental images, leading to the study published in the journal Cortex. The word "aphantasia" itself is derived from Greek, where "a-" means "without" and "phantasia" refers to imagination or mental imagery. While the condition likely existed long before its formal recognition, Zeman's work marked the first scientific effort to categorize and explore this phenomenon systematically.

The condition came to light during Zeman's investigation of a patient referred to as "MX," who lost the ability to visualize after a minor surgical procedure. Subsequent research revealed that this phenomenon was not isolated and included individuals who had never experienced mental imagery, leading to the distinction between congenital and acquired aphantasia.

Thinking in Images vs. Dialogue: Cognitive Style Differences

The distinction between thinking in images and thinking in internal dialogue stems from variations in cognitive processing styles, which are influenced by neurological, developmental, and experiential factors. Visual thinkers, often referred to as spatial or image-based thinkers, rely predominantly on mental imagery to process and represent information. This style is linked to activity in the brain's visual cortex and tends to dominate in individuals who are more attuned to pattern recognition, spatial reasoning, or artistic creativity. Conversely, verbal thinkers predominantly use internal monologue or dialogue to process their thoughts, relying on language as the primary medium of reasoning. This thinking style is associated with activity in language-processing regions, such as Broca's and Wernicke's areas.

But what drives this difference?

Research suggests that genetics, education, and individual experiences shape these preferences, with environmental influences playing a critical role in reinforcing one style over the other. So far evidence points us towards results from atypical activity in the brain's visual cortex, specifically diminished connectivity between the visual and prefrontal areas responsible for imagination and memory recall. Consequently, individuals with aphantasia might develop stronger verbal, mathematical, or procedural thinking styles to compensate for the lack of visual imagery.

Additionally, neurodiversity introduces significant variation in thinking styles. For example, individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) are often more inclined toward visual thinking, as noted by Temple Grandin, who describes "thinking in pictures." In contrast, highly verbal individuals, including those with advanced language skills, may lean toward dialogue-based thinking. Emotional states and the task at hand also influence these styles.

Problem-solving that requires abstract reasoning may favor verbal thought, while spatial or memory-based tasks may activate visual thinking. Hybrid thinkers use both styles flexibly, depending on context, highlighting the brain's remarkable adaptability. Understanding and leveraging one's dominant thinking style can enhance learning, communication, and problem-solving across diverse disciplines.

Relationship Between Thinking Styles and Aphantasia

What causes Aphantasia?

The causes of aphantasia are not entirely understood, but it can be classified into two types:

• Congenital: Where individuals are born without the ability to visualize. Genetic predispositions may also play a role, although direct hereditary links have not been conclusively identified.
• Acquired: Which can occur after brain injury or as a result of neurological conditions such as stroke or trauma. Interestingly, studies highlight that aphantasia is NOT associated with deficits in memory or intelligence

The impact of aphantasia on cognition varies. While visual thinkers rely on mental imagery for tasks like spatial reasoning, planning, or creativity, individuals with aphantasia often excel in fields requiring logical or structured thought. For example, they may describe recalling information as “knowing” facts rather than visualizing them. This shift is particularly relevant in fields like engineering, science, or programming, where non-visual problem-solving is critical. However, aphantasia can pose challenges in areas heavily reliant on imagery, such as fine arts or architecture, though workarounds like external visual aids or collaborative efforts often mitigate these difficulties. Ultimately, aphantasia exemplifies how cognitive diversity reshapes traditional ideas of thinking styles, emphasizing flexibility and compensatory mechanisms.

Here’s a fun task for you!

Take a moment to check whether you, your friends, partner, family, and colleagues are visual thinkers or verbal thinkers. Are you all seeing the world through images, or do you prefer to explain things in words? Then, think about how your occupation might be guiding or shaping your thinking style. Does your work encourage you to think more visually, like a graphic designer or architect, or does it lean towards verbal reasoning, like a writer or therapist?

Share your findings and see if you can spot patterns in how your job influences your brain's way of processing the world and comment down below for a fun discussion!

In conclusion, aphantasia offers a unique lens through which to understand the diverse ways in which the human brain processes and stores information. Whether through visual imagery or internal dialogue, individuals possess distinct cognitive styles that shape how they navigate the world. While aphantasia challenges traditional notions of thinking, it highlights the brain's remarkable adaptability and the myriad ways in which people can excel despite or because of these differences. The condition underscores the importance of embracing cognitive diversity, as it enables individuals to leverage their strengths and adapt to various tasks and challenges. Understanding aphantasia and its implications not only broadens our perspective on mental imagery but also enhances our appreciation for the varied and complex nature of human thought.

Sources:

Thinking in Pictures (Grandin, 2006) https://www.amazon.com/Thinking-Pictures-Visual-Mind-Autism/dp/0091886818

Brain Activity and Cognitive Styles (Smith et al., 2018) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29573401/

The Adaptable Brain (Johnson, 2020) https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnins.2020.00276/full

Aphantasia and the Visual Cortex (Zeman et al., 2015) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25457747/

Thinking Without Images (Keogh & Pearson, 2018) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29775564/

Cognitive Adaptations in Aphantasia (Griffin, 2021) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/354397602_Cognitive_Adaptations_in_Aphantasia

Aphantasia: Neural Mechanisms (Zeman et al., 2015) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25457747/

Brain Connectivity in Aphantasia (Keogh & Pearson, 2018)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6195987/

Congenital vs. Acquired Aphantasia (Griffin, 2020) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32095784/

Aphantasia: First Description (Zeman et al., 2015) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25457747/

Historical Context of Mental Imagery (Galton, 1880) https://www.jstor.org/stable/20567227

Neuropsychological Study of Aphantasia (Keogh & Pearson, 2018) https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29775564/