Pretty strong case of Aphantasia here, it never even occurred to me that people actually saw things in their minds eye and thought it was more a metaphor or something. I do, however, have a very talkative internal monologue. I have a friend who has no internal monologue paired with Aphantasia, I always enjoy talking with them about their experience and how it differs from my own.
It’s really interesting to me how people’s internal experience can differ and how we can never truly know what these different experiences are like.
PlantJam@lemmy.world 3 months ago
I think my lack of internal monologue and inability to visualize is why I’ve never been able to get into reading. I’m a little jealous when I hear people describe books as “like watching a movie in your mind”.
SynonymousStoat@lemmy.world 3 months ago
I came to the same conclusion about my usual disinterest in books stemming from me having Aphantasia. The only kinds of books I’ve been able to consistently get through are very comedic in their writing style (e.g. Douglas Adams, Terry Pratchett, Dennis E. Taylor, etc.). I think the focus on humor instead of visualizing the story and its world is what helps me when it comes to reading books.
Reverendender@sh.itjust.works 3 months ago
Try Carl Hiaasen and Christopher Moore!
SynonymousStoat@lemmy.world 3 months ago
I’ll look them up, thanks for the recommendation!
outerspace@lemmy.zip 3 months ago
I can not visualize pictures in my mind at all, but I was always into reading. Instead of pictures I can build abstract oncept and connections between that I can touch and move
tyrefyre@sh.itjust.works 3 months ago
This is exactly how I do it. I’ve never been able to articulate it like that. Yeah things are connected and I can sort of feel along those connections to understand them.
So I understand how different parts of the story connect with each other while ignoring visual details like descriptions of how things look.
outerspace@lemmy.zip 3 months ago
Nice to know there are dozens of us!
thedeadwalking4242@lemmy.world 3 months ago
I have both a layered internal monologue, and highly visual thinking. There are some benefits, but on of the draw backs of noticed is feeling less aware of what’s going on in front of me. My visual thinking kinda takes over what my eyes see a little and I loose focus really easy
PlantJam@lemmy.world 3 months ago
My partner has a similarly vivid visual thinking and a “crowded” internal monologue. They also have a hard time keeping focus.