Author Topic: How well can you form mental images?  (Read 3259 times)

Offline Blotbot

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How well can you form mental images?
« on: August 27, 2015, 08:01:07 PM »
I found this interesting article on aphantasia, where people are unable to form visual images in their mind.  There is a whole spectrum of variation of this ability, from those with aphantasia to those with very vivid imaginations.  I wonder how the ability to form mental images coorelates with artistic ability.  I have never been able to draw well and I wonder if it is because I cant hold a clear image of something in my mind.  Take the quiz at the end of the article and see how you do. 

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34039054

Offline Briana

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Re: How well can you form mental images?
« Reply #1 on: August 27, 2015, 10:47:37 PM »
I found this interesting article on aphantasia, where people are unable to form visual images in their mind.  There is a whole spectrum of variation of this ability, from those with aphantasia to those with very vivid imaginations.  I wonder how the ability to form mental images coorelates with artistic ability.  I have never been able to draw well and I wonder if it is because I cant hold a clear image of something in my mind.  Take the quiz at the end of the article and see how you do. 

http://www.bbc.com/news/health-34039054

How interesting! I have a very vivid mind's eye, and I don't know if it's related but I dream very vividly as well. The ability to easily conjure up some imagery is pretty distressing for me at times, actually. Horror and gorey movies, or even the news or very elaborate writing, can trigger some unwanted pictures in my head. Once I see something, it doesn't go away! When it comes to negative images that's stressful, but otherwise I enjoy being able to doodle whimsical things from memory. Mixed blessing!
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Offline Erica McPhee

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Re: How well can you form mental images?
« Reply #2 on: August 28, 2015, 09:17:53 AM »
Thank you for sharing this as I found it fascinating. Especially since my oldest child has no facial memory and no short term memory but is an outstanding illustrator. My middle has synesthesia (sees sounds as colors) and can memorize a map after seeing it once, and my youngest is the only child the psychologist had ever tested who scored a perfect score on memory. I used to be able to picture the page where I had read something to get the answers during exams. Notice I said "used to." LOL! Clearly we have a tick mark on this gene.  ;D
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Offline evjo

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Re: How well can you form mental images?
« Reply #3 on: August 28, 2015, 09:50:05 AM »
I'm one with a vivid imagination, which, as Briana mentioned, is both a blessing and a curse. 

My mother, who, before becoming blind in old age, was a painter, is so visual that when she reads a book, she visualizes every detail, just as the author has written it.  She does this quickly, without effort.  I find this tedious and am more likely to visualize my own version of things.  My mother is a picky and exacting person; me - not so much.  Now that she cannot see, I describe things to her when we talk, and I have become much more skilled at creating a picture with words.

I see numbers in order on a line that curves through space.  Whenever I think of a number, I automatically see the number on the line.  In general, there is a curve at multiples of ten.  At 100, the line ends.  The same line is used for higher numbers. 

I also see time visually, in a large disk of days that looks like a giant game board.  And when I meet someone, I always want to know where they live, because it helps me remember their name, etc.  I think my brain organizes things spacially. 

Huh.  Autocorrect wants that word to be 'specially.'
Ev

Offline ericp

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Re: How well can you form mental images?
« Reply #4 on: August 28, 2015, 03:06:08 PM »
Absolutely fascinating stuff, thanks everyone for sharing that interesting article and your stories.

Although I am very strong on visuals, I have difficulty seeing any type of composition in my mind's eye.  For example when I want to draw or to write flourishes, I have to do a sketch first and as I improvise, the thing gets fleshed out.  And afterwards I re-work that cleanly.   I envy people who can see in their mind what they want to draw before they start.

(Writing letters is relatively easy for me because I know what each letter looks like before I draw it.)

I can add that the same thing is true for me in the musical space;  some people can compose in their head or straight to paper.  I need to fool around on the keyboard and organize whatever random haphazard sound comes out of my clumsy hands.  But once set in stone, I can learn it and replay it easily.

Offline Starlee

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Re: How well can you form mental images?
« Reply #5 on: August 28, 2015, 07:56:16 PM »
Thank you for sharing this! I am in Briana's boat with a vivid imagination and a life-time of nightmares. I think in pictures. As I got older, I figured out that the nightmares go hand-in-hand with going to bed with a stressed mind. I practice calligraphy before bed. It makes me so incredibly happy as I unwind that since I've started, my nightmares have diminished greatly, bursting through only on the most stressful of days. While the quiz told me I had a vivid mind, it also taught me that it is selective. Nature was much more vivid than people. The exception being their eyes, which is where I focus most when socializing. I also sit and stare in nature. My condo is mostly windows. I see sunrises whenever I am home and waking up with the sun. I also see a lot of weather from where I live. I sit and stare often at the clouds going by. It is very meditative. So it wasn't a surprise that I could easily conjure them up when asked in the quiz. So I now think that while there is probably a born-with range in the mind's eye acuity among individuals, I think we can train ourselves to some degree regardless of phantasia level. I wonder if I started focusing on people's noses that they would pop out more in my imagination given time. Even the calligraphy masters of old stressed that study was equally important as practice. I think the more we sit and stare at letterforms, the better we will be. Even if someone is on the low end of the phantasia spectrum, I think it's still possible, it just might take longer. The brain likely needs more time to figure out how to compensate to achieve the same result.
« Last Edit: August 28, 2015, 08:19:34 PM by Starlee »
Star

Offline Briana

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Re: How well can you form mental images?
« Reply #6 on: August 29, 2015, 02:31:18 PM »
I think we can train ourselves to some degree regardless of phantasia level. I wonder if I started focusing on people's noses that they would pop out more in my imagination given time. Even the calligraphy masters of old stressed that study was equally important as practice. I think the more we sit and stare at letterforms, the better we will be. Even if someone is on the low end of the phantasia spectrum, I think it's still possible, it just might take longer. The brain likely needs more time to figure out how to compensate to achieve the same result.

Very true! You can teach yourself to do most anything if you just put in the time and effort!
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Offline JanisTX

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Re: How well can you form mental images?
« Reply #7 on: August 30, 2015, 07:33:42 AM »
I have absolutely NO "mind's eye"!  I scored so low on their test, I emailed the researchers, as I am certain that I am the person they want to study!   ;D  I'm an auditory learner, and I can remember pretty much word-for-word what someone said & I retain it intact for about 5 years, before it begins to fade some.  But, don't ask me what my cousin looks like, & etc.  That is NOT what I am good at!

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Offline Blotbot

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Re: How well can you form mental images?
« Reply #8 on: August 30, 2015, 08:40:21 AM »
I find it hard to know how much I can visualize.  When I close my eyes I see the grainy pattern inside my lids, and when I imagine something it is superimposed on the grainy pattern.  Can super imaginers turn off the images from their eyes?
« Last Edit: August 30, 2015, 08:58:41 AM by Blotbot »

Offline Starlee

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Re: How well can you form mental images?
« Reply #9 on: August 30, 2015, 02:02:51 PM »
I know that grainy pattern you are referring too @blotbot. Sometimes I use those lights to form images, like a TV screen. But, it's not the same as when I really envision something. It's hard to explain. I'm going deeper beyond the static, kind of like how you had to look slightly out focus at those 3-D images that were all the rage a while ago. Then, the images are just there and I can change things at will. The challenge for me is holding the image. It's like it fluoresces and has a half life, gradually fading away. That's why I like taking photos and write everything down. I will forget. My memory is embarrassingly terrible.
Star

Offline Blotbot

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Re: How well can you form mental images?
« Reply #10 on: August 30, 2015, 03:18:22 PM »
I know that grainy pattern you are referring too @blotbot. Sometimes I use those lights to form images, like a TV screen. But, it's not the same as when I really envision something. It's hard to explain. I'm going deeper beyond the static, kind of like how you had to look slightly out focus at those 3-D images that were all the rage a while ago. Then, the images are just there and I can change things at will. The challenge for me is holding the image. It's like it fluoresces and has a half life, gradually fading away. That's why I like taking photos and write everything down. I will forget. My memory is embarrassingly terrible.

I am going to practice that!  After I finish my exchange cards...

Offline ericp

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Re: How well can you form mental images?
« Reply #11 on: August 31, 2015, 10:36:00 AM »
The challenge for me is holding the image. It's like it fluoresces and has a half life, gradually fading away. That's why I like taking photos and write everything down. I will forget. My memory is embarrassingly terrible.
Same here.  And it just gets worse as time goes on, I am unhappy to report... But that's OK, we just take more photos and more notes  :)

Offline Erica McPhee

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Re: How well can you form mental images?
« Reply #12 on: September 01, 2015, 01:17:48 PM »
Yes, I don't actually picture things with my eyes. You envision it in your mind (thus "mind's eye"). Interestingly enough, I do it best when my eyes are open. And like Star said focused like when you look at those 3-D pictures.

Janis, I find that so interesting! Especially since I am not an auditory learner. For example, I can't remember or write down phone numbers if I hear them out loud. I have to see them written.
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