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As with perennial Hacker News favourite Aphantasia, the discussion does leave me with the distint impression that the spectrum of reported condition is more a f

by hanoz 5y ago

As with perennial Hacker News favourite Aphantasia, the discussion does leave me with the distint impression that the spectrum of reported condition is more a function of our inability to convey and compare the inner experience, than of variation in the inner experience itself.

psyc 5y ago
When others say they can see images and movies in their heads, and hear voices and play back songs in their heads, I believe I know exactly what they mean. Just as if they were describing itching or feeling cold. Yet some people respond with “You can see pictures? You can hear voices? WAT?? I see nothing and hear nothing!” I don’t see how those people could be having the common experience and still be so shocked to hear how others experience it in simple terms.
- pseudalopex 5y ago
  Some people in the middle think people who describe stronger sensations just exaggerate. And people who describe weaker sensations are just confused by the exaggerations.
  - Lochleg 5y ago
    I never looked into it, but some scientists supposedly lent credence to the existence of lucid dreaming. That's a similar concept where you assume that, with training, some people have tapped into a wellspring of vivid imagination. Or, they just have more natural DMT in their system and start hallucinating in their mind's eye. I can only get a taste of that experience when deeply engaged in reading books. I am hoping the prototypes for deep-dive VR will soon be better than dreaming (for some people that struggle with recollection and other mental exercises) so that we can build what were once only mental palaces and OOBEs.
    - HKH2 5y ago
      If you wake yourself up a bit earlier than usual and then fall asleep again, you'll have a much higher chance of dreaming with the feeling of being in control.
id 5y ago
I'm pretty sure that's why it's a favorite - you read a different account and can't really believe it, so you write a comment to make sure they actually do experience the same thing.

by hanoz 5y ago

psyc 5y ago

When others say they can see images and movies in their heads, and hear voices and play back songs in their heads, I believe I know exactly what they mean. Just as if they were describing itching or feeling cold. Yet some people respond with “You can see pictures? You can hear voices? WAT?? I see nothing and hear nothing!” I don’t see how those people could be having the common experience and still be so shocked to hear how others experience it in simple terms.

pseudalopex 5y ago
Some people in the middle think people who describe stronger sensations just exaggerate. And people who describe weaker sensations are just confused by the exaggerations.
- Lochleg 5y ago
  I never looked into it, but some scientists supposedly lent credence to the existence of lucid dreaming. That's a similar concept where you assume that, with training, some people have tapped into a wellspring of vivid imagination. Or, they just have more natural DMT in their system and start hallucinating in their mind's eye. I can only get a taste of that experience when deeply engaged in reading books. I am hoping the prototypes for deep-dive VR will soon be better than dreaming (for some people that struggle with recollection and other mental exercises) so that we can build what were once only mental palaces and OOBEs.
  - HKH2 5y ago
    If you wake yourself up a bit earlier than usual and then fall asleep again, you'll have a much higher chance of dreaming with the feeling of being in control.

id 5y ago

I'm pretty sure that's why it's a favorite - you read a different account and can't really believe it, so you write a comment to make sure they actually do experience the same thing.