3 ms·

I want to know if aphantasia is associated with any other mental models. For example, driving, map reading, spatial awareness. I have a theory that Aphantasia

by greazy 1mo ago

I want to know if aphantasia is associated with any other mental models. For example, driving, map reading, spatial awareness. I have a theory that Aphantasia is the symptom of something else, and this other thing relates to how the brain of such individuals stores information. I think it's stored in a more "compressed" state. As an example, I find myself remembering where info is and not what the info acrually was. Humans are not homogeneous. I think this is a huge evolutionary advantage, different mental modes improved our survivability. But of course in modern day life such "divergence" can lead to pathology.

selcuka 1mo ago
> I want to know if aphantasia is associated with any other mental models. For example, driving, map reading, spatial awareness. Aphantasia is usually associated with spatial memory difficulties [1]. Anecdotal, but I am aphantasic (almost zero visualisation) and also have low spatial awareness (can't navigate without a map or GPS). I have no issues with driving or map reading, though. In contrast, someone I know can almost perfectly visualise things mentally, but they struggle with reading maps. They can also navigate perfectly without requiring assistance. [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028393226001648 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002839322...
- greazy 1mo ago
  Thanks for answering my question! I also have mild aphantasia, I can navigate okay but not as well as my wife. I also get lost or disoriented in big city centres but in a natural park or trek I'm totally fine.
marak830 1mo ago
I have Aphantasia, as well as excellent map reading skills and spatial awareness. BUT I'm pretty sure that spatial awareness is something I developed when cheffing (needing to know where things were rapidly) and map reading I attribute to video games (specifically doom originally haha).

by greazy 1mo ago

selcuka 1mo ago

> I want to know if aphantasia is associated with any other mental models. For example, driving, map reading, spatial awareness. Aphantasia is usually associated with spatial memory difficulties [1]. Anecdotal, but I am aphantasic (almost zero visualisation) and also have low spatial awareness (can't navigate without a map or GPS). I have no issues with driving or map reading, though. In contrast, someone I know can almost perfectly visualise things mentally, but they struggle with reading maps. They can also navigate perfectly without requiring assistance. [1] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0028393226001648 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S002839322...

greazy 1mo ago
Thanks for answering my question! I also have mild aphantasia, I can navigate okay but not as well as my wife. I also get lost or disoriented in big city centres but in a natural park or trek I'm totally fine.

marak830 1mo ago

I have Aphantasia, as well as excellent map reading skills and spatial awareness. BUT I'm pretty sure that spatial awareness is something I developed when cheffing (needing to know where things were rapidly) and map reading I attribute to video games (specifically doom originally haha).