We're just starting to learn more about aphantasia, the inability to picture things with the mind's eye

Some people don’t have the ability to create mental images, a condition called aphantasia, but can still experience visual imagery in their dreams. (Shutterstock)

When asked to close their eyes and imagine a sunset, most people can bring to mind an image of the sun setting on the horizon. Some people may experience more vivid details, such as vibrant colours, while others may produce a mental image that is blurry or lacks detail. But recent research has found that some people don’t experience mental imagery at all.

This lack of mental imagery is called aphantasia. People with aphantasia are often surprised when they learn others see mental images in their minds. Many people with aphantasia have said they assumed others were speaking metaphorically when they described seeing something in their “mind’s eye.”