ASD and Aphantasia: Can't Picture Anything

llio

102d

Is the inability to visualise or picture things an ASD trait..? Or is it separately aphantasia? Does anyone have this issue as well? I can't picture what anything looks like.. there's just blankness

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)

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Some individuals with ASD have mentioned experiencing aphantasia, which is the inability to visualize or picture things in their mind. However, it is not exclusive to ASD and can occur separately. People with aphantasia may experience blankness when trying to visualize images or scenes.

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may_Bea

53d

@Somberose wait that's so interesting I've never heard someone else describe how I picture things before. Like when I am told to think of an apple, I can't think of something that doesn't exist, but rather it's an apple I've seen before. I used to tell people its like my brain is a camera bc I get like a flash of the image exactly as I saw it for like a second when I try to picture something

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LunarMoth

102d

Did a quick google search and it seems like autism and aphantasia are linked by impaired imagination and social skills. There's a higher rate of aphantasia among autistic individuals than the general population, and vice versa--those with aphantasia have a higher rate of autistic traits than the general population. Personally I have some degree of aphantasia, and I do feel its related to being autistic.

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- llio
  
  102d
  
  @LunarMoth That's really interesting ! Thank you 🙌
  
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Somberose

102d

Oh, that's a new term for me but it fits. I can think of a river and might recall flashes of rivers I've seen in my past but I can't hold an image in my mind that I can see. I just think of the word river over and over again.

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- may_Bea
  
  53d
  
  @Somberose wait that's so interesting I've never heard someone else describe how I picture things before. Like when I am told to think of an apple, I can't think of something that doesn't exist, but rather it's an apple I've seen before. I used to tell people its like my brain is a camera bc I get like a flash of the image exactly as I saw it for like a second when I try to picture something
  
  1
  
  Reply
  
  Chat

☝ This content is generated by our users and it is not a substitute for professional medical advice. Please consult with your physician before making any medical decision

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