I developed aphantasia. I used to be able to visualize things and now cannot… EXCEPT for in the first 20-30 minutes after waking up. It is quite disturbing since I only recently realized this, but can’t actually tell when the last time I was able to picture or conjure things in my mind visually.
What’s crazy is that I have no problem conceptualizing the apple. I am highly capable of imagining it. Not only that, I am a DM for a D&D game that’s been going on for nearly a decade - so it has no bearing my creativity. Also, I am an artist and can draw and paint both realistic images as well as stylized or abstract things without problem.
I wish I could see images again. I do like being able to do so after waking up. Perhaps that’s how I can exercise the skill and try to extend it.
I have something similar. I have to push, extremely hard, mentally. Even then the resultant visualization is weak and fuzzy.
In my mind, the concept and the image are decoupled. I have the concept of an apple. A viewed apple can be matched to it for comparisons. That concept includes all variants. Red, green, yellow, small, large, bpy or smooth. It also doesn’t have a view direction built in.
It’s a bit like how you can still recognise a cat, when seen from below. You might never have seen it like that, but your model of “catness” includes it. You can mentally render it and compare. My brain just drops the rendering stage as useless fluff.
I developed aphantasia. I used to be able to visualize things and now cannot… EXCEPT for in the first 20-30 minutes after waking up. It is quite disturbing since I only recently realized this, but can’t actually tell when the last time I was able to picture or conjure things in my mind visually.
What’s crazy is that I have no problem conceptualizing the apple. I am highly capable of imagining it. Not only that, I am a DM for a D&D game that’s been going on for nearly a decade - so it has no bearing my creativity. Also, I am an artist and can draw and paint both realistic images as well as stylized or abstract things without problem.
I wish I could see images again. I do like being able to do so after waking up. Perhaps that’s how I can exercise the skill and try to extend it.
Sorta sounds like your job / routine is making you stressed and unable to focus
This might be it.
I gave up watching the news daily back after the November election. Since then, my creativity has returned.
The only logical thing to do is quit my job so the hallucinations will return.
I can’t really imagine the combinations you described.
If someone described a sunset or other vivid cliché, that would spark what in your inner eye?
I have something similar. I have to push, extremely hard, mentally. Even then the resultant visualization is weak and fuzzy.
In my mind, the concept and the image are decoupled. I have the concept of an apple. A viewed apple can be matched to it for comparisons. That concept includes all variants. Red, green, yellow, small, large, bpy or smooth. It also doesn’t have a view direction built in.
It’s a bit like how you can still recognise a cat, when seen from below. You might never have seen it like that, but your model of “catness” includes it. You can mentally render it and compare. My brain just drops the rendering stage as useless fluff.