Difficulty Visualising things?
LIFESTYLE
11/18/2025
🚗 A1–A2 Level
Vocabulary
imagine (verb) — to see something in your mind.
Example: I imagine a big beach with blue water.
apple (noun) — a round red or green fruit.
Example: I eat an apple every day.
blurry (adjective) — not clear or easy to see.
Example: The picture was blurry and I couldn’t see the man’s face.
remember (verb) — to keep something in your mind.
Example: I can’t remember his phone number.
mind (noun) — the part of you that thinks and feels.
Example: Many ideas are in my mind.
Some People Can’t See Images in Their Minds
Imagine a red apple in your mind. Can you see it?
Some people can see a clear picture. They can see the shape and color.
Some people see an apple, but it is a little blurry.
Other people see nothing. They cannot imagine pictures in their mind.
This is called aphantasia. It is not a sickness, and it does not mean you have a bad memory. Some people remember things as facts, not pictures.
Experts think 2% to 4% of people have aphantasia. Some people are born with it, and some people may develop it later.
There is still a lot to learn about aphantasia!
Comprehension Questions
1️⃣ What fruit do people try to imagine in the test?
2️⃣ What is the name of the condition when someone cannot see pictures in their mind?
3️⃣ Do experts think aphantasia is a sickness or disability?
Personal Questions (15)
Can you imagine a picture in your mind?
What things do you imagine easily?
Is it easy for you to picture faces?
What color is the apple you imagine?
Do you like using your imagination?
Do you remember things as images or as facts?
Do you think aphantasia is interesting?
Would it be strange to not see pictures in your mind?
Do you dream in pictures?
Do you think imagination is important?
What helps you remember things?
Are you good at remembering places?
Are you good at remembering faces?
What is one picture you like imagining?
Do you think more research is needed?
Comprehension Answers (A1–A2)
A red apple.
Aphantasia.
No, experts say it is not a sickness or disability.
🧠 B1–B2 Level
Vocabulary
contour (noun) — the outline or shape of something.
stem (noun) — the part of a fruit that connects it to the tree.
blurry (adjective) — unclear or difficult to see.
recall (verb) — to remember something.
feature (noun) — a part of someone’s face, like eyes or nose.
develop (verb) — to start to exist or grow.
Some People Can’t See Images in Their Minds
Imagine a red apple. Can you picture its contours, its stem, and its color?
Some people see a very clear image. Others see a blurry one. And some people cannot see any image at all. If you see nothing, you may have a condition called aphantasia.
According to experts, people with aphantasia don’t have visual imagination, but it is not a disability and not a medical condition. Researchers believe that 2% to 4% of people may have it.
Aphantasia is connected to memory, but it does not mean someone’s memory is worse. People may recall facts instead of images.
It is also not the same as face blindness. People with aphantasia may remember a person’s features, but not as a picture in their mind.
It became more widely known after it got its name in 2015, and there is now a growing community. The Aphantasia Network says some people also can’t imagine sounds, smells, or tastes.
Researchers are still trying to understand why it happens. Some people may be born with it, while others might develop it later, sometimes after an injury.
There is still much more to learn.
Comprehension Questions
1️⃣ What percentage of people may have aphantasia?
2️⃣ How do people with aphantasia usually remember things?
3️⃣ When did the term “aphantasia” first receive its name?
Personal Questions (15)
Can you visualize objects clearly in your mind?
When you imagine an apple, what do you see?
Do you remember faces well?
Do you learn better with images, text, or sound?
Do you think aphantasia would make life difficult?
Would you like to take a scientific test of your imagination?
Do you know someone with a very strong imagination?
What do you think causes aphantasia?
Should more research be done on it?
Do you prefer movie descriptions or watching the actual scene?
Are your dreams visual?
Do you think imagination helps with creativity?
Can imagination help solve problems?
Would you join a community like the Aphantasia Network?
How would you explain imagination to a child?
Comprehension Answers (B1–B2)
Around 2% to 4%.
As facts, not images.
In 2015.
🧠 C1–C2 Level
Vocabulary
contour (noun) — the outline or boundary that defines a shape.
stem (noun) — the stalk that attaches a fruit or leaf to a plant.
blurry (adjective) — lacking sharpness or clarity.
recall (verb) — to bring a memory into conscious thought.
feature (noun) — a distinct part of the face or structure.
develop (verb) — to grow, evolve, or gradually come into existence.
Some People Can’t See Images in Their Minds
If asked to imagine a red apple, most people can form a mental picture of its contours, the stem, and the color and texture of its skin. Some see this image clearly, others see a blurry version, and some see nothing at all.
People in the last group may have aphantasia, a condition in which the mind does not produce visual imagery. The Cleveland Clinic explains that this is not a disability, nor is it considered a medical disorder.
Researchers estimate that 2% to 4% of the population may be affected, although the condition likely existed long before it received a name in 2015.
Aphantasia has been linked to memory, but does not necessarily weaken it. Instead, people often recall information conceptually or verbally, rather than visually.
It is distinct from face blindness: individuals might remember a person’s features or clothing, but not as a mental image. Some people do not realize they have aphantasia unless asked to describe their imagination.
The Aphantasia Network reports that some individuals also cannot imagine sounds, smells, or tastes, suggesting that imagination can involve multiple senses.
The causes remain unclear; some may be born with aphantasia, while others may develop it later in life, possibly due to neurological changes or injury.
Much remains unknown, and scientists continue researching how and why the mind forms images—or doesn’t.
Comprehension Questions
1️⃣ What distinguishes aphantasia from face blindness?
2️⃣ What range of the population may be affected by aphantasia?
3️⃣ Why might some people be unaware that they have aphantasia?
Personal Questions (15)
Do you see mental images when you read descriptive passages in books?
How might aphantasia affect creative work such as art or writing?
Could aphantasia be an advantage in some situations?
Should aphantasia be considered a type of neurodiversity?
How do different memory types influence learning and communication?
Can people without visual imagination still be highly creative?
How might society better support people with unusual cognitive experiences?
What does imagination mean in a scientific sense?
Do you think imagination is necessary for intelligence?
How could aphantasia influence witness memory in legal cases?
Should schools teach strategies for non-visual thinkers?
What does this topic reveal about how the human brain works?
Could technology ever allow people with aphantasia to visualize artificially?
Do you think imagination is declining in modern society?
What unanswered questions about aphantasia are most interesting to you?
Comprehension Answers (C1–C2)
Aphantasia prevents visual imagery; face blindness prevents recognizing faces, but not imagining them.
An estimated 2% to 4% of people.
Because many do not realize that others visualize mentally in a different way.
