BlueSerendipity8

u/BlueSerendipity8@programming.dev
53 posts · 25 comments

Recent posts

Recent comments

on Looking for feedback · c/aphantasia · 4 pts · 1y

Mental imagery is a spectrum. At one end of the spectrum, you have hyperphantasia, and at the other end, aphantasia. While aphantasics score 1 on the Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ) and make up about 1% of the population, hyperphantasics could be around 6% of the population (*). According to your description, I would say that you would score higher than I do on the VVIQ (more than 1 ;-))

(*) https://www.researchgate.net/publication/384925233_An_international_estimate_of_the_prevalence_of_differing_visual_imagery_abilities

I would suggest that someone who does not lack multisensory mental imagery—what scientists refer to even for non-visual senses—may be able to vividly recollect past events from a first-person perspective (often described as a time travel flashback) using the senses that are not affected. Therefore, they may not be severely impacted or affected at all.

I would say that I do have SDAM, although I don't have an official diagnosis. In fact, I find the 'S' (Severe) label a bit overstated. The reason I identify with SDAM is that I have multisensory aphantasia, which means the only way I can access my past is through semantic memory. I am unable to re-experience past events from any sensory perspective, nor can I project myself into the future in that way.