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ThrowawayTestryesterday at 2:22 PM4 repliesview on HN

What does you mother look like?


Replies

misthopyesterday at 2:23 PM

She's 5 ft tall, sharp features, curly white hair. i can remember imagery facts, but have not visual memory

show 2 replies
Zealotuxyesterday at 3:08 PM

I have total aphantasia and this is how I usually answer: it's like having a picture of my mother in my head, only for it to be obfuscated by an opaque veil, and there's a system in my mind that can peak behind it and feed me informations. In the end: I can never visualise her, but I can "query" informations, and when I see her I match her immediately with what I know her to look like.

tiborsaasyesterday at 2:25 PM

This is not a memory nor a detail recall issue. The visual part is just not there, but I know how my mother looks like :)

afavouryesterday at 2:29 PM

Not really how it works. I can describe an apple to you in great detail. I cannot imagine all of those things I described in a coherent image in my head. Personally sometimes I'm able to picture pieces or aspects of it for flashes but I cannot see an apple in my head.