AnnaMarie Houlis
Some people are just super duper creative. We might call them creative geniuses.
They let their imaginations run wild.
They think up thoughts that would never cross other people’s minds.
They come up with totally out-of-the-box ideas and solutions.
They can recall—in vivid detail—even distant memories.
It’s possible that they have hyperphantasia.
Hyperphantasia is largely understood as the ability to explore within one’s imagination—but at extreme levels. People with hyperphantasia can form very vivid visual images and sensations in their minds.
Here’s everything you need to know about hyperphantasia, including what we know about it and how to test for it.
What Do We Know About Hyperphantasia?
Francis Galton, a 19th-century psychologist, developed the earliest measure of visual vividness. In his 1880 research, “Statistics of Mental Imagery,” he asked study participants to recall their breakfast, inviting them to describe the “illumination, definition and coloring” of their “breakfast table as [they] sat down to it [that] morning.”
Some participants were able to describe their plates with precision.
Of course, specific factors may impact one’s ability to recall places, people, sensations or objects (like their breakfast) with mental images. For example, if someone is distracted during breakfast by reading the newspaper or talking with a friend, they may not be able to visually remember what their plate looked like as well as someone who was enjoying their food with no distractions. But some people possess a clear ability to imagine better than others.
Galton also found that some people couldn’t visualize what their breakfast looked like at all. Those are the people who possess what we now know mind-blindness—though that wasn’t acknowledged or studied until the early 2000s. Two to three percent of the population are mind-blind.
What Is Aphantasia?
Some people also struggle with aphantasia, which is a psychophysical condition that’s characterized by the inability to construct mental images or create inconcrete concepts in one’s mind. Still, studies show that two to five percent of people are “very poor or non-visual imagers,” but they still maintain “normal visual recognition abilities.” They just have different ways of inducing recognition than others.
Because people who have hyperphantasia can think outside of the box, they’re often considered creative or deep thinkers. They may even be called dreamers.
Nonetheless, researchers report that “aphantasia and hyperphantasia appear to be widespread but neglected features of human experience.” A lot more research needs to be done to understand both conditions better.
Difference between hyperphantasia and photographic memory
It’s important to note the difference between hyperphantasia and eidetic memory, which is more commonly called photographic memory. While the conditions are similar, they’re not quite the same.
What Is Eidetic Memory?
Eidetic memory refers to one’s ability to recall an image from their memory with a high level of precision, at least for a brief period of time after seeing it. For example, someone with a photographic memory might be able to accurately identify a suspect in a crime scene they witnessed because they can recognize different details.
How Is Hyperphantasia Different?
However, someone with hyperphantasia can not only describe the details of something they recently saw, but they can also visualize even more. For example, they can easily imagine characters or scenery in a book they’re reading because they’re able to visualize text, too. They’re also able to imagine smells, sounds and more.
Symptoms of Hyperphantasia
Symptoms of hyperphantasia vary from person to person, depending on the extremity of their condition. Some general symptoms of hyperphantasia include the following:
- The ability to dissociate from reality
- A tendency to get immersed in media like books and movies
- Incessant daydreaming
- A feeling of longing for something
- Feelings of nostalgia, remembering the past
While there are obvious pros to having hyperphantasia, people who have hyperphantasia may find themselves dozing off frequently, dreaming about the past or the future. It can be difficult to remain present in the moment if they’re lost in their minds.
Testing for Hyperphantasia
Today, there are various ways to test for hyperphantasia. The Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ), for example, is one way to do it. This test assesses how vividly you can produce images in “your mind’s eye.”
You can also use the test’s full Imagination Spectrum to assess how vividly you can imagine not just images but also smells, sounds, movements and more.
Visual
To test your visual imagination, try to close your eyes and imagine an object. Choose any object, like a skateboard, for example.
Think about the shape of the board, the color, the texture and more. What colors are the wheels and trucks? Does the board have any scratches or defects?
Ask yourself whether or not you can create a clear mental image of the skateboard or not.
Auditory
To test your auditory imagination, think of a song you love and try to replay it in your mind. Consider the lyrics, different instruments, rhythm and more. Can you hear it playing in your head?
Gustatory
The gustatory test is to explore your taste imagination. For example, imagine a banana. Can you imagine what it tastes like—or what it would taste like in different recipes, such as banana bread or banana pancakes?
Spatial
To test your spatial imagination, you can imagine designing a space in your mind. Consider a campervan, for example. Can you imagine where you’d build the bed, place the storage cabinets, install the kitchen area, etc.? Can you see the small details and decorations? What colors are the curtains covering the windows? What material are the cushions constructed from?
Emotional
Consider an important time in your life, such as landing your first job or touching down in a new country when traveling for the first time. Can you recall that feeling of enthusiasm and excitement? Do you still get teary-eyed or chills thinking about it? Do those memories still evoke emotions?
Not everyone is able to visualize images, sounds, tastes, spaces, emotions or more. Some people have trouble visualizing tastes but can easily create spatial concepts in their minds, while others find it difficult to recall songs but still feel the same emotions when recalling memories.
While hyperphantasia is a condition, there are ways that you can improve your ability to recall images or texts—which is especially useful when you’re trying to study. For example, the Dorothy memory app can help you study smarter, absorb information better and retain it longer.Dorothy leverages sophisticated algorithms that employ the science-backed spaced repetition technique. Boiled down, it alerts you at peak study times so you don’t forget what you’ve been learning.