Episode 011: Aphantasia
Today's episode is all about Aphantasia, also known as mind’s eye blindness. Those with Aphantasia can't visualize scenes, people, experiences, objects, and memories, and it can impact other senses as well.
This lack of mental imagery was described as early as the late 1800s, yet it has remained a relatively unstudied phenomenon until 2015, when a study first introduced the term, Aphantasia. Since then, the amount of research about Aphantasia has continued to grow.
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Our two guests today, who both experience Aphantasia, include Tom Ebeyer who is the founder of the Aphantasia Network, and Jana O’Connor, writer of the upcoming feature film, PICTURE IT, probably the first long-form film highlighting the experience of having Aphantasia!
In this episode, you will be able to:
Discover the fascinating world of Aphantasia - Image-free imagination or Mind's Eye Blindness and unlock the secrets of the mind's eye.
Uncover the surprising Impact of Aphantasia on Relationships and gain insights into how it shapes our connections with others.
Explore Different Approaches to Teaching and Learning for individuals with Aphantasia and transform the way you understand education.
Delve into Aphantasia in Popular Culture and unravel its portrayal in media and entertainment.
Unlock the potential of Aphantasia and the Power of Storytelling, and learn how it shapes the way we perceive narratives and experiences.
Music: Deppisch
Design: Perpetualnotion.ca
Mixing/ Mastering: Tony Bao
Support this show: Patreon.com/BraaainsPodcast
MORE ON OUR GUESTS
Tom Ebeyer
Tom is a social entrepreneur and founder of the Aphantasia Network. Tom’s unique vision is helping to shape the new, global conversation around the power of image-free thinking. He is also the founder of the Imagination Spectrum, a cognitive testing platform that shows you how your ability to visualize compares to others. He built this psychometric because most people don't even know that we all #imaginedifferently.
Jana O’Connor
Jana O’Connor is a writer, performer, and producer based in Edmonton, Alberta. Jana is nationally known as a guest contributor to CBC Radio’s Because News, as a cast member/writer on CBC Radio’s The Irrelevant Show, and writer/performer on CAUTION: May Contain Nuts on APTN. Jana’s first feature, ‘Picture It’ is currently in post-production.
FURTHER RESOURCES
Aphantasia Network is shaping a new, global conversation on the power of image-free thinking. They created a place to discover and learn about aphantasia, to help build a bridge between new scientific discoveries and our unique human experience — and uncover new insight into how we learn, create, dream and remember with blind imagination.
Imagination Spectrum is a cognitive testing platform that shows you how your ability to visualize compares to others – and not just for mental images but for all your senses.
An example of a character with Aphantasia on Space Force —
Other episodes you’ll enjoy:
The Swearing Jar and Brain Aneurysms - Episode 033
Speechless, Special, and Cerebral Palsy - Episode 025
You’re Not Alone: The Road to Diagnosis - Episode 037
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