Aphantasia and eye contact

I am in my 80's and only a few years ago discovered aphantasia. After getting over the idea that "the Mind's Eye" is more than a poetic metaphor and realizing that my near total lack of visual images was unusual, I became fascinated by the relationship to memory, my biographical memory is very poor. One thing that occurred to me recently is the following: Is there any relationship between aphantasia and difficulty with making eye contact. Eye contact has always been a big problem for me, which is curious for someone who spent his career as a corporate strategy consultant working closely with high powered clients and making presentations to large audiences, too often about topics I really did not know much about. As I understand it, difficulty with eye contact is associated with people on the spectrum or with social interaction problems or extreme shyness, which have never been my problem. So, I began to wonder if there might be a link with aphantasia. While direct research linking the aphantasia and eye contact is lacking, there are some intriguing theoretical intersections based on what is known about the brain's processing of visual and memory information. So I thought it would be interesting simply to ask the people in this community if anyone else with aphantasia has problems in eye contact.

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Eric MacDonald•recently

Yes, I've always had a problem with eye contact. I didn't connect it to my aphantasia, nor do I see why they should be connected. Does anyone have an idea why they should be? As to aphantasia being a disability, there I agree entirely with Jeff Cagan. Since I have come to know of it, one of the features about aphantasia that troubles me the most is the fact that I cannot remember now what my wife looked like. Luckily I took lots of photos of her, but after she died in Switzerland with assistance (because of very advanced MS), one of the most troubling things was my inability to call her up to my mind's eye. This for me is a deeply negative aspect of aphantasia. In addition to not having imagery, it is hard now for me to remember people who have died, since memory, so far as I can tell, is closely allied to imagery, so that seems to explain why my memory of the past is so desolate. I have known for years that I don't have mental imagery, but didn't know until the last five years or so that the condition had a name.

Ann Seeley•recently

I have full multisensory aphantasia plus Severely Deficient Autobiographical Memory (which I discovered through this site) and I was very happy to learn about both of these neurological differences as it has helped me to understand part of why I have always seen the world somewhat differently. However I can't recall having had any particular problems with eye contact once I'd left a very shy childhood behind (whenever that was :-)) But perhaps it all depends on what is the cultural norm. Here in England we are not expected to engage strangers with full eye contact, but I've been told that in the US the reverse is true. For about 25 years much of my life was spent working with very young children, so eye contact was an important part of the job.

Jeff Cagan•recently

I am a 57 year old male that just found out I had aphantasia about 3 months ago. I have always had trouble with eye contact. From what I've gathered so far, I am about as extreme as it gets. No minds eye at all, haven't ever read a book and have trouble following a movie or show with multiple characters. I also believe it has been the reason behind anxiety and depression issues. I don't know if it should or should not be a disease, but I do know for me it has been a disability.

SANDRA PTACEK•recently

Aphant here. Your comment caught my attention since my loved ones often comment that I do not look at them or look them in the eyes when I am speaking with them. I feel like they are asking me to stare them down and that they want to hold eye contact far too long for my comfort. I am never-the-less good at looking at people in a group in the eyes while giving a talk. It seems more comfortable when people are at a distance.

Natasha Greenman•recently

Interesting question. Until I was in my late 40's/early 50's, I too had a hard time meeting people's eyes. Especially as a young teenager. I mostly attributed it to 'fear' from childhood experiences, but perhaps there is a correlation with aphantasia too. Today things are different, but much has changed in my life and in me internally. I don't have trouble anymore looking people in the eye, but I am conscious of when it's socially necessary to do so.