Auditory Aphantasia
Auditory aphantasia is the inability to voluntarily create mental sounds, music, or voices in one's mind - sometimes called the 'silent mind' or sound-free imagination. This can manifest as a singular experience affecting only auditory imagery, or as part of multisensory aphantasia where multiple forms of mental imagery are affected. Like other forms of aphantasia, it can be present from birth (congenital) or develop later in life (acquired). Those with auditory aphantasia often process sound-related concepts more abstractly, without the internal "playback" that others experience. On this page, you’ll find research, personal stories, videos and community discussions about auditory aphantasia.
Expanding Aphantasia Definition: Researchers Propose New Boundaries
Researchers expand aphantasia definition beyond "inability to visualize." This broader framework impacts how we understand and identify with the condition.
Definition: Aphantasia
Zeman, A., Monzel, M., Pearson, J., Scholz, C. O., & Simner, J. (2025). Definition: aphantasia. Cortex, 182, 212–213. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2024.07.019
Proposal for a consistent definition of aphantasia and hyperphantasia: A response to Lambert and Sibley (2022) and Simner and Dance (2022)
Monzel, M., Mitchell, D., Macpherson, F., Pearson, J., & Zeman, A. (2022). Proposal for a consistent definition of aphantasia and hyperphantasia: a response to lambert and sibley (2022) and simner and dance (2022). Cortex, 152, 74–76. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2022.04.003
3 Things I Learned From Having Multisensory Aphantasia That Changed My Understanding Of The World
My journey understanding the cognitive profiles of aphantasia and hyperphantasia started when I learned at age 30 that most of you have a superpower I don’t.
Switching The Focus From Visual Imagery
A case for studying mental imagery as a whole
Can You Hear Music in Your Mind's Ear?
I can't. Exploring auditory aphantasia and the mysterious mind's ear.
Think of a Horse: Describing Aphantasia
How do you describe aphantasia? Founder of Aphantasia Network often gets asked this question. His answer? Think of a horse.
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