Studies from the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in the United States found that people without an inner voice or internal monologue performed worse on certain tasks, but this difference disappeared when they could verbalize aloud.
Aphantasia, an inability to generate mental imagery or sensory experiences like visualizations, sounds or inner speech, exists on a spectrum. It is considered a variation in human senses and thinking processes rather than a medical or psychological condition.
Aphantasia research validates the experiences of those affected, countering claims that they simply cannot describe mental imagery, and studying variations in sensory imagination is important for understanding brain processes.
While inner voice and verbal thinking are common, some individuals engage in unsymbolized, conceptual thinking without an inner voice, and those without one may use alternative strategies for thought processing.
The new studies suggest that aphantasia does not necessarily indicate reduced capabilities.
This article was written in collaboration with Generative AI news company Alchemiq
Sources: Live Science, The Conversation, and Psychology Today