"To explain to someone what aphantasia is, I would ask the person to think of Homer Simpson -- his round belly, blue trousers, white shirt, black shoes, bald head with the two hairs on top and the zigzag hair, his round nose, and his stubble," says Ian. "Someone without aphantasia would have the image of Homer in their head. I, on the other hand, just have the words in my head that describe his features in some internal monologue." It's sort of like reading stuff off a checklist without "seeing" anything in your mind's eye.

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This, basically.

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And it's not just images. "I can't hear music in my head if none is playing. I can't imagine how things taste or feel unless I am actually experiencing them," Emma says. "I can't remember things as pictures, sounds, feelings, or tastes. I just don't see, hear, or feel anything in my head." Imagine (since you can, you privileged jerk) your brain not being able to remember that, say, kale tastes like yard trimmings sprinkled with dirt, and then being invited to a vegan restaurant. The horror ...

This brings us to our next point ...