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> I have zero mental imagery of even my wife's face, yet people could somehow describe features of strangers?

But could you describe your wife's features?

And if so, do you think it's because you're reciting a list of memorized facts ("she has brown hair" etc) or because you're drawing on your memory, even if not visually?

Could you describe (at all) any major pieces of art, such as the pose of the Mona Lisa?

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I guess I'm drawing on memory, but not visually. Try closing your eyes. You probably still have a sense of the shape of the room you are in, without actually picturing it right? Like you know how far away the walls are and where the bookshelf is. It's similar with faces. I have some sort of "model" of her face in my head, there's just no visual component.

And as I read that over, I realize it's a terrible explanation. I have no clue how to respond usefully.

It's like this for me, too. I have collections of visual facts but they don't cohere into a single visual experience, really

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