I have aphantasia. When I learnt the “mind’s eye” was not a metaphor, it was a wild moment for me! I still find it hard to believe that others are able to visualise using their imagination.
I’m curious about a potential link between aphantasia and autism. I’m 37 on the Autism Spectrum Quotient scale (test link below if anyone’s interested in doing it). “Significant autistic traits.” It makes sense to me that my inability to visualise people’s faces might make me less empathetic with others. Aphantasia might explain why I imagine systems, concepts and ideas rather than people, things and events.