Living and Learning with a Blind Mind's Eye: College Students with Aphantasia

Cavazos, Baskin, Mashigian & Cavazos (2025) -- peer-reviewed paper, Frontiers in Psychology

This one actually went and talked to college students with aphantasia about what it's like to be in school without a working mind's eye. Not just theorizing, actually asking people. Which feels overdue.

The students described all kinds of workarounds they figured out on their own, usually without any help from teachers who had no idea aphantasia was even a thing. A lot of them didn't know what aphantasia was themselves until well into their education. The paper is a good reminder that students are already adapting, just quietly and alone, and that a little awareness from educators could go a long way.

If you remember one thing: Students with aphantasia are already figuring it out by themselves. Imagine how much easier it would be if someone had actually told them it was okay.

Link to study