“You don’t see things in your mind? But how do you imagine stuff?”

You know how some things are so obvious or universal you didn’t know they needed a formal name? Like how your nose runs when you eat hot or spicy food. It’s just — the way the world is, no? But as soon as you call it “gustatory rhinitis” it becomes a Thing. Or how someone will draw attention to an issue by deliberately stating that they’re not going to raise that issue? That’s called “apophasis.” Now it’s not just a Thing, but a sophisticated Thing.

So, too, when I discovered the word “hypophantasia.” “Hypophantasia describes a state where visual imagery is low. Hypophantasics may only experience flashes or struggle to create mental images,” I read. “Their mental currency is conceptual and word-based.”

Like, huh? Isn’t that — just the way minds work? Eyes work with images, ears work with sounds, and brains work with words and concepts. No?

Apparently not. Because when I shared this new name-for-something-that-never-needed-a-name-before with a few other people, they were shocked. “You don’t see things in your mind? But how do you imagine stuff?” they asked.

In words… of course?

They couldn’t wrap their minds around that. Maybe because they were trying to picture it. And you can’t really picture not picturing.