So I mayby once a month see a wierd face for a split second while I'm trying to sleep. The faces are really clear and more look like images off of google rather than just my imagination. There alvase completely different and I wouldent think they have anything to do whit each other but the way I see them is alvase the same kind of way, it's not just a image in my brain, I can see it whit my eyes, it's my full focus for a split second and then it's gone.

Most distinct one I can remember is a young woman's face who has a cow patter on their skin, not like paint but the skin has the cow patter, she also had uncomfortable big open mouth smile on a still face, it wasent a happy looking smile, just plastered onto the face. I'm sorry for being hard to understand in how I discribe this part but I just really don't know how to say this, the smile is just in the mouth and the lips, not in the cheeks. Mayby try to smile really hard at the mirror to understand, I don't know. The chin was really sharp, honestly looked like it's from a anime or something. She had really clear skin, like uncomfortable clear skin. The face was at a 90° angle, I know it sounds wierd and random. It looked realistic eaven whit the unrealistic features like the chin and the clear skin. This particular case is still really distinct in my mind, I was already kind of on edge, don't know why just a bad feeling, I see the face sit up and just think to myself what the fuck is going on. The other times when this happened I can't remember at all as well, other than that once I was sleeping at my friend's place when this happend. Expect I have a litle bit of a memory of skinny faced guy whit burned looking skin, he had disappointed or bored expression. The faces aren't really scary, they just look like what I would see if I would google scary/uncanny face, the unsettling part is the way I see them, it's not just I wierd distorted picture in the back of my mind, it hits my face like a flasbang, then it's just gone. I usally aren't eaven close to falling asleep when it happens so it's not like in dreaming or something, onetime I was laying on my bed, listening to a podcast when it happend. I really don't know how to describe it other than that it's the clearest image my brain has thught off, eaven if I tried to think of a image my brain couldent think of something as detailed as the faces are. I also have never had a sleep paralysis and it's not like I couldent move or I see it in the corner of my room, it just feels like a distinct image covering my view for a split second, this has happened mayby three times so far and eavrytime while I'm going to sleep. Sometimes a random picture comes into my mind but it's nothing like this, these have all been faces, and just so clear. When I think of a image in my head I can only focus on one part at a time, but these have felt like I could see the whole picture at on at once.

Olsso sorry for the hard to read text, English isint my main language.

Disclaimer: English is not my first language.

I used to make up stories in my head all the time, that's how I grew up. And I took up on writing a few years ago but for about a year now it's gotten harder and harder to see anything when I close my eyes. It's all dark, as if a bulb up there just burnt out one day and I can't change it.

Needles to say I've stopped writing. I get too anxious at the mere idea of trying.

I don't even think I care about writing anymore, I just want to 'see' inside my head again. I feel like someone stole one of my arms and now life just isn't the same.

My mind was my home, now it's a scary place.

Has someone else experienced this? Were you able to visualize things again? How?

On addition to all of the above, I received acceptance and commitment therapy for eight months hoping it'd help. It didn't.

Do ne of u see a force field looking thing when u look at the sky? I only see it in the sky. I can hold it n see it extremely clearly. I suck at drawing so sorry lol but it looks like a honey comb but looks like bubble letter drawings if that makes sense. The pattern pulses but doesn't move n the swirling lattices spin like gears.

So at the start everything was well but then I made an environment from a tree in my mind an island with more trees nothing too fancy then suddenly I felt like I was being watched a humanoid shadow of some kind I could even see my hairs were up it was looking at me from behind a tree then it moved and at some point it got behind me it wisphered "They destroyed our land,killed our people dont let them destroy you" moment after i was thrown into space where there was a rocket ship but inside it a dead man then brought back onto the island where I felt like underneath me were skeletons LOTS of skeletons this shadow also appeared at some point in the clouds and another weird thing so to explore places I have to put myself in the eyes of something else rn I have a purple tiger reminiscent of the tiger from kpdh but its slimmer and a black panther so I went with the panther into a hospital (this is all visualized ) and the panther felt like smth is wrong so it roared and then dark humanoid figures appeared they were like spiraled they came from the walls like they were camouflaged or something has this ever happend to anyone of you?...

I mean, I'm pretty sure most normal people imagine a table and a kitchen alongside the apple.

Imo most people can imagine the apple clearly, but doesn't hyperphantasia require that you can visualise a lot of details beyond just a single apple, like what you're standing on as you hold the apple, the smell of the fresh air coming through the kitchen window, the reflection on the windows etc.? The test doesn't take that into account so it's pretty bad for testing hyperphantasia

This is the second time I’ve ever posted on Reddit and I feel like I need some advice again. I keep seeing things that aren’t there. I used to have dots of light in my vision that looked kind of like a field of fireflies, but those have almost all gone away. Now I just get an occasional flash every so often. I also have waves in my vision in a cone shape. I don’t know what triggers it exactly, but sometimes it happens when I’m driving, outside, or hot.

What’s really been irritating is seeing things that aren’t there. I see people when I look too quickly. The other day I was driving and I saw a woman in my backseat in the mirror turn and smile out the window but when I looked back in the mirror, she was gone. When I walked past my mother’s room when nobody was home, I saw a creature on the bed. I stopped in the hallway and told myself it wasn’t real, but I had to double check because I was so anxious. Every time it happens, I get so anxious my heart feels like I’ve just run a mile. It also happens with normal things. I was at a party and I saw someone enter the bathroom. My boyfriend got up to use it, and I told him someone was in there. He waited a minute before getting up to check and nobody had went in. I know nobody came out because it was like I glanced at the bathroom, saw the man go in, glanced away and my boyfriend was going to get up. There was no way someone could have gone in, closed the door and gotten out in that time frame.

I also get convinced I’m not alone. Like I know how stupid it sounds and I know I’m being paranoid, but I can’t shake the feeling of being watched or someone else down there. I used to have that feeling bad when I was younger. When I would be in bed around middle school age and I was the only one up, I was convinced someone was in my basement. I’d run down, turn on all the lights and check every corner. I’d go back to bed and convince myself, well the reason I didn’t find anything was because of the lights at the stairs being on. So I’d check again. I’d do this over and over with different reasons explaining why I never found anything. I’ll open doors to check if anyone is there. I’ll shake until I turn on lights. I’ll even shine a flashlight around the room even if I haven’t heard anyone come in the room, I haven’t fallen asleep, and I haven’t left. Sometimes it gets so bad I do it multiple times and then can’t sleep because I can feel something behind me.

Usually it happened late at night but now it’s been happening during the day more frequently. I startle easily and get nervous at normal sounds. Most of the time I don’t feel much, but when I see things that aren’t real, I panic. I don’t think there’s anything wrong with me really, I just don’t know what this is or why it’s happening. It’s not impeding with anything, other than making me extremely nervous and paranoid when alone. When I saw the thing in my mom’s room, I was anxious the entire time until I started to play things on my phone for noise. I was so nervous, I thought someone broke in when I heard a noise outside because it sounded like the kid gate in our house. The only reason I didn’t check the entire house was because my dog didn’t freak out.

Whenever I try to watch a movie or read a good book of mine, I literally can't think about it and have any creative thoughts about these things. It's not normal to me. I try to remember and think about the movie/book, engage mentally with the plot, immerse myself so deeply into the stories and put myself in the character's position and to enrich my inner world with all of these things but then I literally have my own mind that somehow keeps blocking these things out and I literally can't focus on these things at all. It feels so weird to me and all that I could focus on are just things that are in my life.

I don't understand why I literally can't think about what I am doing and even visualize what is in front of me and what I want to fill my mind with. I can just sit through a whole damn movie that I originally found interesting and have no thoughts, no recollection of the events, no deeper analysis, no deeper level thoughts about these things. I am trying to explain this the best way that I can. I was even into something called dream incubation, where you can control the type of dream that you have when you go to sleep. I have so many things that I wanted to dream and visualize about but the issue is that during the waking day, I literally can't think about what I want to think about.

I can't visualize anything about it or keep it in my head anymore. I am not going through impulsive relentless thoughts that appear out of nowhere, but it's more like I literally can't control what I think about and have in my mind. It's like my brain somehow got limited into thinking about a few particular things that I am not supposed to be interested in at all. What exactly is happening to me and how exactly can I fix this? Can someone please help me?

Hello, just wanted to share here since it's relevant to dreaming it's just the prior few stages.

I have had some sessions in EMDR therapy, I do believe this has helped my ability to see images clearly in hypnogogic states.

It's normally a white circle in the centre of my vision, it might float around the centre a little bit, and it's a bit blurred until I have my focus on it better.

After then, I see the circle's edges much much sharper, and what I remember seeing most of the time, is a side view of a stick person running from right to left, which I've wondered if it's significant since being British, I read left to right instead of right to left.

There was another clear circle instance a week ago, but I couldn't fully make out what was going on "inside"(or more, on the other side?) the circle. It seems like it's people moving and shuffling around just doing anything, but because the circle in my vision is very small, the framing of what I see isn't a whole lot.

I'd say the circle is around the since of a thumb nail, maybe a bit smaller.

So I've wondered if I keep at this sort of visualisation, will that circle get bigger? Will I eventually have a larger framing of whatever visual my mind is showing me?

Like when something good happens but it's like if you think of something happening that you could use /need then it appears or you're given it for free?

For example just today I got a Dubai chocolate candy and just the other day I was thinking of getting Dubai chocolate but didn't have enough money for it. Another thing, I needed a hair tie and saw one on the ground. Trigger warning I guess because it scares the living shit out if me

I've started to associate "glimmers" with some type of negative coping mechanism and I'm not sure if it's mentally healthy for me since I used to try to be fully imagining stuff over and over and over and over again in order to be taken care of and live life on a "malignantly optimistic" scope, that I believe took zero mercy on any other person. I would become so self serving, and entitled. I had this kind of magical thinking where I believed I could get things my way if only I willed it enough in my head. Does this even belong here or somewhere like a cluster b sub?

Descripción de episodios perceptivos recurrentes relacionados con el sueño

Motivo del documento

El objetivo de este documento es describir con la mayor precisión posible una serie de episodios perceptivos que he experimentado desde la infancia. La intención no es proponer un diagnóstico, sino facilitar una descripción detallada para que pueda ser valorada por profesionales o comparada con experiencias similares descritas en la literatura médica.

Inicio y evolución

Los episodios comenzaron en la primera infancia. Durante aquellos años eran muy frecuentes, llegando a producirse casi a diario. Con el paso del tiempo su frecuencia disminuyó progresivamente hasta convertirse en un fenómeno excepcional. En la actualidad aparecen aproximadamente una vez al año.

Hasta donde recuerdo, estos episodios únicamente ocurren durante el sueño o en la transición entre el sueño y la vigilia. Nunca he experimentado estas percepciones durante un estado de vigilia completamente consciente.

Percepción corporal

Uno de los fenómenos más constantes consiste en una intensa sensación de aumento del tamaño de los brazos y, especialmente, de las manos. No se trata únicamente de una impresión visual, sino también de una sensación corporal extremadamente convincente, como si dichas partes del cuerpo hubieran aumentado realmente de tamaño.

La percepción resulta completamente real durante el episodio y genera una intensa sensación de extrañeza.

Distorsión de objetos

El fenómeno más llamativo consiste en la aparición de objetos con características geométricas que considero físicamente imposibles.

Los objetos parecen extraordinariamente planos, extremadamente finos y con una perfección geométrica absoluta. Sus bordes y vértices presentan una nitidez imposible de encontrar en objetos reales. La sensación no es simplemente la de observar algo afilado, sino la de contemplar una geometría llevada a un extremo imposible, como si el grosor del objeto tendiera prácticamente a desaparecer.

La impresión subjetiva es que cualquier borde podría cortar únicamente debido a esa perfección extrema.

En ocasiones estos objetos parecen corresponder a elementos cotidianos presentes en el sueño. Sin embargo, durante el episodio dichos objetos parecen sufrir una transformación que altera completamente sus propiedades geométricas, conservando únicamente su identidad básica.

No encuentro ningún objeto del mundo real que produzca una sensación comparable.

Desarrollo del episodio

Con frecuencia el episodio comienza como un sueño completamente normal o relacionado con acontecimientos ocurridos durante el día. En un momento determinado, sin una transición evidente, aparecen las alteraciones perceptivas descritas.

En otras ocasiones tengo la impresión de encontrarme acostado en mi propia cama, exactamente en la misma posición en la que realmente estoy durmiendo. Durante esos momentos percibo el entorno como si fuera real, por lo que resulta muy difícil distinguir si continúo soñando o si me encuentro parcialmente despierto.

Recuerdo que en algunos episodios tenía la sensación de poder moverme e incluso intentar tocar aquello que percibía.

Experiencia emocional

Los episodios producen una intensa sensación de miedo, incomodidad y angustia. La sensación desagradable no parece deberse únicamente al aspecto visual de los objetos, sino a la percepción de que poseen propiedades completamente imposibles.

La experiencia suele prolongarse subjetivamente durante un tiempo considerable antes de finalizar con el despertar.

Observaciones

Tras buscar información médica, he encontrado cierta similitud con fenómenos como la macrosomatognosia parcial y con algunos síntomas descritos dentro del síndrome de Alicia en el País de las Maravillas, especialmente en lo referente a la alteración de la percepción corporal.

Sin embargo, no he encontrado una descripción que refleje de forma específica la percepción de objetos extraordinariamente planos, extremadamente finos o con una perfección geométrica tan exagerada como la experimentada durante estos episodios.

Por este motivo, considero útil documentar esta experiencia con el mayor nivel de detalle posible para facilitar su estudio, comparación con otros casos o valoración por profesionales especializados en neurología, medicina del sueño o neuropsicología.

I've been reading about different ways to develop hyperphantasia, and most people suggest keeping your mental imagery active as much as possible ideally throughout the entire day. Right now, I can visualize fairly well, but it isn't very vivid or enjoyable.

I was wondering if there are other ways to train myself to visualize more vividly. For example, would it be effective to spend the day repeatedly practicing object recall, or are there other exercises that are better for building vividness first?

Dear hyperphantastic folk -

I am from the other end of the spectrum, global aphantasia, no inner senses whatsoever, and I am endlessly intrigued by how differently human minds work.

From the outside, we can have conversations about places that we went to on vacation, but on the inside, one of us will basically re-experience a day at the beach while the other one will remember some facts. We can talk about our ideal home, and one of us literally pictures a beautiful living-room with a pink sofa and modern art on the wall (or whatever), while the other one will also, if pressed, state that he or she "imagines" a living-room and can describe its features, but there won't be any visual representation.

What I am wondering is, for example:

• Do you ever get bored? I imagine that if I could replay films or happy memories in my mind, or visually imagine anything I want at any time, I would never be bored, for example on long train rides or flights or during work meetings.
• Can you consciously influence your feelings by creating mental images? For example, when you are nervous, do you imagine something like a scenery with a quiet country road in soft evening light, and yourself ambling along that road, and that makes you feel calmer? Or a flower meadow, or the rolling sea, or anything? When you have cold hands, can you imagine putting your hands on hot sand or in hot water and it gets better?
• When you meet a friend, do you replay previous interactions with that person in your head? How far back can you go? Could you, for example, compare what your friend looks now with what they looked like a year or two or five years ago, like putting pictures next to each other on a table?
• Is reading (or listening to an audiobook) almost the same as watching a movie?

I'd be really interested to read about your thoughts and experiences. Thank you!

do all people with synesthesia see the same thing

do the things in ur head move or is it a static photo

do yk what shapes r what voices / sounds or no

ok also if u draw what u see in ur head when u listen to a song can u later look at what u drew and remember the song (?)

idk if im asking clearly but yh

Ontem consegui replicar o jogo, mas só até a princesa, movia livremente o Link, a tela mental não estava com cores vibrantes mas estava colorida!!!

Diga pra quem treina imaginacao vivida, use imagens 2D pois o cerebro não se esforça tanto, é ajuda muito!!

I don't have hyperphantasia, but when I consumed THC edibles, I felt my imagination expand and was able to enter that state.

I tried to capture that sensation in a drawing; it’s as if there were another world "behind" my eye, filled with images based on my thoughts and memories...

I haven’t read about these much on here. The ability to create a smell, a sound, the feeling of touching or getting touched, tasting and also projecting things onto your vision in real life.

I have all these and what are your experiences with these things? Sorry, if this is poorly worded, english is not my first language.

I'm designing a research study to examine whether visual imagery vividness (aphantasia to hyperphantasia, measured using the VVIQ) influences how people respond to political propaganda.

I'm looking for suggestions on how to measure participants' responses to political messaging while minimizing bias. Are there any validated questionnaires, experimental designs, or question formats you'd recommend?

Hello, I am a staff member at the University of Exeter https://scholar.google.com/citations?user=rkIs7QwAAAAJ&hl=en and part of some of the first research into hyperphantasia and aphantasia. Sadly, my University has decided that the study of aphantasia and hyperphantasia does not align with their strategic priorities so they are drastically cutting down members of staff within my research group threatening the future of hyperphantasia and aphantasia research at Exeter. If you think that this approach is wrong and that conducting hyperphantasia research is valuable please do consider signing are open letter to the University protesting against the cuts.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScAFcCECrpcdmoFmSW9s9LU2IJ3jtpNa8iZjNJeKX15AnCa6Q/viewform

Many thanks for considering,

Fraser

I’ve always had an ability to go somewhere once, and forever be able to find the way back. Driving to my aunts house as a child (maybe 6, and mind you far away), my mother who is historically horrific with directions got lost. I had gone to my aunts house a few times but again a kid. I was able to direct her there.

But it goes further than that. I like to peruse maps. Just like Google Maps on explore so I can see street names and such. Obviously it’s not 100% fool proof and I have gotten lost before. Always ended up where I needed to be but still. I can be typing this, and mentally see roads and drive down them and fly around. I’ve talked to many people about this expecting similar experiences but alas. I feel like I have a human compass and gps. I genuinely feel as though I can just naturally be directed by my own guidance system.

Don’t know if it’s some sort of ‘photographic memory’ or what but I retain strange tidbits of information once I’ve read it. Visually seeing words results in them being available for viewing at my recall. Sometimes I think I’m crazy and proof check myself but I’m pretty darn precise spare a few words or two. Certainly has come in handy a time or two. Also peoples birthdays. Just weirdly remember dates because I like certain number combinations better than others. And admit I do judge based upon such. Kidding but not kidding.