What Is Hyperphantasia and How to Know If You Have It

If you can still picture the syrup-soaked pancakes you ate last month or even last year with full clarity, down to the pattern on the plate and the sound of the fork hitting it, you might have hyperphantasia. This rare cognitive trait is gaining more recognition in neuroscience circles, and it’s as fascinating as it sounds.

Hyperphantasia is the term for an extremely vivid imagination so vivid, in fact, that people who experience it can mentally visualize images, scenes, or memories in high definition, often complete with sound, smell, and tactile sensations. For them, the mind’s eye isn’t just figurative it’s almost cinematic.

So, What Is Hyperphantasia?

Think of imagination as a spectrum. On one end is aphantasia, where people experience little or no ability to visualize mental images. On the opposite end is hyperphantasia.

“Hyperphantasia is when individuals experience exceptionally vivid and detailed mental imagery,” says Catherine Nobile, PsyD, a clinical psychologist. “Their inner world can feel as real as the external one.”

This vividness can extend across all senses meaning someone might not just imagine a beach scene visually, but also hear crashing waves, smell the ocean air, and feel the warmth of the sun on their skin. The result? A richly layered imagination that can influence memory, dreaming, and creativity in powerful ways.

What Causes Hyperphantasia?

Hyperphantasia seems to be tied to stronger connectivity between certain brain regions specifically the prefrontal cortex and visual cortex which are responsible for imagination, perception, and memory. “It’s this neural connection that allows people to access and combine stored visual information more easily,” says Raj Dasgupta, MD, a quadruple board-certified physician and sleep medicine expert.

Neuroimaging studies back this up: those with hyperphantasia show more activation in sensory-processing areas of the brain. Genetics may also play a role, as people who experience extremes in visualization abilities (like aphantasia or hyperphantasia) often have family members with similar traits.

How to Tell If You Have Hyperphantasia

There’s no definitive medical test for hyperphantasia, but several self-assessments and visualization exercises can offer clues:

• Vividness of Visual Imagery Questionnaire (VVIQ): A well-known tool where participants rate the clarity of imagined scenes.

• Mental Rotation Tests: These involve mentally turning 3D objects—people with hyperphantasia often excel at these.

• Drawing or Descriptive Tasks: Asking someone to replicate or describe a scene from memory can reveal the sharpness of their inner imagery.

Some people don’t even realize they have hyperphantasia until prompted. If your mental images are as vivid as photographs or you often feel immersed in daydreams or memories, this trait could be part of your cognitive makeup.

Is It the Same as a Photographic Memory?

Not quite. While both involve vivid visual recall, hyperphantasia is about creating mental images, while eidetic memory (often called photographic memory) is about retaining and recalling real images with high accuracy.

Think of it this way: hyperphantasia allows you to mentally recreate your seventh birthday cake with lifelike detail; eidetic memory helps you remember how many candles were on it and exactly where they were placed.

Pros and Cons of Having a Hyper-Vivid Imagination

The benefits:

• Heightened creativity in fields like art, writing, design, and science

• Enhanced emotional resilience through mental escape and visualization

• Strong visualization skills that aid in problem-solving and planning

The challenges:

• Difficulty staying present due to frequent immersion in mental imagery

• Emotional overload if visualizations skew negative or intrusive

• Potential for unrealistic expectations or disconnection from reality

“The imagination can be both a gift and a challenge,” says Dr. Hayley Nelson, a neuroscientist and founder of The Academy of Cognitive and Behavioral Neuroscience. “With awareness and the right outlets, people with hyperphantasia can harness this ability in really meaningful ways.”

How to Support and Channel Hyperphantasia

If you suspect you have hyperphantasia, consider using creative practices to express and manage your vivid inner world:

• Art and design: Drawing, photography, and digital media can help bring mental images to life

• Mindfulness and grounding: Staying centered in the present can balance the pull of intense internal visuals

• Journaling and storytelling: Writing helps process and organize thoughts while tapping into your imaginative strength

And remember, you don’t need a formal diagnosis to explore how your mind works. Starting with reflection and curiosity can be just as valuable as any questionnaire.

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