Hyperphantasia and Hypnosis

Hyperphantasia is a condition characterized by exceptionally vivid and detailed mental imagery. It is considered an extreme on the spectrum of visual imagery vividness, with aphantasia (the absence of mental imagery) at the other extreme.
-- Google AI

Hyperphantasia is the condition of having extremely vivid mental imagery. It is the opposite condition to aphantasia, where mental visual imagery is not present. The experience of hyperphantasia is more common than aphantasia and has been described as being "as vivid as real seeing". Hyperphantasia constitutes all five senses within vivid mental imagery, although literature on the subject is dominated by "visual" mental imagery research, with a lack of research on the other four senses.
-- Wikipedia

I've somewhat recently come to the conclusion that I have this, and I've been wondering if it's one of the reasons I not only enjoy hypnosis, but trance so well to it. Hypnotic inductions often utilize imagery and imagined stimuli (something something "picture you're on a beach, waves lapping at your ankles" or whatever) and being able to vividly imagine things through multiple senses is one of the main symptoms of hyperphantasia. I don't think my ability to trance quickly and deeply is purely the decade-plus experience I have doing it, because I've pretty much always been like this.

I'm wondering if anyone else here has this and can share their experiences? Or people with aphantasia, the opposite-- what's hypnosis like for you?

I'm wondering if anyone else here has this and can share their experiences? Or people with aphantasia, the opposite-- what's hypnosis like for you?

I'm pretty sure I have aphantasia. Trance and hypnosis for me has always been an exercise in frustration. As far as I can tell, the only sense I have access to is 'Spatial awareness' (meaning I can mimic the tingling sensation of someone standing next to me outside of my vision)

Otherwise I basically have to 'associate' existing sensations with the story inside the script. Example, the taste of the roof of your mouth, or any other similar type of sensation you are normally 'noseblind' to. There are negatives to this approach though, such as the lines between trance and non trance start to blur a bit.

Otherwise, trance and hypno is largely relegated to paying very close attention to the internal sensation of the emotions. Arousal being a prime example of a pleasurable but frustrating emotion, mainly due to the lack of any release combined with the fact that being too aroused knocks me out of trance.

Ever since I was a kid, I had a hard time playing 'imagination' type games with my friends. I can only recall one situation where I could actually start to 'SEE' something. It surprised me so much, I basically 'stopped the game' to exclaim in wonderment (probably to the confusion of my friends). I haven't really been able to get to that point ever again.

One time while listening to "strip club" by samantha sez I heard a "toodle loo" that I haven't heard before or since in the actual recording.

I find this all very interesting, I have a good visual memory but I've never been able to clearly see images when I close my eyes. e.g. I can imagine 'a woman in black shiny stockings' but it isn't like I suddenly materialize that image in my field of view lol. It's more like a distant memory I'm recalling. In fact the more senses I use to recall things the easier it is to imagine them, but it's not like I can actually feel them in the moment.

Now that gets a lot weirder when we talk about dreams, they feel so real, even after waking up but as the day passes these dreams and all their sensations fade into foggy memories (which makes some sense since dreams are not strong enough compared to reality)

A question for hyperphantasia people: do you actually confuse your imagination with real feelings? Like, augmented reality?

And a question for aphantasia people: how do you remember your dreams? Is it just a collection of feelings and emotions or do you remember seeing something?

[Like Ra]

Is hyperphantasia the same as "good visualization" or they overlap?

Speaking with visualization. What can you do with it? Can you imagine, let's say, a building, then add architectural elements, change the material, colour, rotate it in your mind, look inside, while keeping the external details and their positions, then disassemble the building and assemble it again? Can you look at the Rubik's cube, then memorize and visualize the colours?

Or is visualization a part of hyperphantasia, which includes all senses, like smell, touch, temperature, sounds, etc?

Can you imagine the smell of lavender or phloxes?

I think, it should be much easier with the sounds, like music (e.g. several instruments). Or ... is it just for me?

And a question for aphantasia people: how do you remember your dreams? Is it just a collection of feelings and emotions or do you remember seeing something?

I fall asleep, I wake up. Sadly, it feels as if I am disconnected from the dreamworld. There are only a handful of vivid dreams I remember, so they all hold a special place in my heart. About half can be classified as nightmares, which usually involve lots of running.

With the really vivid dreams it was as if I could do proper visualuzation. Colors and visuals appeared, and when I remember them, it's not any different than summoning up a normal memory (except the fact I know it was a dream).

Speaking with visualization. What can you do with it? Can you imagine, let's say, a building, then add architectural elements, change the material, colour, rotate it in your mind, look inside, while keeping the external details and their positions, then disassemble the building and assemble it again? Can you look at the Rubik's cube, then memorize and visualize the colours?

That reminds me of the movie Inception or one of those detailed diagrams for common objects:
   

I bet the human mind has a limit to the amount of detail you can imagine at the same time, but it should be trainable to a certain degree.

Or is visualization a part of hyperphantasia, which includes all senses, like smell, touch, temperature, sounds, etc?

Imagining touch or smell? Now that sounds like a superpower, I would be able to imagine I'm wearing pantyhose all day without the social risk of actually wearing pantyhose all day. 😁 Not that it matters at this point, but I do regret some embarrassing moments in public.

I think, it should be much easier with the sounds, like music (e.g. several instruments).

Rubbery latex...mmm.

I fall asleep, I wake up.

Oh wow, do you at least feel well rested? I always thought aphantasia meant no visuals, and I assumed your dreams were a different sensory experience. It is not always the case, but the more I dreamed (even if it was a nightmare), the better I feel in the morning and vice versa.

it's not any different than summoning up a normal memory

That is interesting! Having memories of a dream is a fascinating topic for me, why would the brain take the effort to save dreams in memory space if they are not 'real' experiences or events.

Oh wow, do you at least feel well rested?

I usually do not feel 'well' rested. Normally I wake up due to discomfort, too hot / cold, too full bladder etc. This leaves me more focused on fixing the issue, rather than being able to assess and be grateful for a good nights sleep.

That is interesting! Having memories of a dream is a fascinating topic for me, why would the brain take the effort to save dreams in memory space if they are not 'real' experiences or events.

The brain knows no difference between memories, and things we strongly visialize (I forget the podcast where i heard a lady talk about this).

I also remember another interview with a monk who was talking about jungian psycology and he was talking about how the dreamworld IS the real world. At a certain level of abstraction, I believe this is true. I think a lot of ourselves as 'people' is created and maintained through dreams. Reality can be seen as a 'testing ground' for these configurations of self.

All in all, I think this is one of the reasons hypno fascinates me so much. It is, in part, a way to be able to experience 'dreaming', even if it is a dream crafted by someone else.

Is hyperphantasia the same as "good visualization" or they overlap?

Speaking with visualization. What can you do with it? Can you imagine, let's say, a building, then add architectural elements, change the material, colour, rotate it in your mind, look inside, while keeping the external details and their positions, then disassemble the building and assemble it again? Can you look at the Rubik's cube, then memorize and visualize the colours?

Or is visualization a part of hyperphantasia, which includes all senses, like smell, touch, temperature, sounds, etc?

Can you imagine the smell of lavender or phloxes?

I think, it should be much easier with the sounds, like music (e.g. several instruments). Or ... is it just for me?

I don't have time to go into it in detail, but-- yes and no.

Hyperphantasia is often misconstrued as an "overactive imagination". It's not just visualization; it involves potentially all five senses. Yes, it comes with the ability to imagine things in different colors, different angles, different materials. It's not always so fine-tuned as to have the ability to take it apart and put it back together. No, it doesn't improve memory for something like a Rubik's cube.

I can imagine tastes, smells, sounds, visuals, and sensations without the relevant stimulus, yes.