People who can't picture images in their 'mind's eye' still represent them in their brains.

A recent study published in Current Biology explored the phenomenon of aphantasia, where individuals are unable to form mental images. Contrary to previous beliefs, researchers found that the visual processing areas of the brain still show activity in people with aphantasia when they try to imagine images, although this activity does not translate into conscious experience. The study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to compare brain activity in aphantasic individuals and neurotypical controls, revealing unique patterns of activity in the visual cortex of those with aphantasia. This research provides new insights into the neurological differences underlying this condition and opens up avenues for further exploration in understanding how the brain processes visual information. [Extracted from the article]