Aphantasia (/ˌeɪfænˈteɪʒə/ AY-fan-TAY-zhə, /ˌæfænˈteɪʒə/ AF-an-TAY-zhə) is the inability to voluntarily visualize mental images.

This is a condition many people don’t know they have until later in life.

Not everyone can “picture things” when they close their eyes or read.