aphantasia

noun

aph·​an·​ta·​sia ˌa-ˌfan-ˈtā-zh(ē-)ə 

: the inability to form mental images of real or imaginary people, places, or things

Derek has a condition called aphantasia, which means he is unable to voluntarily produce mental imagery.

—Brooke McAfee

aphantasic

ˌa-ˌfan-ˈtā-zik 

adjective

Word History

Etymology

a- entry 2 + Greek phantasía "appearance to the consciousness, imagination" — more at fantasy entry 1

Note: The term was introduced by Adam Zeman, et al., "Lives without imagery—congenital aphantasia," Cortex, vol. 73 (December, 2015), pp. 378-80.

First Known Use

2015, in the meaning defined above