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Do You See Movies in Your Mind When Reading? You’re Not Alone


A woman said her “mind is blown” by the discovery of what certain people can see in their heads when they’re reading.

Lia Shields, 27, has been an avid book lover since she was a child, managing to read 170 books in 2024. She certainly enjoys getting lost in a story, telling Newsweek that you can “live so many more lives” just through reading.

While there’s no doubt that Shields, of Colorado, loves following her favorite characters along their journeys, it’s recently come to her attention that the way she processes the material is different to other people. Indeed, she learned that some readers can visualize the plot unfolding as if it were a movie playing out in their head.

The idea that people can see the characters and scenes happening in their mind has stunned Shields, leaving her wondering why she can’t do the same.

“I didn’t know this was a thing until I saw someone talking about the movie they see when they read,” she said. “I was like, what? Do people really do that? I had absolutely no idea people could see stuff when they read.”

Woman reading
Lia Shields, 27, discussing the different experiences people have when they’re reading.

@liareadsawholelot / TikTok

At first, Shields thought it was unique for people to picture the plot in their heads, but now she thinks she might actually be the unique one.

Shields has aphantasia, a condition that makes it difficult for people to visualize mental images. Rather than picturing something in their mind, people with aphantasia often use other senses to process information. Some people’s mental images are dull or vague, while others can’t form anything whatsoever, according to WebMD.

“I can sometimes see flashes of what a scene might look like when I’m reading, but for the most part, I see nothing,” Shields continued. “Even if I see an image, it’s there for less than a second, so I don’t really focus on what I’m seeing. I instead focus on the words and what I’m feeling.”

Dr. Gareth Nye, a lecturer in medical science and a researcher in the area of maternal and fetal health, told Newsweek that many people living with aphantasia are “not aware there is a problem” because they don’t know any different.

He insists, however, that the condition shouldn’t get in the way of enjoying reading, as it all comes down to personal preference.

“People with the condition may tend to shy away from certain genres which aim to invoke complex scenes and worlds,” he said. “Take The Lord of The Rings for example—the author spends a significant amount of time engaging with the reader to imagine the world it’s set in. But those with aphantasia will not see the benefit.

“Therefore, people with aphantasia should aim to look for gripping stories and emotional pieces which don’t require as much mental imagery. Most people still love books and reading. But instead of thinking about the scene, they get lost in the words and the language used instead.”

Nye encourages people to try different genres and literary styles until they find ones that truly captivate their imagination.

Social Media Response

After learning that other people have different experiences, Shields shared this revelation on TikTok (@liareadsawholelot). The video certainly captured attention, leading to more than 177,400 views and 17,000 likes in a matter of days.

As she was so fascinated by this concept, Shields asked her husband and he agreed that he too can see images when he reads books. She said that “he had to convince” her that it was true because she had such a hard time believing it.

“He needs to read every single detail so he can build the scene in his head, whereas I don’t care what the room looks like, so I don’t need to focus on the little details,” she told Newsweek. “I don’t focus on visualizing while I read, I just take whatever glimpses I can get and just read.

“I don’t feel like I’m missing out on anything. I am a very fast reader—I can read 95 to 100 pages an hour. I wonder, if I visualized everything, would I still be able to read at that speed? I still feel like I’m getting the same experience as those who are visualizing.”

Shields has been amazed by the online reaction since her video went viral, as she estimates that over 90 percent of the comments are from people who can visualize. Others said they don’t necessarily see a movie, but more of a graphic novel, which she found interesting.

Regardless of their experience or ability, Shields hopes to encourage everyone to enjoy reading.

“Even if you have aphantasia, you can enjoy books as much (if not maybe more) than people who can visualize in their head. Sure, I can’t see what I’m reading, but I’m still enjoying the book and I still get the whole story,” she said.

The viral clip had amassed over 3,200 comments on TikTok at the time of writing.

One comment reads: “Well what do see? Nothing? What makes you keep reading? I’d be super bored without the mind visuals.”

Another person wrote: “I have aphantasia so I see nothing, but I connect emotionally and make myself the main person in the book.”

While another TikTok user added: “Absolutely a movie. Sometimes I’m just an observer. Other times I’ve been a background character. Sometimes I can put myself in their shoes.”

Do you have any viral videos or pictures that you want to share? We want to see the best ones! Send them in to life@newsweek.com and they could appear on our site.



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