As you go about your day, do you experience a continuous stream of thoughts that narrate your daily happenings, or is your mind completely silent?
Verbal thinking, internal monologue, or inner voice – no matter how it manifests in your mind, this phenomenon is considered a universal aspect of human cognition. It is hard to imagine what it would be like not to have an inner voice at all; in fact, many readers would be reading this article aloud in their minds right now.
However, cognitive science suggests that not everyone has an inner voice.
Is this true?
VERDICT:
TRUE
The inner voice is a concept so universal that it inspired not one, but two Pixar movies.
Much like what 'Inside Out' tells us, our inner voice allows us to process information, reflect on experiences, and make decisions through a mental dialogue. For many, it serves as a guide for problem-solving and self-reflection.
However, anecdotal evidence long indicated that a segment of the population did not experience thoughts in this mental auditory form. Now, studies indicate that this segment may be larger than previously thought.
These studies also clarify that the absence of an inner voice is not a deficit or disorder but a variation in cognitive functioning.
People without an inner monologue often develop alternative strategies for processing information and organising thoughts.
For example, their thought processes may instead be more abstract or image-based, utilising visual or emotional cues rather than verbalisation.
Research into this phenomenon is in such early stages that a clinical name, anendophasia, was only proposed for it in 2024.
This is not due to a lack of interest but rather because anendophasia is so hard to study as people, being unreliable narrators, can often be confidently wrong about their internal ways of thinking.
Despite these challenges, anendophasia is of great interest to researchers because it challenges traditional assumptions about cognition and communication. It broadens how we define thinking and intelligence, emphasising that there is no singular correct way to "think".
The work put into studying this will also go beyond simply satiating scientific curiosity, as it has practical implications for various fields, from medicine to education.
For example, the authors of the study where the term " anendophasia" was coined suggest that understanding the phenomenon may help treat stroke patients who suffer from language impairments.
Educators may also benefit from incorporating learning strategies that cater to students with varied cognitive styles.
References:
https://www.thestar.com.my/
https://www.verywellmind.com/
