Daily Maverick
Dailymaverick logo

Opinionistas

This article is an Opinion, which presents the writer’s personal point of view. The views expressed are those of the author/authors and do not necessarily represent the views of Daily Maverick.

In two minds — some people don’t have an ‘inner voice’, but maybe those who do shouldn’t be smug

Studies suggest that between 2% and 5% of the population are ‘likely to be living without the ability to experience an internal monologue’.
Marianne Thamm
By Marianne Thamm
13 Jul 2025
Facebook
1

Last week, a post on Neil deGrasse Tyson’s Facebook fan page distracted a small group of us who had paused to read the startling revelation that 75% of people had “no inner voice”. If this is really Tyson, the popular US author and astrophysicist, mind you.

“That’s a terribly high number,” the little voice in my head piped up.

“I agree,” the other little voice responded.

Many who began commenting on the post must have had the same inner duologue or monologue. They agreed that this certainly would be a startlingly high number of people who were unable to think to themselves, ruminate or self-reflect.

The post read: “I just assumed everyone had it, you know that little narrator in your head who talks you through your decisions, who questions your actions, who reflects on your failures and asks, ‘Why did I do that?’ But here’s the data: over 75% of people report little to no inner dialogue at all.

“Nothing. No voice. No back-and-forth. No internal monologue steering the ship. Like wtf…” the post trailed off before perking up to add: “What if we’re looking at a fundamental divide in human consciousness… almost like a split between narrative beings and reactive shells?”

These are people apparently who “just follow the script handed to them by instinct and the media”.

“You better check this out,” the voice in my head chipped in.

Silence not absence?


Turns out the Tyson post was somewhat off target. Way off target, in fact. The average is estimated to be only between 5% and 10%.

“What a relief. Fewer zombies to deal with,” said the voice.

There is something provocative about the post and in these times of easy shooting from the lip, is it true that the inability to think to yourself renders you a mere collection of gases trapped in a skin?

Bear in mind at this point that if you hear many inner voices or a voice that claims to be divine, you should make an appointment with a mental health care professional a.s.a.p. (Or check whether you have left the television on in the lounge.)

It seems that to ensure any offence that might be taken was mitigated, the post on Facebook added: “I’m assuming the silence in others is just quiet, not absence.”

“Touché bitch.”

“Don’t be rude.”


inner voice
Graphic: Jocelyn Adamson; Source: Midjourney


The mechanics


The wheels and cogs at work here, according to psychologist Helene Brenner, are as a result of a “default mode network” (DMN) in the brain. These are a series of connections of different areas that become activated when we daydream or allow our minds to roam.

“Some would call that meditation,” said a voice.

“Indeed,” the other responded.

Scientists, who are as determined as the religious to make sense of the world and life, attribute this to the fact that the DMN “never truly shuts off, it just gets suppressed or limited when we get busy and start working through our daily list of tasks”.

“Because of this, it is believed that the DMN is what creates our daily narrative, combining what we think about, our past and present feelings, our opinions, and more,” reckoned Brenner.

“You could run a train through that argument,” said the voice.

“There isn’t enough space here to do that so get on with what it is you want to say. And, you are not an expert,” ordered the other.

Medicalising life


Whatever is going on or not, this lack of an internal monologue is linked to a condition called anendophasia, say the medical experts.

“Imagine if Disney made that as a movie?” said the voice.

“Stop interfering,” said the other.

Experts in the field agree that more research is needed to determine the actual number of people living with anendophasia. Some studies suggest that up to between 2% and 5% of the population are “likely to be living without the ability to experience an internal monologue”.

What seems not to have been considered is that those without this monologue might have other ways of putting together meaning, visually or in some other form. Neuro­diversity, they say.

What if it’s a gift?


Now, all of us who might be feeling smug as a result of our little inner voice, pause for a moment here.

What if not hearing it is an adaptive measure to switch off all those energy-sapping, free-floating anxieties that drift like debris in many of our heads? What if that inner voice might be a saboteur?

“How dare you suggest that? Explain yourself.”

Let’s try this. If it isn’t you in there, then who is it? Many of these voices will be parental, societal, cultural, religious or political and they may be misguided. Either way, if you are going to hear one or more inner voices, at least let them fight it out before you allow them to escape your lips. DM

This story first appeared in our weekly Daily Maverick 168 newspaper, which is available countrywide for R35.


This article was amended at 10am on 8 October 2025 to replace the term “aphantasia” with the correct term, “anendophasia”.