People perceive the world differently. Some of these differences are well-known. I am short-sighted. Aunt Mabel is tone-deaf. Uncle Monty has a rather discerning palate for wine. But beyond these familiar differences, philosophers and scientists are starting to uncover other – often rather surprising – differences.

Some people experience “synaesthesia” – a mixing of the senses. For example, some people experience colours when they hear music. Some people have “aphantasia” and lack sensory imagination. They may lack visual imagination and be unable to form mental images in their mind’s eye, or they may not be able to hear a tune silently in their head. They may lack an inner voice. Some people tend to focus more on the details of certain scenes, while others tend to see the bigger picture.