I think spatially, which I 1) did not recognize that I was doing for a long time, and 2) thought was much more common than it is.
For years I tried to figure out why my short term memory seemed so good even though I'm neuroatypical in a way that's usually associated with reduced working memory. Turns out I've been building mind palaces basically for longer than I can remember, but not with images, which is why none of the descriptions ever resonated for me. Mind palaces with a blindfold on, if you will.
Being able to rotate items in my brain sure came in handy as a bike mechanic. I'm also handy in a move when you have one box that won't fit in your car/truck. But it also led to arguments with my father about whether I was turning a bolt the wrong way, when wrenching a bolt that is on the back side of something.
For years I tried to figure out why my short term memory seemed so good even though I'm neuroatypical in a way that's usually associated with reduced working memory. Turns out I've been building mind palaces basically for longer than I can remember, but not with images, which is why none of the descriptions ever resonated for me. Mind palaces with a blindfold on, if you will.
Being able to rotate items in my brain sure came in handy as a bike mechanic. I'm also handy in a move when you have one box that won't fit in your car/truck. But it also led to arguments with my father about whether I was turning a bolt the wrong way, when wrenching a bolt that is on the back side of something.