I share the same experiences with both of the above posters.
My thoughts/memory almost feel at times as if I am a programmer looking at code, but seeing a webpage, kind of like that guy in the Matrix, watching the code drip by but seeing “blonde, redhead, brunette…”. The impression I get is visual, but when I analyze it, it isn’t actually visual, and in no way vivid or photographic. Very odd.
I usually have extremely vivid and detailed dreams (when I recall them), and have occasionally had, in the hypnagogic state (just pre-sleep stage), flashes of extremely vivid imagery which is also consciously controllable. Very cool.
I’m really curious how many out there have vivid mental imagery during normal waking consciousness, and if it’s possible to increase this ability through practice.
I posted a companion question on this as well: http://www.fluther.com/disc/3602/what-techniques-can-one-utilize-to-increase-the-vividness-of-ones/
Thanks for the input!