[Ilya]

Originally Posted by apl

When I think, I consciously juggle discrete concepts or beliefs (some of which are blurry, others are clear) in my mind. My concepts/beliefs are not consciously represented as words or images. Rather, they are represented as something else. However, these representations are fundamental (irreducible) in my conscious experience and they are unlike anything else, so I have no idea how to describe the representations other than with the words "concepts", "beliefs" or maybe "ideas" (which I'm sure is not very informative).

You said, some of your concepts are blurry... Do you see them in your mind? Can you describe how does some concept look like?

Perhaps not surprisingly, when I talk to people, I have great difficulty in expressing my thoughts with words - i.e. I'm somewhat inarticulate (Consequently, many people assume I'm less intelligent than I am when they first meet me. Also, my way of thinking has a strong influence over the way in which I like to interact with people. I generally dislike engaging in small-talk (I'm not good at it and I find it boring), but I love having deep conversations about general or abstract notions.

That was my situation and my style as well for a long time. But I went further and just didn't attempt to start conversation at all. Made my social life a little bit more difficult than it could be

Recently, though, I discovered that, if I read a book out-loud to myself for several hours, I can maintain a natural articulated inner-monologue for several more hours without any effort at all, and when I converse with people in this time period I can speak much more articulately than usual. I sometimes now read out-loud to myself before I attend a social event so that I find talking to people easier and more enjoyable. It would be interesting to pinpoint the neurological reason behind this.

I can't say what neurology (in a strict scientific meaning) is at play there. But the result is expected, if you think about it. By reading out loud, you are engaging the parts of the brain, that you don't usually use. You are basically doing a workout for the part of the brain that is responsible for talking. To talk, you need to turn your abstract concepts into words. And the task is made easier by the fact that you use someone else's concepts. You are also entering a mind state that allows you to speak at length. While you maintain this state you can talk freely. Later on you lose this state. The good news is that by practicing, you can reduce the time you need to read, before you become vocal. In the end you will just need to remember the state of mind when reading aloud or during the previous speaking and the ability will be there.