Learning something from someone else’s mindmap is hard work, and usually requires that person to walk you through the creation of the map. That’s how I use Prezi in my presentations. The Prezi makes a bit of sense on its own, but it makes a lot more sense when I’m there to talk about the ideas.

I’ll agree that your hypothesis holds in general, but might there be a mindmap or concept map that illuminates a subject without someone to narrate it? I’m open to the possibility that such a thing can happen.

Here’s one mindmap that comes close, I think:

http://prezi.com/xkogoamhhn3s/physics-292-the-big-picture/

Of course, I’ve cheated a little since there’s a bit of narration here in that Ian Beatty (the designer of this Prezi) has designated a path to follow through the map. His narration isn’t there, but he does lead one’s eyes through the map, which, as I said, is a bit of a cheat, given your challenge.