Hallucinogenic Images
A reconstruction of a memory image of a hypnagogic image.
PLEASE NOTE: For the record, I absolutely do not recommend taking drugs to "experience" hallucinogenic images!
The category of hallucinogenic imagery is a broad one and does NOT refer exclusively to states of consciousness produced by psychotic episodes or drugs. In fact, there are two forms of hallucinogenic images most people can experience quite easily:
1. Everyone experiences hallucinogenic images naturally through DREAMS. No equipment needed!
2. A special form of pre-sleep imagery, called HYPNAGOGIC IMAGERY, is experienced by about 33% of people. To see if you can experience those, simply try to be aware of what you see as you fall to sleep. See Introduction to Mental Images page: 1. Beginnings/Types of Mental Images/Hallucinogenic Images for additional information.
Hypnagogic images, according to some, are the result of the visual system "attempting to make sense" of the visual input still available to the eyes when the mind is drifting toward sleep. Even in very low ambient light levels, light penetrates the eyelids, making the patterns of blood flow through them visible. This is the basis for an "interpretation" by the visual system. The visual system may attempt to "force" the input to correspond to, say, a geometrical pattern, or the semblance of some object. Dream images (another type of hallucinogenic image) or spontaneous memory images (another type of mental image) may intrude into such images. The stages, or types of imagery, associated with sleep and dreaming share an important common characteristic that figures in their definition: they are autonomous.
LINKS to Additional nformation on Hypnagogic Images:
Psychological study, following the model of traditional psychology, uses subject reports as data in addition to measurements of physiological changes during hynagogic imagery.
Another interesting study argues that hypnagogic images may be misunderstood by some subjects. Among the conclusions: "It is also possible that hypnagogic/hypnopompic imagery and sleep paralysis may account for some intense UFO reports and abductions (e.g., Baker, 1992; Spanos et al., 1993)."
Do any of your hypnagogic images look anything like the modified Mandelbrot Series image (below)?
