` See, I used to have this book called Napalm and Silly Putty by George Carlin. It was pretty funny, and I remember that he had said something like this:
` When you rub your eyes real hard, do you see that checkerboard pattern? Why is that?
` You mean, like this?` I see that one myself, sometimes: It's called a pressure phosphene.
` As far as I am aware, a phosphene is a visual qualia occuring without the presence of light, caused by magnetic, electric, or mechanical stimulation - or possibly the random firing of neurons.
` Pressing on the eyes tends to stimulate random cells in the retinas via interocular fluid, hence the term 'pressure phosphene'.
` In fact, I pressed on my eyes just now and saw what appeared to be moving liquid, as well as a very clear wire-frame model of a complex, symmetrical, and many-moduled space station that revolved in various directions.
` I have no idea what that was all about - must be my exhaustion. Unfortunately, I eventually had to stop watching because my eyes were becoming sore.
` Anyway, 'phosphene' is a word for this, though so is 'entoptic phenomenon', which means 'something which happens within vision'.
` Personally, my favorite such occurence is when I simply close my eyes when I am very tired: Typically, a drawing of something appears and begins rotating and mutating into different forms.
` This is a type of hypnagogic reverie, which - as far as I know - is a type of hallucination (usually visual), induced by falling asleep. I usually don't fall asleep, however: I tend to stay half-asleep so that I can keep focusing on it.... It's just so fascinating, you know?
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11 comments:
Not really...
But I do see kaleidoscope thingies when I'm too tired to appreciate them.
That looks like something out of one of those 3D books where you put your face close to the pic & then slowly move the pic away from your face and an image pops out. I never was good at those...oh well!
` No, no, those are Single Image Random Dot Stereograms!
Of course! Everyone knows that!!
THAT'S what those 'Magic Eye' pictures are really called?
I HATE THOSE!!!!!
Remember when they were really big, and people were buying the crap out of them and FRAMING them on their walls? I remember this kid from high school's parents had one.....it was an eagle with an american flag waving behind it!
BLECH!!!!!
Hey, i heart america and all, but BLECH!!!!!
` Indeed. A dreadful time is a time when 'Magic Eye' pictures are all the rage.
` ...It's also a time when my transgenic raccoons escape, though profuse 'Magic Eye' pictures come pretty close.
What about when albino lab mice take over the world? You gotta admit, that's pretty dreadful.
` Not as dreadful as if a small, pathetic green Urkin invader managed this feat....
According to my sources, "ectopic" means "occurring or located in an abnormal position". You're sure that's the word?
` !! You got me again, Dark M. - and I fixed that oversight!
` This time it was truly a mistake: I had been talking with someone about things ectopic while writing this post and didn't notice that I'd misspelled 'entoptic'!
` Without you, I probably wouldn't have noticed! Thanks.
Any time.
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