Hallucinations & Perception

Imagery and hallucination look related but aren't the same thing. This covers pseudo-hallucinations, the Ganzflicker effect, and where perception and imagination overlap.

Hallucinations & Perception

Imagery and hallucination look related but aren't the same thing. This covers pseudo-hallucinations, the Ganzflicker effect, and where perception and imagination overlap.

Reference

Seeing without eyes: Relation between visual mental imagery and visual hallucinations

Researchers found that higher vividness of mental imagery is often associated with an increased occurrence of visual hallucinations across several clinical conditions. This suggests that hyper-functioning visual associative areas may drive both phenomena.

Panigutti, M., Bechi Gabrielli, G., Conti, D., Accinni, T., Zazzaro, G., Di Vita, A., Guariglia, C., & D’Antonio, F. (2026). Seeing without eyes: relation between visual mental imagery and visual hallucinations. Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 184, 106621. doi:10.1016/j.neubiorev.2026.106621

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Reference

Comparing the characteristics of hallucinations and mental imagery: a large cross-sectional study in the general population

Involuntary mental imagery is more frequent and vivid than hallucinations, though both share similar phenomenological traits. This suggests these inner experiences exist on a continuum rather than being entirely distinct phenomena.

Pepin, G., Lœvenbruck, H., Chauvin, A., Jacquet, C., Eichenlaub, J.-B., & Bortolon, C. (2026). Comparing the characteristics of hallucinations and mental imagery: a large cross-sectional study in the general population. Consciousness and Cognition, 137, 103974. doi:10.1016/j.concog.2025.103974

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Discussion

Hallucination versus visualization?

recentlyBryan

What defines a hallucination versus a visualization? How do mental health and perception blur the lines between reality and imagination?

Reference

Carl Jung: a life on the edge of reality with hypnagogia, hyperphantasia, and hallucinations

Analysis of Carl Jung's self-reports suggests his anomalous experiences stemmed from hyperphantasia rather than a psychotic disorder. This indicates that extremely vivid imagery can cross a reality threshold and be misidentified as psychosis.

Incekara, F., & Blom, J. D. (2024). Carl jung: a life on the edge of reality with hypnagogia, hyperphantasia, and hallucinations. Frontiers in Psychology, 15. doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2024.1358329

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Article

Can't Visualize An Apple? Try This Apple Illusion to Experience What Others See

This apple illusion allows people who can't visualize to temporarily 'see' an image that isn't there—using visual perception to demonstrate what others experience through their imagination.

recentlyby Aphantasia Network and

Reference

Modelling perception as a hierarchical competition differentiates imagined, veridical, and hallucinated percepts

Researchers found that sensory input competes with mental imagery in a hierarchical neural network, preventing thoughts from dominating low-level sensory regions. This explains why mental imagery feels less vivid than real perception and how aphantasia arises from overweighted bottom-up signals.

Sulfaro, A. A., Robinson, A. K., & Carlson, T. A. (2023). Modelling perception as a hierarchical competition differentiates imagined, veridical, and hallucinated percepts. Neuroscience of Consciousness, 2023(1). doi:10.1093/nc/niad018

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Video

Why Don't We Hallucinate Our Mental Images?

Have you ever wondered why mental images aren't as vivid as real images? What's the difference between imagining something and hallucinating it? Alexander Sulfaro joins Aphantasia Network to discuss this and more.

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Reference

Subjective signal strength distinguishes reality from imagination

The brain distinguishes reality from imagination based on whether intermixed sensory signals cross a strength threshold. This suggests that sufficiently vivid mental imagery can become subjectively indistinguishable from actual perception.

Dijkstra, N., & Fleming, S. M. (2023). Subjective signal strength distinguishes reality from imagination. Nature Communications, 14(1). doi:10.1038/s41467-023-37322-1

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Article

Hypnopompia: Between Sleep and Awake Where Someone with Aphantasia May “See” Imagery

On rare occasions in the morning, between sleep and awake, when the images from my dreams float behind my eyes, that’s when I revel in what it must be like to “see” imagery.

recentlyby Liana Scott

Discussion

Why?

recentlyNorma

How can vivid dreams and musical hallucinations coexist with a lack of conscious imagery? Exploring the mind's paradoxes.

Discussion

Is phantasia, the ability to visualize at will, similar to experiencing hypnogogic imagery?

recentlyDianne

Can non-aphants maintain hypnogogic imagery without losing it to conscious focus? How do these experiences compare?

Reference

The Ganzflicker experience: High probability of seeing vivid and complex pseudo-hallucinations with imagery but not aphantasia

People with aphantasia are significantly less likely to experience vivid or complex pseudo-hallucinations during rhythmic flicker stimulation. This suggests that the ability to generate voluntary mental imagery increases susceptibility to anomalous perceptual experiences.

Königsmark, V. T., Bergmann, J., & Reeder, R. R. (2021). The ganzflicker experience: high probability of seeing vivid and complex pseudo-hallucinations with imagery but not aphantasia. Cortex, 141, 522–534. doi:10.1016/j.cortex.2021.05.007

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Discussion

Ability to visualize most highly through hallucinations?

recentlyValerie

Can vivid hallucinations coexist with limited mental imagery? Share experiences on navigating this intriguing disconnect in perception.

Reference

Anomalous visual experience is linked to perceptual uncertainty and visual imagery vividness

Researchers found that higher visual imagery vividness correlates with increased pareidolia proneness in both static and dynamic noise. This suggests that vivid mental imagery can lead to more frequent misperceptions of reality.

Salge, J. H., Pollmann, S., & Reeder, R. R. (2021). Anomalous visual experience is linked to perceptual uncertainty and visual imagery vividness. Psychological Research, 85(5), 1848–1865. doi:10.1007/s00426-020-01364-7

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Article

Pseudo-Hallucinations and Aphantasia

Ganzflicker is known to elicit the experience of pseudo-hallucinations... But how is it that some people see complex hallucinations such as "old stone castles"?

recentlyby Reshanne Reeder

Reference

Phantom perception: voluntary and involuntary nonretinal vision

Researchers propose a dichotomous framework for phantom perception, distinguishing between voluntary mental imagery and involuntary experiences like illusions or synesthesia. This classification helps unify diverse sensory phenomena and provides a roadmap for studying the neural mechanisms of constructive perception.

Pearson, J., & Westbrook, F. (2015). Phantom perception: voluntary and involuntary nonretinal vision. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 19(5), 278–284. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2015.03.004

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