| Hallucinations |
Articles about Hallucination |
Information AboutHallucinations |
| CATEGORIES ABOUT HALLUCINATION | |
| psychedelics, dissociatives and deliriants | |
| hallucination | |
| psychosis | |
| medical signs | |
| symptoms | |
| SHOPPER'S DELIGHT | |
|
ETYMOLOGY The word 'hallucinatory' has its roots in the Latin ''hallucinere'' or ''allucinere'', meaning 'to wander in mind'. Altenatively in the Greek '''', ''(haluskein)'', meaning flee from, shun, avoid, escape. The first usage of the word 'hallucination' in the English language is recorded as by the English Physician Sir Thomas Browne in 1642 . However, it was first used in its current sense by Psychiatrist Jean-Etienne Esquirol in 1837 . PREVALENCE AND TYPES OF HALLUCINATORY EXPERIENCE Studies have shown that hallucinatory experiences take place across the population as a whole. Previous studies, one as early as 1894, have reported that approximately 10% of the population experience hallucinations. A recent survey of over 13,000 people reported a much higher figure with almost 39% of people reported hallucinatory experiences, 27% of which reported daytime hallucinations, mostly outside the context of illness or drug use. From this survey, Olfactory (smell) and Gustatory (taste) hallucinations seem the most common in the general population. Hypnagogic Hallucination s and Hypnopompic Hallucination s are considered normal phenomena. Hypnagogic hallucinations can occur as one is falling asleep and hypnopompic hallucinations occur when one is waking up. Auditory hallucinations (particularly of one or more talking voices) are particularly associated with Psychotic disorders such as Schizophrenia , and hold special significance in diagnosing these conditions. This does not mean that the experience of 'hearing voices' is necessarily a sign of Mental Illness , and many people may have these or similar hallucinations without ever becoming impaired or distressed in any way. Florid hallucinations are usually associated with Drug use (particularly Hallucinogenic Drug s), Sleep Deprivation , psychosis or Neurological Illness . SCIENTIFIC EXPLANATIONS Various theories have been put forward to explain the occurrence of hallucinations. When Psychodynamic ( Freudian ) theories were popular in psychiatry, hallucinations were seen as a projection of unconscious wishes and desires. As biological theories have become orthodox, hallucinations are more often thought of (by psychiatrists at least) as being caused by functional deficits in the Brain . With reference to mental illness, the function (or dysfunction) of the Neurotransmitter Dopamine is thought to be particularly important. Psychological research has argued that hallucinations may result from biases in what are known as Metacognitive abilities. These are abilities that allow us to monitor or draw inferences from our own internal psychological states (such as Intention s, Memories , Belief s and Thought s). The ability to discriminate between self-generated and external sources of Information is considered to be an important metacognitive skill and one which may break down to cause hallucinatory experiences. PARANORMAL THEORIES A rarely expressed but persistent alternate explanation of hallucinations, espoused by non- Materialist s, is that people prone to hallucinations can sometimes perceive non-physical phenomena such as Angel s, visions or the voices of departed Spirit s or Demon s. For this reason, a hallucination may also be classified as an Anomalous Phenomenon , when no suitable scientific explanation is verified. SEE ALSO
EXTERNAL LINKS FURTHER READING ''The Anatomy of Hallucinations'' by Fred H. Johnson, Nelson-Hall, 1978 REFERENCES |