Psychedelic Visuals.

[TangerinO]

This is one I've been pondering for a little while and I think I finally know how to properly word this thought?

Okay. In the opinion of the psychedelics community: do you consider the visuals experienced in the psychedelic state to be of some sort of meaning, whether this meaning be metaphorical, or similarly representative of a conceptual idea? Or would you say that the visuals are just a distraction from a kind of "greater truth" being communicated through these experiences.

 

[jaurk]

I always considered the visuals in a trip just a side-product of what's actually happening when your mind is expanded.
I consider it the scientific way, I don't remember any specific articles though.

 

[Foreigner]

There's always the background visuals which are constant. Take LSD for example... it deconstructs everything. You look at an object and you can see all of the parts it's made up of. But then, every object has an aura, like light sources, anything colourful, etc. IMO LSD shows you other layers that you normally don't see, and these are not a mere byproduct of the drug. A part of your brain is being activated which allows you to see additional spectrums of perception.

One of my favourite things to do on LSD is to experiment with crystals like quartz, or any crystal really. Get one of those laser pointers, and shine it into the crystal. You will see different shapes and auras with each crystal to depths that are not normally visible in a sober state. You will also feel different, as each crystal will refract a different energy thanks to the energy input of the laser. Some crystals make the room feel warmer, for example.

There are different experiments you can do to verify that it's not merely a drug-induced experience, but something perceptual, which is happening. Albert Hoffman (the person who discovered LSD) explains these phenomena in great detail in his books.

 

[TangerinO]

Is there any actual scientific explaination for psychedelic visuals that anyone is aware of? I've always thought in the same way your senses and the different parts of your brain start interacting together, that perhaps it's just the part of the brain responsible for imagination combining with visual input or something.

I dunno, if anyone can direct me to relevant reading, this has been very fascinating to me for ages, but I haven't actually found any reading so it's just my mental musings and limited conversations that have built up my understanding of it.

 

[jaurk]

Is there any actual scientific explaination for psychedelic visuals that anyone is aware of? I've always thought in the same way your senses and the different parts of your brain start interacting together, that perhaps it's just the part of the brain responsible for imagination combining with visual input or something.

I dunno, if anyone can direct me to relevant reading, this has been very fascinating to me for ages, but I haven't actually found any reading so it's just my mental musings and limited conversations that have built up my understanding of it.

No, just theories.
Seems a lot of people have their own theory on it.
I'll get to mind eventually, I'm REALLY loving what foreigner posted.
I have good thinking material for a while now.

I remember reading these ages back, I can't remember the others though:
http://tripzine.com/pit/signal_theory_poster.pdf
http://disregardeverythingisay.tumblr.com/tagged/sensory-filter-theory
http://psychedelic-information-theory.com/ <-- haven't actually read, got to there by the signal theory poster, not sure if it's good or not.
http://www.tripzine.com/listing.php?id=pit01 I think you can read it here, press next through the pages. It's got some interesting pages related to visuals.