Understanding visual hallucinations- A new synthesis
Collerton, D., et al. (2023). “Understanding visual hallucinations: A new synthesis.” Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews 150: 105208.
Authors summary
Despite decades of research, we do not definitively know how people sometimes see things that are not there. Eight models of complex visual hallucinations have been published since 2000, including Deafferentation, Reality Monitoring, Perception and Attention Deficit, Activation, Input, and Modulation, Hodological, Attentional Networks, Active Inference, and Thalamocortical Dysrhythmia Default Mode Network Decoupling. Each was derived from different understandings of brain organisation. To reduce this variability, representatives from each research group agreed an integrated Visual Hallucination Framework that is consistent with current theories of veridical and hallucinatory vision. The Framework delineates cognitive systems relevant to hallucinations. It allows a systematic, consistent, investigation of relationships between the phenomenology of visual hallucinations and changes in underpinning cognitive structures. The episodic nature of hallucinations highlights separate factors associated with the onset, persistence, and end of specific hallucinations suggesting a complex relationship between state and trait markers of hallucination risk. In addition to a harmonised interpretation of existing evidence, the Framework highlights new avenues of research, and potentially, new approaches to treating distressing hallucinations.
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Gombrich’s “Visual Construction”
Virginia, U. o. (2013). “Gombrich’s “Visual Construction”.” Retrieved 22 September, 2013.
Interesting and accessible explanation of visual perception from Virginia University. Ernst Gombrich was one of the world leading art historians. He was a theoretician known for his understanding of the concepts of art and illusion.
The Narrative Characteristics of Images
Fasnacht, H. (2023). “The Narrative Characteristics of Images.” The British Journal of Aesthetics 63(1): 1-23.
Authors summary
While much has been written about verbal narratives, we still lack a clear account of what makes images narrative. I argue that there are narrative characteristics of images and show this with examples of single images. The argument proceeds in three steps. First, I propose that from a semantic perspective, the following two characteristics are necessary for an image to be narrative: a representation of an event and a representation of time. Second, I argue that there are paradigmatic characteristics, such as at least two events, bridging connections, and unifying subjects between these events, characters with intentions, and the representation of goal-directed actions. Third, I show that it is possible to differentiate between narrative and non-narrative images while also accounting for the idea that narrativity is a matter of degree. While I do not provide a full definition of narrative images, my account constitutes a necessary first step in this direction.