Talk:Phosphene

Migraine aura

Are migraine auras also considered phosphenes? e.g., the classic scintillating scotoma…? —mjb 16:54, 19 December 2006 (UTC)

What

What is "a crumpling fly-spotted flyscreen"? Not really a good metaphor since it's not universally understood. User: petruchi41 15:07 EST 16 April 2007

This is not the same as visual snow, some people may have both, but they are different. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 72.184.233.82 (talk) 01:30, 19 October 2008 (UTC)

I also wanted to add that phosphenes and visual snow are not the same thing, so please do not merge the articles. --AliisaKissa (talk) 01:13, 21 October 2008 (UTC)

Danger of pressing eyeballs

Shouldnt the danger of damage to retina etc from pressing eyeballs be pointed out? Detached retinas are a serious medical condition.

I agree, especially in regards to what I mentioned below about seeing glitter. Sometimes pressing your eyes to see stars or glitter floating around in them, can be addictive. More so I imagine, to small children. Violet yoshi (talk) 07:19, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

Seeing glitter

Does this also have to do with seeing what looks like different colored glitter when you rub your eyes or press on them? I guess that might be a form of what people call seeing stars. Violet yoshi (talk) 07:17, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

Page image

The example image image:Phosphene_artistic_depiction.gif seems to be completely inaccurate (based on what i've seen and the description), and is more suitable for the page on Form_constants. 68.18.66.216 (talk) 07:45, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

I disagree. It looks quite like what I see when I press my eyes (except being flesh coloured instead of b/w) 155.198.65.29 (talk) 12:16, 10 September 2008 (UTC)

It doesn't match with what I have in mind for the phenomenon referred to but even if it did I think that illustration would be original research. Bus stop (talk) 00:14, 6 December 2009 (UTC)

I think the image is fantastic. It looks exactly like what I see when I rub my eyes vigorously. Phosphenes vary in form and intensity (this definitely portrays an intense phosphene), but as far as adding value, this image is great. I see no problem with it. --ErgoSum•talk•trib 21:37, 6 December 2009 (UTC)

But is not even your endorsement of it original research? What published source confirms that there is any relation between the artistic image and the phenomenon described? It is not as though a reliable source included that image or an image similar to it in its treatment of this subject. Bus stop (talk) 22:19, 6 December 2009 (UTC)

The warped checkerboard style is recognisably present in a number of illustrations in Oliver Sacks's "Migraine", though in those it modulates other imagery rather than being just a contextless pattern. K2709 (talk) 19:00, 9 December 2009 (UTC)

I am disappointed that this site and others have taken down this image. I'm glad it's still here in the history, because I want to take it to show my doctor. This is almost exactly what I see. It's been about four times now and I don't know what's causing it. 114.43.108.243 (talk) 00:40, 6 June 2010 (UTC)SKBOX, 06/06/10

I dont think this image has any relation with phosphenes. In my own experienced phosphenes I saw coloured or silver dots zooming in. (Very far from black and white squares).That being said, the picture is very good and if you stare at it, when you look away, it triggers some similar effect. Would it be out of the line to mention this in the image description?Unmismoobjetivo (talk) 04:52, 1 June 2013 (UTC)

No, that is a negative after image. Confusing the two should tell you that you are not knowledgeable enough in this topic to make edits like you suggest.

(is that better wiki nazis?)

Voluntary modulation?

Some people report being able of changing the visual patterns more or less at will while keeping the pressure on the eyes during the entoptic phenomenon. The following text could shed some light into this possibility:

"Mathematician G. Bard Ermentrout explains that the pressure inhibits signals from the retina, thereby encouraging the brain's cortex to fill the void. The brain begins firing spontaneously and creates hallucinatory patterns."

It's evident that the initial pattern is created by one of the mechanisms listed in the article, e.g. pressure on the eyes. But then, perhaps due to the oddity and incoherence of the samples, the visual cortex is open to filling the voids with information such as the thoughts from the conscious mind. This would explain why some subjects may be able to control the content of these visions, to some extent.

Does anyone know of any research or works on this subject? It might be of interest in the study of the visual cortex.

Superguy Speaks

Hi wikipedia. I have phosphenes too!

Josh M (talk) 19:02, 20 May 2013 (UTC)