Psychedelic visuals in context

Summary

Psychedelic drugs cause notable changes in visual perception, which are linked to an increased sensitivity to contextual cues. Three types of open-eye visuals are identified, and it is suggested that these visuals stem from psychedelics' selective effects on contextual modulation in visual processing. The chapter also discusses how these visual effects may relate to therapeutic benefits and explores their implications for fields such as psychedelic therapy and cognitive neuroscience.

Study at a glance

Abstract

Abstract The visual effects of psychedelic drugs are well known but not well understood. This chapter aims to situate psychedelic visual phenomenology within the context of what we know about everyday visual perception. Three types of open-eye visuals—common alterations to external visual appearances under psychedelic drugs—are described, and it is argued that they are caused by hypersensitivity to contextual cues. Evidence and analysis is provided to support the notion that psychedelics selectively impact contextual modulation processes at multiple levels of visual perception. This idea is then applied to explain how visual effects might link to therapeutic benefits. Finally, the practical implications of these ideas for psychedelic therapy, cognitive neuroscience, and philosophy is explored.