Mr. Robin, a 72-year-old retired professor, noticed a suspicious man in a white coat standing near his garden, looking at him. He thought it was a neighbor, but when he greeted the man, there was no response. Moments later, the figure disappeared.
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This happened multiple times. Concerned but not scared, Mr. Robin shared it with his doctor, who diagnosed him with Parkinson’s disease-related visual hallucinations. His brain was processing false sensory information, making him "see" things that weren’t there.
With proper medication and lifestyle adjustments, the hallucinations became
less frequent. Over time, he learned to gently acknowledge them, saying,
"If my brain plays tricks, at least it's polite enough to send visitors in
white coats!" 😄
Ever seen something that wasn’t really there? Or wondered how our brain
interprets the world around us? Let’s talk about perception.
According to E. Bruce Goldstein, "Perception is a conscious sensory
experience."
The term "sensory experience" refers to how we interact with the
world through our senses—seeing, hearing, touching, tasting, and smelling.
For example:
Seeing a sunset = Visual sensory experience
Hearing music = Auditory sensory experience
Our brain selects, organizes, and interprets these sensory inputs, shaping our
perception of reality.
Crider et al. (1983) stated:
"Perception is a closely related process by which the brain selects,
organizes & interprets these sensations."
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hummmm... then,
Is hallucination a perception?
Hallucinations feel like perception, but
they occur without real external stimuli. So, does that make them a form of
perception, or something entirely different?
Let’s discuss!
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Readings:
Crider, A. B., Goethals, G. R., Kavanaugh, R. D., & Solomon, P. R. (1983).
Psychology. Harper & Row.
Goldstein, E. B. (2014). Cognitive psychology: Connecting mind, research, and
everyday experience (4th ed.). Cengage Learning.
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