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Hallucinating Consistency

VU University Amsterdam, n.elbers{at}law.vu.nl

Elke Geraerts

Department of Experimental Psychology, Maastricht University, e.geraerts{at}psychology.unimaas.nl

Jaap van Heerden

Department of Neurocognition, Maastricht University, j.vanheerden{at}psychology.unimaas.nl

Top-down processes like heuristics and gap filling create consistency in normal perception. Sometimes top-down processes cause illusory perceptions. Top-down processes are also involved in the creation of hallucinations, experienced in phenomena like sensory deprivation and phantom limbs. Moreover, it has been argued that the left hemisphere is important in the creation of hallucinations, since it also creates consistency. The influence of the left hemisphere in creating hallucinations is evidenced by an experiment concerning anosognosia (denial of illness). In schizophrenia, top-down processes and the left hemisphere both seem to be involved in the creation of hallucinations. It is argued that hallucinations are instigated for creating consistency and thereby have a functional character.

Key Words: consistency • hallucinations • hemispheric asymmetry • schizophrenia • top-down processing

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Theory & Psychology, Vol. 17, No. 4, 587-602 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/0959354307079305


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This Article Abstract Free Full Text (Free PDF) Free Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in Web of Science Alert me to new issues of the journal Add to Saved Citations Download to citation manager Request Permissions Request Reprints Add to My Marked Citations Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Citing Articles via Scopus Google Scholar Articles by Elbers, N. Articles by van Heerden, J. Search for Related Content Social Bookmarking                         What's this?