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This is actually very interesting, I am glad this has been posted. As a kid, I would cover my eyes with my hands to create darkness, or sometimes put my face in

This is actually very interesting, I am glad this has been posted. As a kid, I would cover my eyes with my hands to create darkness, or sometimes put my face into a pillow or even do what Tesla did in putting a slight pressure onto my eyes with my fingers. I would start to see shapes and just be thinking I could change the color and contort these shapes. Strangely, I never knew how I did it. If I tried too hard it would not work, I would have to let my mind run on its own, and give it a slight nudge every now and then consciously. In college, when I was trying really hard to visualize a project I was working on I would do the same, I would put pressure on my eyes and try to make it as dark as possible so that I could see what I was trying to imagine, and it helped! I had no idea others do this as well, this is very cool. Some forms of meditation will be very useful for this I think.

ztratar 13y ago
Thanks! Wow -- didn't realize so many people tried the eye pressure thing. If I did it and you did it just because we thought it was cool, I bet there are a lot more people out there.
- luketych 13y ago
  I'm curious, after looking at a computer screen for a little while and then closing your eyes do you ever see a rectangle that is the same proportions as the computer screen? It doesn't have to be a screen even, it can be anything. I have noticed that I will have an almost exact replica "burned into" my vision when I close my eyes. I can then (somewhat) manipulate this image in my mind. I've kinda thought that these changes in light (from whatever we are looking at) creates the initial image and then this image can be manipulated in the mind. I think that the retina or the parts of the brain that are involved in visual imagery must somehow be involved in these visualizations we are seeing (not the after image). It would be inefficient to develop a new skill from scratch, a big part of our brain is already dedicated to sight and imagery, so I wonder if we can somehow make use of the visual cortex to enhance our ability to visualize things? Need to find a way to hack into the subconscious..
  - wilder 13y ago
    FYI, the phenomenon you describe is an afterimage and happens to everybody (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afterimage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afterimage). You are correct that the visual cortex is involved in both phenomena but they are quite different. An after-image is still an "upstream" image on your retina, whereas a mental image is not. Whether the former can be used to increase facility with the latter I do not know. I haven't seen scientific evidence that imagery can be trained at all. Despite all that it doesn't sound like a terrible place to start.
    - luketych 13y ago
      Ah, that's what it's called, thanks! I read about that a while back but forgot whether it was a phenomenon of the retina or of the brain. What I am wondering is if you can use the after image as almost a skeleton for more advanced visualizations. For example, imagine the retinal after image laying down the basic shape, and then you can consciously add detail on top of that after image. Maybe using the after image as a kind of training wheels..if it's even possible..
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- madaxe 13y ago
  Squares, diamonds, kaleidoscopic esoteria blasting through ones mind. It's caused by the pressure causing your rods and cones to blast static down your optic nerve, and your brain trying to make sense of the noise.
james1071 13y ago
There is a process called image streaming that is similar to what you are doing. This involves closing your eyes and describing aloud to another person or recording device the images that you are experiencing. The key is the combination of verbal description and visual thinking, as the two together are very powerful.

ztratar 13y ago

Thanks! Wow -- didn't realize so many people tried the eye pressure thing. If I did it and you did it just because we thought it was cool, I bet there are a lot more people out there.

luketych 13y ago
I'm curious, after looking at a computer screen for a little while and then closing your eyes do you ever see a rectangle that is the same proportions as the computer screen? It doesn't have to be a screen even, it can be anything. I have noticed that I will have an almost exact replica "burned into" my vision when I close my eyes. I can then (somewhat) manipulate this image in my mind. I've kinda thought that these changes in light (from whatever we are looking at) creates the initial image and then this image can be manipulated in the mind. I think that the retina or the parts of the brain that are involved in visual imagery must somehow be involved in these visualizations we are seeing (not the after image). It would be inefficient to develop a new skill from scratch, a big part of our brain is already dedicated to sight and imagery, so I wonder if we can somehow make use of the visual cortex to enhance our ability to visualize things? Need to find a way to hack into the subconscious..
- wilder 13y ago
  FYI, the phenomenon you describe is an afterimage and happens to everybody (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afterimage http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Afterimage). You are correct that the visual cortex is involved in both phenomena but they are quite different. An after-image is still an "upstream" image on your retina, whereas a mental image is not. Whether the former can be used to increase facility with the latter I do not know. I haven't seen scientific evidence that imagery can be trained at all. Despite all that it doesn't sound like a terrible place to start.
  - luketych 13y ago
    Ah, that's what it's called, thanks! I read about that a while back but forgot whether it was a phenomenon of the retina or of the brain. What I am wondering is if you can use the after image as almost a skeleton for more advanced visualizations. For example, imagine the retinal after image laying down the basic shape, and then you can consciously add detail on top of that after image. Maybe using the after image as a kind of training wheels..if it's even possible..
  - deleted 13y ago
    [deleted]
- deleted 13y ago
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madaxe 13y ago
Squares, diamonds, kaleidoscopic esoteria blasting through ones mind. It's caused by the pressure causing your rods and cones to blast static down your optic nerve, and your brain trying to make sense of the noise.

james1071 13y ago

There is a process called image streaming that is similar to what you are doing. This involves closing your eyes and describing aloud to another person or recording device the images that you are experiencing. The key is the combination of verbal description and visual thinking, as the two together are very powerful.