This fascinating article explores the mystery of why people have intense hallucinogenic experiences when they take psychedelics. It is suggested that the answer may lie in the functional architecture of the striate cortex, which is part of the brain responsible for deciphering visual information.
A study proposes that when activity within this area is disrupted, cells that favor particular visual features become activated and lead to a person perceiving geometric visual hallucinations. This is supported by research that has shown that psychedelic drugs can induce these types of illusions.
The article suggests that combining scientific data points with anecdotal reports from those who have experienced psychedelic substances could potentially lead to a further understanding of why people see specific abstract visuals during hallucinogenic episodes.
