I recently became aware that I see a faint honeycomb pattern on any featureless area of my visual field, such as my ceiling or blank computer screen or porcelain surface. With patience I can see this illusion despite features in the field. I see it also with eyes closed and in the dark. Borders between hexagonal cells are dark gray and areas within cells are what's really out there.
My illusion does not seem to be what is described as “honeycomb illusion” in Googled sites. Is it possible that this easily experienced phenomenon has never been noticed? It should have been described by Aristotle looking at dawn or dusk sky more than two millennia ago. It should be common knowledge and have a name. If not, the following observations might be of interest to neurophysiologists.
1) The pattern spreads with distance from my eyes, ie it is spherically divergent as if projected from my head to the featureless surface. At 16 inches from my eye, one hexagonal cell is about 1/4 inch wide. At 64 inches from my eye, one cell is about one inch wide. The spherical divergence means it is generated by my nervous system. It's in my head, not out where I perceive it to be.
2) Given these dimensions, there are more than 200 cells left-to-right across my visual field and less than 200 cells top-to-bottom of my visual field.
3) The pattern orients with my face (or head) with each cell having vertical flat sides and a gable top and a V bottom .
4) The pattern apparently stays put, at least temporarily, when I redirect my gaze somewhat without moving my head, implying that it is not stuck in my eyes. However, it also stays put when I move my head while fixing my eyes on a location, implying that is is not stuck in my brain. It seems stuck in the outside world where it most recently appeared.
5) Might the hexagonal pattern play a role in signaling ocular muscles to superimpose left-eye and right-eye images on the visual cortex for image coherence and depth perception?
6) Might the pattern be a frame of reference positioned by output from my vestibular system and moved reflexively so as to stay still relative to the outside world as my head moves? This is the possibility that I hope to explore further.
7) If the reader has a similar illusion or related idea, we could discuss. If the reader knows of germane literature, I'd like some citations.
2 comments:
I have wondered if I am the only one that sees a honeycomb structure behind my eyes, when I actually look as if I am looking through my eyelids. When I close my eyes for sleep or resting, my eyes naturally roll down and I do not see/perceive the cell phenomenon. Only when I look up through my eyelids do I see it, and not all the time. I perceive it as cells expanding out from a random point, similar to a honeycomb pattern. I have mentioned it to other people before, but never felt like anyone recognised the phenomenon. Nice to know that I am not the only one.
Wow, thanks, I needed that! Let's discuss properties of the illusion. D
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