The indistinguishability of dark events from photon responses supports this explanation because rhodopsin is at the input of the transduction chain. On the other hand, processes such as the spontaneous release of neurotransmitters cannot be completely ruled out.
So it's like when a camera doesn't have enough light to properly take a photo, producing a lot of grain. Like when you have a high ISO when taking a photo/video in a dark room, it looks very grainy. I guess the eye is still adjusting its "exposure" if you see some of this graininess in the dark (or when you close your eyes?)
the brain is always trying to find pattern in incomplete data. one of the explanations i have seen is that when our ancestors were sitting around the fire, those who saw the tiger or something lurking in the dark had better chance to pass their genes than those who didn't.
it is why we are seeing patterns in clouds and random geometrical shapes on walls and stuff like that.
You can also see them by holding a (not too bright) flashlight against your cheekbone and pointing the beam at your eye. The light needs to come from right below and you might need to move it around a little until you get the angle just right.
This is just the result of neurons firing and chemical reactions taking place, and it's normal. Personally, for me it depends on my state of mind when I try to sleep. When agitated, I see noise like in your picture. When calm, I see flat, colorful shapes with soft edges that float around and change shape more or less rapidly (kind of like a lava lamp).
Ohhh yeahhhh the lava lamp like ones are cool. Sometimes vague impressions of cyan and red, sometimes propagating in waves. I'm so glad other people are describing it!
I also find them really helpful for falling asleep. Sometimes when I feel stressed and see mostly noise, I'll try to spot the color shapes and focus on them. It's kind of meditative and helps me fall asleep faster.
Seconding this. It's not incredibly common but it's not incredibly uncommon. Research shows that most people who have it don't notice it until it's pointed out. Drugs and stress tend to exacerbate the effect as well.
Visual snow is when you see it with eyes open afaik. But yea, still not terribly abnormal on its own. Visual snow syndrome is a thing though, but it's more than just seeing an abnormal amount of visual snow (the normal amount seems to be when looking at unicolored surfaces and in dim light).
Yes, and if you GENTLY press on your eyelids you can make other colors happen.
Also if you stare at a clear sky, NOT AT THE SUN, or at a bluish wall, you may see little swirly things, it's the white blood cells in your retinas swimming around.
I see pulsing waves of color, even in pitch black rooms. When I was little they were bright as fireworks, now, depending on the night they're either just vaguely waves of purple, grey, and blue or sometimes electric blue and white.
Oh yeah, those things, I get them too sometimes. I always thought they looked like one of those super old Mac screensavers. (I can’t find a picture, but maybe someone here knows the one I mean.)
Purple, green, pinks and oranges (that's the blood in my eyelids I think). If I rub my eyes, the pixellated screensavers get wild, which I think means you're not supposed to do that.
i had it intensely when i also developed other neurological issues like peripheral neuropaty, and palinopsia(afterimage)although symptom was temporary. now its more of a background if i concentrate hard enough i see snow. i had also had pretty bad RLS for several weeks.
I mean, I guess that's true in a peculirar sort of way in which nothing really exists outside of our perception of it.
What I mean by that is that whatever we see, hear, taste, etc... is merely neurons firing in our brain, processing a signal that it receives. So if we're looking at a tree for example; that tree is just light/energy waves vibrating on a specific frequency. It's only when it hits our optic nerve and travels to our brain that it's translating into something that we call a "tree".
So when the eyes are closed, the random interference pattern could indeed be interpreted as you say. Goog catch. Kind of makes you wonder.
It happens to me at night because not only does it have to be quite dark, I audio need to be dork dark adapted. Your pupil is part of your dark adaption and widens in a mater of seconds. However, your receptors also get doped with rhodopsin, which takes up to 20 minutes to full replenish (blue/uv light bleachers rhodopsin). It's like being able to lower the F-stop on a camera like normal, but taking 20 minutes to raise the ISO
I can make static if I squeeze my eyes very tightly, sometimes spots. No one i asked when I was little had the same results. Haven't thought about it in a long time.
I'm glad to see most people replying yes, I was like "wait, is it not?". The only time I don't see noise is when I look at flat colors on a screen and I'm not a fan.
It is hard to know exactly what we see because our brain processes it so much and then we have to put it into words and we could easily be describing different experiences the same way or same experiences differently.
I would guess any light receptor produces noise whether that is a few stray protons or just thermal chemical/electrical processes. I would think for most people the brain is receiving noise very much like this but how they experience it depends on how it is processed. Unless there is some after image from recently staring at something bright, when my eyes are shut my brain gives me an impression of nothing which is almost certainly not what my retina is detecting.
Yes, but its not purple, its just like as if your soul was drifting through the universe and you see tiny dot-sized stars from afar.
Sometimes I couldn't sleep and the lights are off and there is a tiny bit of ambient light outside, and I just open my eyes and stare at the ceiling and also notice a sort of static like that, but with a brighter background light.
Yes. And if you want to see something really cool, take a look at a clear blue sky. You'll notice tiny dots of lighter color moving quickly following constant short trajectories. These are your own leucocytes moving through the capilars right in front of your retina. The brain compensates the darker color of the predominant red blood cells, so you can't see the capilars, but the white blood cells are translucent, so they appear as lighter dots!
it became more pronounced around the time i developed peripheral neuropathy for a while, and RLS like 10 years ago. then its still there but its less severe than it was before.
a small proportion of people have this, i have it mildly as well. my opthamologist at the time said it wasnt common and he only knew a teen that had it. its mostly because of the part of yuor brain thats active. its a wierd neurological thing. i suspect mines was due to diphenhydramine at the time, plus i had undaignosed spinal issue which would cause neurological/neuropathy in my limbs. i think the DPH made it more pronounced, as bringing it from the background.
its something having do with your lingual gyrus that is hyperactive(correlation)
Aight! I want to heart from people thinking this is normal, or not, and if you can actually see pictures in your inner space. I feel a doctoral dissertation could be written here.
110 Comments
dsilverz@calckey.world · 136 pts · 283d
@Stacyasks@lemmy.cafe @nostupidquestions@lemmy.world
Yes. It's called "Eigengrau" and it happens due to the adaptation of the eye amidst the darkness.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eigengrau
MajorMajormajormajor@lemmy.ca · 60 pts · 283d
sbeak@sopuli.xyz · 11 pts · 283d
So it's like when a camera doesn't have enough light to properly take a photo, producing a lot of grain. Like when you have a high ISO when taking a photo/video in a dark room, it looks very grainy. I guess the eye is still adjusting its "exposure" if you see some of this graininess in the dark (or when you close your eyes?)
14th_cylon@lemmy.zip · 14 pts · 283d
the brain is always trying to find pattern in incomplete data. one of the explanations i have seen is that when our ancestors were sitting around the fire, those who saw the tiger or something lurking in the dark had better chance to pass their genes than those who didn't.
it is why we are seeing patterns in clouds and random geometrical shapes on walls and stuff like that.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apophenia
ImminentOrbit@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 283d
This is what the night sky starts to look like when I try to look at stars
Arancello@aussie.zone · 89 pts · 283d
how did you take this photo? Small camera through your ear?
Kolanaki@pawb.social · 112 pts · 283d
They just closed their eyes and then pressed in their ear and anus to take a screenshot.
Sendpicsofsandwiches@sh.itjust.works · 21 pts · 283d
Wow that's so much easier! I've always had to pee and fart at the same time
MrLLM@ani.social · 11 pts · 283d
Idk what piss poor model you guys are, but for me is sneeze & fart, much easier imo.
SlurpingPus@lemmy.world · 0 pts · 283d
“Peeing without a fart is like having sex without an orgasm.”
CovfefeKills@lemmy.world · -2 pts · 283d
Said no one goto the doctor
MajorasTerribleFate@lemmy.zip · 5 pts · 283d
youCanCallMeDragon@lemmy.world · 56 pts · 283d
This is a normal closed eye hallucination level 1 on this Wikipedia page
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed-eye_hallucination
nondescripthandle@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 15 pts · 283d
Oh shit that's why I can like make shapes and shit when I'm like in deep relaxation
deranger@sh.itjust.works · 8 pts · 283d
Ever try one of those float tanks? They’re really good for that.
DaTingGoBrrr@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 283d
They also mention it on the wiki page but I could see fractals and different patterns when I closed my eyes while on shrooms.
NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone · 36 pts · 283d
I see a little “DVD” logo zipping around that changes colour when it bounces off the periphery of my vision.
monkeyslikebananas2@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 283d
I saw it hit the corner perfectly once!
quick_snail@feddit.nl · 2 pts · 283d
This, but there's paddles on either end that hit the logo back and forth.
And I never seem to win
ameancow@lemmy.world · 34 pts · 283d
Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org · 7 pts · 283d
You can also see them by holding a (not too bright) flashlight against your cheekbone and pointing the beam at your eye. The light needs to come from right below and you might need to move it around a little until you get the angle just right.
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 283d
that's what that is? cool.
FosterMolasses@leminal.space · 2 pts · 283d
Oooo, cool!
madjo@feddit.nl · 2 pts · 282d
For that edit you now have to breath manually!
ameancow@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 282d
madjo@feddit.nl · 1 pts · 282d
You're a mean cow!
rustydrd@sh.itjust.works · 30 pts · 283d
This is just the result of neurons firing and chemical reactions taking place, and it's normal. Personally, for me it depends on my state of mind when I try to sleep. When agitated, I see noise like in your picture. When calm, I see flat, colorful shapes with soft edges that float around and change shape more or less rapidly (kind of like a lava lamp).
Draegur@lemmy.zip · 6 pts · 283d
Ohhh yeahhhh the lava lamp like ones are cool. Sometimes vague impressions of cyan and red, sometimes propagating in waves. I'm so glad other people are describing it!
rustydrd@sh.itjust.works · 2 pts · 283d
I also find them really helpful for falling asleep. Sometimes when I feel stressed and see mostly noise, I'll try to spot the color shapes and focus on them. It's kind of meditative and helps me fall asleep faster.
Zetta@mander.xyz · 4 pts · 283d
Mine can vary wildly depending on what kind and the quantity of psychoactive substance I've taken.
RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 283d
Vision floaties? Me too.
AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world · 30 pts · 283d
Probably just your tuner that's unplugged. Feel around for any loose wires.
madjo@feddit.nl · 1 pts · 282d
Or "upgrade" to digital, the downside to that is that you either have vision or no vision at all if reception is kinda weak.
ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world · 29 pts · 283d
I think it's called visual snow, and it's normal.
justastranger@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 283d
Seconding this. It's not incredibly common but it's not incredibly uncommon. Research shows that most people who have it don't notice it until it's pointed out. Drugs and stress tend to exacerbate the effect as well.
LwL@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 283d
Visual snow is when you see it with eyes open afaik. But yea, still not terribly abnormal on its own. Visual snow syndrome is a thing though, but it's more than just seeing an abnormal amount of visual snow (the normal amount seems to be when looking at unicolored surfaces and in dim light).
quick_snail@feddit.nl · 4 pts · 283d
Just don't snowcrash
DarkAri@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 28 pts · 283d
You have too much gain.
But yeah it's normal.
cley_faye@lemmy.world · 27 pts · 283d
Better than seeing weird letters and 80 style colored geometric shape sliding around.
deus@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 283d
Here's an artist's impression of what that might look like.
hungryphrog@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 2 pts · 283d
I only get patterns (usually floral-ish) if I press my eyes a little. You guys are getting them for free?!
Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works · 21 pts · 283d
Yes, and if you GENTLY press on your eyelids you can make other colors happen.
Also if you stare at a clear sky, NOT AT THE SUN, or at a bluish wall, you may see little swirly things, it's the white blood cells in your retinas swimming around.
(Blue field entoptic phenomenon - Wikipedia https://share.google/MveakONY2KB3QXUUh)
rumba@lemmy.zip · 21 pts · 283d
I see pulsing waves of color, even in pitch black rooms. When I was little they were bright as fireworks, now, depending on the night they're either just vaguely waves of purple, grey, and blue or sometimes electric blue and white.
QuantumTickle@lemmy.zip · 15 pts · 283d
I was recently reading about this because I discovered there's a name for it: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner%27s_cinema
rumba@lemmy.zip · 7 pts · 283d
crazy!
What I see is very close to this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL3kVtc-4vY
snailboy@leminal.space · 3 pts · 283d
Oh yeah, those things, I get them too sometimes. I always thought they looked like one of those super old Mac screensavers. (I can’t find a picture, but maybe someone here knows the one I mean.)
voodooattack@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 283d
Why did I know it was a NileRed video from the tiny thumbnail? 🤔
rumba@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 283d
LOL, that's his whole schtick for nile blue :)
The first time I saw the reaction, I was shocked it's so close to my closed eye hallucinations
87Six@lemmy.zip · 17 pts · 283d
Bro is a CRT
BanMe@lemmy.world · 17 pts · 283d
Purple, green, pinks and oranges (that's the blood in my eyelids I think). If I rub my eyes, the pixellated screensavers get wild, which I think means you're not supposed to do that.
wide_eyed_stupid@lemmy.world · 16 pts · 283d
I always assumed everyone saw it. I'm not special after all.
Though mine is gray, definitely not purple.
mental_block@lemmy.wtf · 3 pts · 283d
That gray is unique to individual. And if course has its German term. Similar to the other links floating about in this thread.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eigengrau
wide_eyed_stupid@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 283d
Ha, of course it does! Germans have a word for everything.
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 2 pts · 283d
i had it intensely when i also developed other neurological issues like peripheral neuropaty, and palinopsia(afterimage)although symptom was temporary. now its more of a background if i concentrate hard enough i see snow. i had also had pretty bad RLS for several weeks.
Mediocre_Bard@lemmy.world · 15 pts · 282d
Korhaka@sopuli.xyz · 6 pts · 282d
That shade of purple seems a bit off, but you might see colours depending on the light going through your eyelids
NarrativeBear@lemmy.world · 14 pts · 283d
Welcome to the simulation
neukenindekeuken@sh.itjust.works · 9 pts · 283d
I wish it was still 1999 :(
MadMadBunny@lemmy.ca · 11 pts · 283d
Can I offer you a blue pill in this trying time?
dragonfucker@lemmy.nz · 12 pts · 283d
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed-eye_hallucination
card797@champserver.net · 11 pts · 283d
From m'eye experience. Yes.
Meron35@lemmy.world · 10 pts · 283d
If you see this when your eyes are open then it may be visual snow.
Visual snow syndrome - Wikipedia - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_snow_syndrome
DrWorm@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 283d
I have this.... I just thought this was normal vision. I hate my eyes 😔
Cenotaph@mander.xyz · 6 pts · 283d
So did we all, friend. You're one of the tv static people now. Welcome
Zirconium@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 283d
I have this in my right eye without break but also no migraines
starlinguk@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 283d
I have it. I'm used to it. It's not as if I can do something about it.
SCmSTR@lemmy.blahaj.zone · 1 pts · 283d
What if you can at-will toggle the perception?
Adderbox76@lemmy.ca · 10 pts · 283d
What you're seeing is the inner workings of the holographic universe we inhabit. Your brain interprets the signal as static.
/Obviously I'm not serious....
tree_frog_and_rain@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 282d
But you're right.
Only the hologram is produced by the nervous system. Not God's super computer or whatever.
Adderbox76@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 282d
I mean, I guess that's true in a peculirar sort of way in which nothing really exists outside of our perception of it.
What I mean by that is that whatever we see, hear, taste, etc... is merely neurons firing in our brain, processing a signal that it receives. So if we're looking at a tree for example; that tree is just light/energy waves vibrating on a specific frequency. It's only when it hits our optic nerve and travels to our brain that it's translating into something that we call a "tree".
So when the eyes are closed, the random interference pattern could indeed be interpreted as you say. Goog catch. Kind of makes you wonder.
tree_frog_and_rain@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 282d
Yeah there's a term for it in Hinduism, Maya.
I've also spent a lot of time and study with Buddhism. Explored a lot of mind altering drugs.
Perception is a map of the territory influenced by karma (evolution and personal experience) In constant feedback with the territory, of course.
But the map edits itself out. Because when a tiger appears on the map we need to run, not debate rather or not there's really a tiger.
arsCynic@lemmy.ml · 10 pts · 283d
Yes. I "see" it too but can unsee it quite easily. I think it's more apparent in unlit environments.
QuinnyCoded@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 283d
i see it more when I look up at the bright blue sky or a bright white wall
arsCynic@lemmy.ml · 5 pts · 283d
Hm okay. I'll check again in six months when Belgium isn't a depressing film Noir scene straight from Max Payne 1 & 2.
communist@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz · 10 pts · 283d
Uhhh everyone is saying this is normal and I don't have it...
YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.today · 3 pts · 283d
Same. Had to check, but yeah, no purple static. Just nothingness.
HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 283d
it's too bright in the room i'm in currently, but i get it at night
XeroxCool@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 282d
It happens to me at night because not only does it have to be quite dark, I audio need to be dork dark adapted. Your pupil is part of your dark adaption and widens in a mater of seconds. However, your receptors also get doped with rhodopsin, which takes up to 20 minutes to full replenish (blue/uv light bleachers rhodopsin). It's like being able to lower the F-stop on a camera like normal, but taking 20 minutes to raise the ISO
Snowpix@lemmy.ca · 1 pts · 283d
I have it, but there's no purple. Just a sea of red and green dots.
QuinnyCoded@sh.itjust.works · 8 pts · 283d
for the topic of discussion it might be worthwhile to also look into https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphantasia
1/10 people have it and have no idea it's not normal, my sister and mother too
TheTurner@lemmy.zip · 8 pts · 283d
Zozano@aussie.zone · 8 pts · 282d
Does anyone else see 'the ring' when you rub your eyes and then just look at the canvas of your eyelids?
orize@lemmy.dbzer0.com · 3 pts · 282d
Yes. Its feedback of the pressure upon your eye. Your brain needs to interpret but nerves will be wonky when eyeball is pushed.
Zozano@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 281d
the void circle calls to me with its radiance
i will cherish its gaze as my body liquifies
and my mind authors an analgesic static
foodandart@lemmy.zip · 8 pts · 283d
Yeah, though mine doesn't flicker as fast - it kinda moves in slow waves.
thermal_shock@lemmy.world · 8 pts · 283d
I can make static if I squeeze my eyes very tightly, sometimes spots. No one i asked when I was little had the same results. Haven't thought about it in a long time.
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 283d
is it like swimming lights.
MrShankles@reddthat.com · 1 pts · 283d
Yes
Venator@lemmy.nz · 6 pts · 283d
probably caused by some small amount of light getting through your eyelids , or random noise in your nerves
INHALE_VEGETABLES@aussie.zone · 2 pts · 283d
That's what they tell you to think. Hmmmm.
Venat0r@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 283d
could also be cosmic background radiation exciting the rods and cones inside your eyes
Venat0r@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 283d
or maybe it's black body radiation coming from your own cells inside your eyes
AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space · 6 pts · 282d
If there’s no light, you should see eigengrau.
scarabic@lemmy.world · 5 pts · 283d
I see brown and tan herringbone with paisley patterns blooming through it.
Nemo@slrpnk.net · 1 pts · 283d
That's closest to mine, honestly. More of a beige and black hounds tooth, though.
user224@lemmy.sdf.org · 5 pts · 283d
I do.
BuboScandiacus@mander.xyz · 5 pts · 283d
I personally don’t see it as intensively
chunes@lemmy.world · 4 pts · 282d
everyone says this is normal but i've never seen it. am i cooked
ivanafterall@lemmy.world · 6 pts · 282d
Don't worry, friend, it'll all be over soon. You won't feel a thing.
RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 283d
I do, and have had the same question.
mechoman444@lemmy.world · 3 pts · 283d
My wife and I have never experienced this. 🤷
Very interesting though.
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 283d
its like constantly seeing static, in a non bright room.
Mothra@mander.xyz · 3 pts · 283d
I'm glad to see most people replying yes, I was like "wait, is it not?". The only time I don't see noise is when I look at flat colors on a screen and I'm not a fan.
shirro@aussie.zone · 3 pts · 283d
It is hard to know exactly what we see because our brain processes it so much and then we have to put it into words and we could easily be describing different experiences the same way or same experiences differently.
I would guess any light receptor produces noise whether that is a few stray protons or just thermal chemical/electrical processes. I would think for most people the brain is receiving noise very much like this but how they experience it depends on how it is processed. Unless there is some after image from recently staring at something bright, when my eyes are shut my brain gives me an impression of nothing which is almost certainly not what my retina is detecting.
DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works · 3 pts · 283d
Yes, but its not purple, its just like as if your soul was drifting through the universe and you see tiny dot-sized stars from afar.
Sometimes I couldn't sleep and the lights are off and there is a tiny bit of ambient light outside, and I just open my eyes and stare at the ceiling and also notice a sort of static like that, but with a brighter background light.
MehBlah@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 283d
Mine varies from the static to a fine lattice grid that is constantly changing.
angrystego@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 283d
Yes. And if you want to see something really cool, take a look at a clear blue sky. You'll notice tiny dots of lighter color moving quickly following constant short trajectories. These are your own leucocytes moving through the capilars right in front of your retina. The brain compensates the darker color of the predominant red blood cells, so you can't see the capilars, but the white blood cells are translucent, so they appear as lighter dots!
the_q@lemmy.zip · 2 pts · 283d
radiouser@crazypeople.online · 1 pts · 283d
Just needs some brown noise, bliss!
beemikeoak@lemmynsfw.com · 2 pts · 283d
In poor light I see an outline to all visible shapes. The outline is in green color.
gustofwind@lemmy.world · 2 pts · 283d
Sure is for me, especially in the dark
But if I focus I can see it everywhere
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 283d
it became more pronounced around the time i developed peripheral neuropathy for a while, and RLS like 10 years ago. then its still there but its less severe than it was before.
Tollana1234567@lemmy.today · 1 pts · 283d
a small proportion of people have this, i have it mildly as well. my opthamologist at the time said it wasnt common and he only knew a teen that had it. its mostly because of the part of yuor brain thats active. its a wierd neurological thing. i suspect mines was due to diphenhydramine at the time, plus i had undaignosed spinal issue which would cause neurological/neuropathy in my limbs. i think the DPH made it more pronounced, as bringing it from the background.
its something having do with your lingual gyrus that is hyperactive(correlation)
shalafi@lemmy.world · 1 pts · 283d
Aight! I want to heart from people thinking this is normal, or not, and if you can actually see pictures in your inner space. I feel a doctoral dissertation could be written here.
14th_cylon@lemmy.zip · 1 pts · 283d
i feel you may be trying to break into open doors.