2
$\begingroup$

The question above mainly applies to dramamine. I've only taken 1 tablet for carsickness, but I have read about experiences with that drug. I'm including other drugs that can make you hallucinate and think it's real.

Furthermore, why can you still see the hallucinations as reality if you affirm to yourself that the things you see aren't real?

Improve this question
$\endgroup$
5
  • $\begingroup$ Dramamine is in the same family as Scoplomine. I think it would take a crate of it to actually have any side effects. $\endgroup$
    – Chuck Sherrington
    Jul 23, 2013 at 21:14
  • $\begingroup$ I'm not an expert, what I got from the linked talk is that our consciousness seamlessly blends all neural inputs into one subjective experience of reality. If you are hallucinating due to a chemical, you cannot eliminate the chemical from your brain with a thought (just like one cannot become sober by thinking). So the neural input persists, regardless of your awareness. heres the talk: ted.com/talks/… $\endgroup$
    – Alex Stone
    Jul 24, 2013 at 1:31
  • $\begingroup$ @ChuckSherrington I've never used it for recreation. I used one for motion sickness. It takes quite a bit for that effect. Heh.. $\endgroup$
    – CoonKitteh
    Jul 24, 2013 at 17:37
  • $\begingroup$ @AlexStone If you can put that in answer form, I'll best answer it. $\endgroup$
    – CoonKitteh
    Jul 24, 2013 at 17:38
  • $\begingroup$ @CoonKitteh these drugs are called deliriants. unlike other hallucinogens, they result in the loss of insight that what one is experiencing is a hallucination. however, owing to the semantics you're using, what you're describing is not possible: "i know this feels real, but this is just a hallucination" is perfectly sound and has to do with the capacity to engage in reality testing, while you're saying: "this is real, but i know it's a hallucination". $\endgroup$
    – faustus
    Nov 27, 2017 at 7:30

1 Answer 1

Reset to default
2
$\begingroup$

In my opinion this has to do with how perception works in general.

There are many situations, where you "see" something, that is not there. Optical and other sensory illusions are a prime example. Usually these mis-perceptions result from sensory input that our organs of perception were not built to analyze. For example, the size-weight illusion stems from the fact that we don't have objects of equal size and equal outside material but differing weights in our natural habitat. You will easily recognize that all sensory illusions are induced by highly artificial stimuli such as straight and parallel lines, which have only existed in the most recent past and have as yet not had a big influence on human evolution.

In the case of drugs and hallucinations, your brain is stimulated in a way that is not meaningful for it, and it tries to make sense of what if "perceives" in the context of its evolution and experience. Obviously the stimulation by a certain drug comes close to what the stimulation would be like if outside reality were like you hallucinate it.

A drug induced hallucination is basically a sensory illusion, with the difference that you stimulate the brain directly, instead of the sensory organs.

To "break" an illusion, you need to provide a stimulus that overrides or "corrects" the misperception, e.g. a ruler to show that the lines are parallel (or not parallel) etc. Just knowing the truth (because you drew the lines yourself) doesn't change the effect.

Since drug induced hallucinations originate not in an outside sensory stimulus but in a direct manipulation of the brain, I would guess that touching the elephant head of your friend might not help to break the illusion -- you might even feel differently. But I have no experience with drugs and couldn't find any reports on this.

Improve this answer
$\endgroup$

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge that you have read and understand our privacy policy and code of conduct.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.