In this video I describe perceptual constancy, which refers to the idea that we perceive a relatively stable and unchanging world despite the fact that sensory information is changing dramatically. I explain how this applies visually to size, brightness, and shape. We often forget this learning process because it occurred during infancy, but it is demonstrated clearly in previously blind … Read More
Hallucinations
I recently finished reading Oliver Sacks’ book Hallucinations. It’s a fascinating look at different types of hallucinatory experiences, from the visual scenes of Charles Bonnet Syndrome to hearing voices and feeling mystical religious ecstasy. In one chapter, Sacks also describes his own youthful experimentation with a number of psychoactive substances (LSD, morning glory seeds, morphine, and more) and he includes stories … Read More
Oliver Sacks on Living and Dying
Oliver Sacks has just written some thoughts on life and death, published in the New York Times, upon learning that he has terminal cancer of the liver. It’s a brief but touching read on aging, death, and gratitude for all that life has to offer.