Pressed Eye

Pressed Eye

What is the name (scientific?)for the patterns that you see when you press your (closed) eye with a finger?

Phosphemes

Definition from Wikipedia:

A phosphene is an entoptic phenomenon characterized by the sensation of light from mechanical, electrical, or magnetic stimulation of the eye's retina, or from random firing of cells in the visual system, rather than from light.

The most common phosphenes are pressure phosphenes, caused by rubbing the closed eyes. The pressure mechanically stimulates the cells of the retina. Experiences include a darkening of the visual field that moves against the rubbing, a diffuse coloured patch that also moves against the rubbing, a scintillating and ever-changing and deforming light grid with occasional dark spots (like a crumpling fly-spotted flyscreen), and a sparse field of intense blue points of light. Pressure phosphenes can persist briefly after the rubbing stops and the eyes are opened, allowing the phosphenes to be seen on the visual scene. Christopher Tyler (1978) has published some good drawings of pressure phosphenes.

Another common phosphene is "seeing stars", from a sneeze, from a blow on the head, or from low blood pressure (such as on standing up too quickly or prior to fainting). It's possible these involve some mechanical stimulation of the retina, but they may also involve mechanical and metabolic stimulation of neurons of the visual cortex or of other parts of the visual system.

BTW, it was pure luck that I knew that- just finished a course on cognitive neuroscience!

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Pressed Eye

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