Stroboscopically induced visual hallucinations: historical, phenomenological, and neurobiological perspectives.
Trevor Hewitt, Ioanna Amaya, Romy Beauté, Anil K. Seth, Timo T Schmidt, David J. Schwartzman
Neuroscience of Consciousness 2025 DOI: 10.1093/nc/niaf020 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Narrative review Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Topics | Philosophy of mind |
| Keywords | Contents of consciousness Hallucinations Perception |
| Key findings | Stroboscopic light stimulation induces vivid visual hallucinations, but fundamental questions about its phenomenology, neural mechanisms, and clinical applications remain unanswered. |
Abstract
Exposure to rapid and bright stroboscopic light has long been reported to induce vivid visual hallucinations of colour and geometric formations. This phenomenon was first documented by Purkinje over 200 years ago. Since then, significant progress has been made in understanding the effects of stroboscopic light and the experiences it induces through multiple waves of interest from the scientific, therapeutic, and broader cultural communities. Despite these advances, fundamental questions remain unanswered, including comprehensive characterizations of its phenomenology, its precise physiological origins, under which conditions it may lead to altered states of consciousness phenomena, and potential clinical or therapeutic applications. This narrative review provides a historical summary of research into stroboscopic light stimulation (SLS) alongside its use in recreation and lay-therapeutic contexts. It also discusses the phenomenology of these experiences, current perspectives on the potential neural mechanisms of stroboscopically induced experiences, and provides an outlook for future research in this field.