Temporal Dynamics of Color and Brightness Adaptation in Reported Non–Ocular Visual Experiences: A Case Study

ABSTRACT Background Vision science has established precedent for examining unusual visual experiences, including hypnosis‐induced color perception, synesthetic phenomena, and meditative states. Such cases can provide insights into post‐retinal visual processing mechanisms.

Methods: This study presents a phenomenological analysis of visual experiences reported in the writings of Chiara Lubich (1920–2008) during mystical experiences in 1949. A taxonomy of visual events was developed to categorize 198 paragraphs of her account, distinguishing between experiences attributed to “physical eyes” versus “eyes of the soul,” metaphorical imagery, and future expectations. Temporal patterns of visual adaptation were reconstructed from her descriptions and compared with known mechanisms of biological vision.

Results: The account covers 9 days (16–24 July 1949) and reveals an adaptation process extending over approximately 8 days, characterized by: (1) initial perception of overwhelming brightness without accompanying discomfort; (2) gradual emergence of spatial detail and scale discrimination while maintaining predominantly monochromatic (gold/flame) perception; (3) sudden onset of full polychromatic vision on day 9; and (4) reported co‐existence of sequential perceptual states. This progression differs markedly from biological light adaptation in both timescale (days vs. minutes) and sequence (decoupled brightness and color adaptation).

Conclusions: The reported experiences suggest visual adaptation proceeding through more discrete stages than observed in typical oculocerebral vision, with characteristics partially resembling infant visual development. These observations generate testable hypotheses about post‐retinal adaptation mechanisms and the potential effects of direct stimulation of later stages in the visual pathway.