Definition of Hallucination Hallucination

21 oriented. Some research has suggested that there may be a positive correlation between introversion and extraversion with psychological disorders. Introverts may be more inclined to catatonic type schizophrenia and extraverts towards bipolar disorder; a depressive disorder in which a person alternates between episodes of major depression and mania periods of abnormally and persistently elevated mood. http:www.encyclopedia.com Extroversion and Introversion. Encyclopedia. Electric Library accessed on March 22nd 2009.

2.4 Hallucination

This subchapter consists of the definition of hallucination, the types of hallucination, and cause of hallucination.

2.4.1 Definition of Hallucination

Hallucinations are false or distorted sensory experiences that appear to be real perceptions. These sensory impressions are generated by the mind rather than by any external stimuli, and may be seen, heard, felt, and even smelled or tasted. Psychological research has argued that hallucinations may result from biases in what are known as metacognitive abilities. These are abilities that allow us to monitor or draw inferences from our own internal psychological states such as intentions, memories, beliefs and thoughts. The ability to discriminate between internal self-generated and external stimuli sources of information is considered to be an important metacognitive skill and one which may break down to cause hallucinatory experiences. 22 http:www.answers.comtopichallucination accessed on September 14th 2008. According to Page 1947:52-54 hallucinations are sensory perception in the absence of any corresponding external sensory stimuli. When a person hallucinates, he hears nonexistent sounds, sees nonexistent objects, smells nonexistent odors, taste nonexistent substances, or feels nonexistent stimuli. A hallucination occurs when environmental, emotional, or physical factors such as stress, medication, extreme fatigue, or mental illness cause the mechanism within the brain that helps to distinguish conscious perceptions from internal, memory-based perceptions to misfire. As a result, hallucinations occur during periods of consciousness. They can appear in the form of visions, voices or sounds, tactile feelings known as haptic hallucinations, smells, or tastes. Patients suffering from dementia and psychotic disorders such as schizophrenia frequently experience hallucinations. Hallucinations can also occur in patients who are not mentally ill as a result of stress overload or exhaustion, or may be intentionally induced through the use of drugs, meditation, or sensory deprivation. http:www.answers.comtopichallucination accessed on September 14th 2008

2.4.2 The Types of Hallucination