Scientists have conducted a study that has shown that a strong imagination can trick the brain, making it perceive mental impressions as real.
Researchers from University College London have uncovered brain regions that help people determine whether an image they see is perceived from the outside world or merely a product of their imagination. The findings were published in the scientific journal Neuron.
In a new study, 26 volunteers simultaneously viewed a barely noticeable pattern on a screen while simultaneously trying to mentally imagine the pattern.
Participants were asked to determine whether the pattern actually existed against a background of visual noise. At the same time, they were asked to rate the clarity of their mental image of the pattern—the point at which the image reached a level of clarity that made it "too real" and indistinguishable from reality.
In trials where the pattern was not displayed on the screen, but the imagined image was "too clear," participants were more likely to mistake it for the real pattern.
However, brain activity was recorded using functional magnetic resonance imaging. Analysis of the data revealed that the fusiform gyrus, a region located at the bottom of the temporal lobe, plays a key role in distinguishing between "real" and "imaginary."
These findings are particularly important for understanding mental illnesses. In schizophrenia, patients often cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality. Uncovering the neural pathways through which the brain draws this line could aid in early diagnosis and the development of treatments. Additionally, the study offers insights into how modern virtual reality (VR) technologies affect perception, as viewing the same "imaginary" content through VR goggles may activate brain regions similar to those activated when perceiving the real world.
