Experiments in Perception

Experiment One - Visual Perception

Ever wondered why you have two eyes instead of one? It's to allow you to see three-dimensionally. Your brain receives a slightly different perspective from each eye and puts these two perspectives together, which allows you to judge distance and depth. In other words, human beings (and most animals) have "stereoscopic vision."

Now, let's try a little experiment. Close one eye, or put your hand over it. You may want to use an eye patch if you have one. Hold that eye closed.

Now look around you. Everything still seems pretty much three-dimensional, doesn't it, although perhaps a little "flatter?" You are still able to judge distances just fine. Reach out and touch something. You knew when your hand was going to contact that object, didn't you? This is most strange.

With one eye closed, you should lose all stereoscopic vision. Everything should appear flat, and directly against the surface of your eye. But it doesn't. The reason for this is that the brain is so used to seeing three-dimensionally (with two eyes) and judging distance that it produces a reasonable simulation of three-dimensionality even with one eye shut.

Scientists have discovered that only 20% of brain activity is involved with the visual cortex in the act of seeing. The other 80% comes from other parts of the brain. *You do not see with your eyes, you see with your mind*. If this is so, are you seeing what is really there?

Try the experiment again (close one eye), and see if you can see things the way they REALLY are from this perspective... flat, directly against the surface of the eye, no three-dimensionality, no distance perception, no "space" between yourself and other objects, no matter how close or how distant. It's likely you won't be able to do it. Try it with the other eye, and you're likely to come up with the same result. When you look out of only one eye and still can perceive a sense of depth, you are essentially hallucinating. Your brain is producing a three-dimensional image, purely out of habit. This would not occur in a baby or a very young child. If a baby closed one eye, everything would be seen as it is from that perspective - two-dimensional. It's only over the course of years that the brain develops the ability to simulate stereoscopic vision with one eye closed.

Kind of shatters your idea of reality, doesn't it?

Something else you should know... the lens of the eye actually "sees" things upside down and distorted. That is a scientific fact. Somehow, the brain takes this image and turns it "right side up" and "cleans the image up" so that you see things in the way you are accustomed to. Scientists have not been able to explain the mechanism by which this takes place.

Experiment 2 - Auditory Trance

Did you know that it's possible to put yourself into a trance, using nothing but sound? Specially encoded stereo sound files that rapidly alternate volume between the left and right channels have the ability to "entrain" your brainwaves to a certain frequency. After listening for 5-15 minutes, your brain will respond by going into a deep trance state.

For this experiment, you'll need:

  • A 16-bit stereo sound card installed in your computer.
  • A pair of stereo headphones, and a method of connecting them to your speakers or soundcard.
  • Software capable of playing back a Windows .WAV file, and auto-repeating it.
  • This 5-second .WAV File. Right-click on the link and select "Download" or "Save link as." The file is about 220k in size.

    To perform the experiment, first make sure you have all of the above requirements. Most Windows setups have software built-in that is capable of both playing and auto-repeating .WAV files. You will have to figure out how to set the software to auto-repeat the .WAV. This will either be in a menu selection somewhere, or try pausing the .WAV and right-clicking on the player for options. Since five seconds isn't long enough for the sound to have any effect, you MUST be able to repeat it over and over, with no breaks or clicks in between. There is a lot of software available capable of doing this.

    Once you have downloaded the .WAV file, plug the headphones in (They must be stereo headphones - mono will have no effect), then either double-click the .WAV to open it, or load the software to play it. Remember to set the software to auto-repeat (play the .WAV over and over again).

    Now put the headphones on, adjust the volume to a comfortable level, lie down, and listen. Within 5 to 10 minutes, you will be in a deep trance. This brainwave state is known as THETA, and is just above the level of sleep (Delta). You may actually find yourself falling asleep. If you suffer from insomnia, try performing this experiment on a regular basis - it will probably help! There are certain times when you will be more responsive to this kind of brainwave entrainment - such times are unpredictable. For most people though, it will work most of the time.

    Note - there are no subliminal or other messages embedded in the wave file. The file consists of "pink noise" with special stereo encoding, and that is all. Do not ever play this file while driving a car or operating dangerous machinery.

    Enjoy this experiment.

    • Experiment 3 - Two Exercises

    Adapted by Omkara from exercises presented in Richard Moss's book, "Opening To The Infinite." Richard Moss's website is at http://www.radical-aliveness.com.

    Note: Exercise 1 is best performed in darkness. Exercise 2 may be performed anywhere.

    Beginners note - these exercises may be threatening to the ego and cause some fear, so try to approach them with an attitude of reverence. You are practicing contact with the Infinite here, and thus are on "holy ground." Perform these exercises with FEELING rather than with detachment.

    For both exercises, first get in a comfortable position, either sitting or lying down. Close your eyes and relax, and allow yourself to BE for awhile, quieting internal chatter. If you like, let yourself slip into "a state of meditation," although this isn't necessary.


    Exercise 1 - Divided Attention and Becoming

    Close your eyes. Notice the field of undifferentiated darkness in front of your eyes, with no point of reference, no place to focus. At the same time, become aware of any sounds around you (even in "total silence" there is always some kind of sound). Then, gently focus attention on your breathing, giving it "soft attention." At this point, you should be noticing three things - the field of darkness before you, the sounds around you, and (gently) your breathing. Exist in this space for awhile.

    Now, let external sounds fade to an extent, and focus on breathing and what you "see" with closed eyes. On intake of breath, simply observe the field of darkness in front of your eyes. On exhalation, EXTEND YOURSELF or "move forward into" the "field of darkness" you see, and allow yourself to become one with it. Repeat this as often as desired; Inhale, observe what you see behind closed eyes. Exhale, extend into the darkness and BECOME the darkness. Let your exhalation of breath assist you in moving into the darkness, and "Become" the darkness in the interval just before inhalation.

    After awhile, you may notice little difference between the inhalation and exhalation perspectives. You have become at-one with the undifferentiated field in front of your eyes (for me, this has been a very powerful experience). Observe any other sensations you may be experiencing.

    Return to the divided attention phase from time to time if you wish (just noticing external sounds, your breathing, and what you see with closed eyes), then return to Inhale - Observe - Exhale - Extend and Become. Inhale - Observe - Exhale - Extend and Become.


    Exercise 2 - Becoming

    With your eyes closed, focus "gently and lightly" on your breathing and on the sounds around you. Divide your attention for awhile. Perceive both at the same time. Let yourself become calm and quiet. Then prepare to become All That Is. Prepare to release ego and Become Yourself.

    Now imagine a deep, dark well. Directly below this well, there is an vast, calm, limitless ocean (or a limitless field of light, or whatever you may imagine I AM may "look like"). Picture these things as clearly as possible.

    Now, imagine yourself sitting on the edge of this well. Inhale and be the observer - see yourself sitting on the edge. Exhale, and let yourself fall off the edge of the well into the ocean, gently, BEING yourself as you fall and drop gently into the ocean.

    Inhale, and observe yourself floating quietly in the ocean. Exhale, and be yourself, floating in the ocean. Repeat this portion for awhile.

    When ready, inhale, and observe yourself melting like sugar into the water, dissolving into the water, becoming at-one with it. Exhale, BE the water.

    Inhale, observe the water. Exhale, BE the water. Inhale, observe the water. Exhale, BE the water. Repeat as long as desired.

    Experiment 4 - Empty Space

    For this experiment, find a room that can be made absolutely pitch black, and is large enough to lie down in. Block out any light that is entering the room. The room must be *absolutely* dark, without a trace of light that can enter. A bathroom or closet may suffice, especially at night.

    Now, lie down in a comfortable position and close your eyes. Open and close them several times, and notice there is no difference in vision between when your eyes are closed and when they are open (unless light is entering the room - if so, block it with something). You should "see" identically with eyes open or eyes closed.

    Open eyes - close eyes, for several minutes. Now leave your eyes open normally.

    Try to imagine that you are not in an enclosed space. How do you know that the space is enclosed? You can visualize it as it looks with light present, but this visualization is entirely from memory, and how do you know you can trust memory? Try to release memory and experience the room as endlessly vast.

    Perform as long and as often as you like. You can also try this with earplugs in to further decrease sensory feedback. You might even find this room to eventually become a preferred place for meditation.