phosphenes
Eye-rub light show
Phosphenes are the spots, patterns, or flashes of light you see when your eyes are closed or when pressure is applied to them—the swirling colors behind shut eyelids, or the stars you see after rubbing your eyes or standing up too fast.
They're produced by the visual system itself rather than by external light: She pressed her palms against her eyes and watched the phosphenes bloom.
Light-sensing tissue layer
- opticOf the eye
- neuronsSignal-transmitting brain cells
- cortexOrgan's external tissue
- stimulationEvoking a response
afterimages · floaters · visual · perception · sight · patterns · transient · sensory
Applying pressure while moving
- squeezeFirm bilateral compression
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- tactileOf the touching sense
- eyelidsMovable eye covers
pressing · massage · mechanical · touch · force · contact · physical · manipulation
Brief intense light bursts
- sparkleEmit flashing light
- shimmerTremulous, wavering light
- flickerUnsteady, brief light
- twinkleShine with flickering light
glimmer · stars · luminous · brightness · glow · dancing · spots · pinpoints
Forming mental or graphical images
- mind's eyeInternal visualization capacity
- inner visionMental sight, imagination
- tranceSemiconscious, unresponsive condition
- relaxationState of being unwound
darkness · contemplation · sensory deprivation · altered state · concentration · awareness · introspection
Perceived emanation surrounding someone
- headacheCranial pain
- prodromeWarning symptoms before disease
- scotomaLocalized vision absence
- visual disturbanceAbnormality in perception through eyes
neurological · warning · onset · flashing · zigzag · fortification · scintillating · precursor
retina
Light-sensing tissue layer
stimulation · afterimages · floaters · visual · perception · sight · patterns · transient · sensory · neurological
rubbing
Applying pressure while moving
- squeezeFirm bilateral compression
- compressionForcing into smaller space
- tactileOf the touching sense
eyelids · pressing · massage · mechanical · touch · force · contact · physical · manipulation · friction
flashes
Brief intense light bursts
twinkle · glimmer · stars · luminous · brightness · glow · dancing · spots · pinpoints · bursts
visualization
Forming mental or graphical images
- mind's eyeInternal visualization capacity
- inner visionMental sight, imagination
- tranceSemiconscious, unresponsive condition
relaxation · darkness · contemplation · sensory deprivation · altered state · concentration · awareness · introspection
aura
Perceived emanation surrounding someone
visual disturbance · neurological · warning · onset · flashing · zigzag · fortification · scintillating · precursor · episode
phosphenesambient light
Existing illumination in space
photoreception · natural light · sunlight · visible light · normal vision