Is it normal to see this static when you close your eyes?
from Stacyasks@lemmy.cafe to nostupidquestions@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 00:43
https://lemmy.cafe/post/27113957

upload.wikimedia.org/…/Red-blue-noise.gif

#nostupidquestions

threaded - newest

user224@lemmy.sdf.org on 19 Nov 00:45 next collapse

I do.

foodandart@lemmy.zip on 19 Nov 00:52 next collapse

Yeah, though mine doesn’t flicker as fast - it kinda moves in slow waves.

youCanCallMeDragon@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 00:54 next collapse

This is a normal closed eye hallucination level 1 on this Wikipedia page

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed-eye_hallucination

nondescripthandle@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 19 Nov 02:12 next collapse

Oh shit that’s why I can like make shapes and shit when I’m like in deep relaxation

deranger@sh.itjust.works on 19 Nov 03:33 collapse

Ever try one of those float tanks? They’re really good for that.

DaTingGoBrrr@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 13:55 collapse

They also mention it on the wiki page but I could see fractals and different patterns when I closed my eyes while on shrooms.

dsilverz@calckey.world on 19 Nov 00:56 next collapse

@Stacyasks@lemmy.cafe @nostupidquestions@lemmy.world

Yes. It's called "Eigengrau" and it happens due to the adaptation of the eye amidst the darkness.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eigengrau

MajorMajormajormajor@lemmy.ca on 19 Nov 03:50 next collapse

The indistinguishability of dark events from photon responses supports this explanation because rhodopsin is at the input of the transduction chain. On the other hand, processes such as the spontaneous release of neurotransmitters cannot be completely ruled out.

<img alt="" src="https://lemmy.ca/pictrs/image/716ca08b-6243-4fb7-bfac-f265cc84e829.jpeg">

sbeak@sopuli.xyz on 19 Nov 04:46 next collapse

So it’s like when a camera doesn’t have enough light to properly take a photo, producing a lot of grain. Like when you have a high ISO when taking a photo/video in a dark room, it looks very grainy. I guess the eye is still adjusting its “exposure” if you see some of this graininess in the dark (or when you close your eyes?)

14th_cylon@lemmy.zip on 19 Nov 07:01 collapse

the brain is always trying to find pattern in incomplete data. one of the explanations i have seen is that when our ancestors were sitting around the fire, those who saw the tiger or something lurking in the dark had better chance to pass their genes than those who didn’t.

it is why we are seeing patterns in clouds and random geometrical shapes on walls and stuff like that.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Apophenia

ImminentOrbit@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 07:59 collapse

This is what the night sky starts to look like when I try to look at stars

NarrativeBear@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 00:56 next collapse

Welcome to the simulation

neukenindekeuken@sh.itjust.works on 19 Nov 02:17 collapse

I wish it was still 1999 :(

MadMadBunny@lemmy.ca on 19 Nov 02:27 collapse

Can I offer you a blue pill in this trying time?

Mouselemming@sh.itjust.works on 19 Nov 01:09 next collapse

Yes, and if you GENTLY press on your eyelids you can make other colors happen.

Also if you stare at a clear sky, NOT AT THE SUN, or at a bluish wall, you may see little swirly things, it’s the white blood cells in your retinas swimming around.

(Blue field entoptic phenomenon - Wikipedia share.google/MveakONY2KB3QXUUh)

gustofwind@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 01:17 next collapse

Sure is for me, especially in the dark

But if I focus I can see it everywhere

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today on 19 Nov 06:59 collapse

it became more pronounced around the time i developed peripheral neuropathy for a while, and RLS like 10 years ago. then its still there but its less severe than it was before.

scarabic@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 02:05 next collapse

I see brown and tan herringbone with paisley patterns blooming through it.

Nemo@slrpnk.net on 19 Nov 04:10 collapse

That’s closest to mine, honestly. More of a beige and black hounds tooth, though.

mechoman444@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 02:39 next collapse

My wife and I have never experienced this. 🤷

Very interesting though.

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today on 19 Nov 06:58 collapse

its like constantly seeing static, in a non bright room.

the_q@lemmy.zip on 19 Nov 02:42 next collapse

This gif is very calming to me.

radiouser@crazypeople.online on 19 Nov 08:13 collapse

Just needs some brown noise, bliss!

Mothra@mander.xyz on 19 Nov 02:49 next collapse

I’m glad to see most people replying yes, I was like “wait, is it not?”. The only time I don’t see noise is when I look at flat colors on a screen and I’m not a fan.

rumba@lemmy.zip on 19 Nov 02:50 next collapse

I see pulsing waves of color, even in pitch black rooms. When I was little they were bright as fireworks, now, depending on the night they’re either just vaguely waves of purple, grey, and blue or sometimes electric blue and white.

QuantumTickle@lemmy.zip on 19 Nov 03:28 collapse

I was recently reading about this because I discovered there’s a name for it: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prisoner's_cinema

rumba@lemmy.zip on 19 Nov 03:54 collapse

crazy!

What I see is very close to this:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=LL3kVtc-4vY

snailboy@leminal.space on 19 Nov 05:53 next collapse

Oh yeah, those things, I get them too sometimes. I always thought they looked like one of those super old Mac screensavers. (I can’t find a picture, but maybe someone here knows the one I mean.)

voodooattack@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 07:44 collapse

Why did I know it was a NileRed video from the tiny thumbnail? 🤔

rumba@lemmy.zip on 19 Nov 15:13 collapse

LOL, that’s his whole schtick for nile blue :)

The first time I saw the reaction, I was shocked it’s so close to my closed eye hallucinations

DeathByBigSad@sh.itjust.works on 19 Nov 03:40 next collapse

Yes, but its not purple, its just like as if your soul was drifting through the universe and you see tiny dot-sized stars from afar.

Sometimes I couldn’t sleep and the lights are off and there is a tiny bit of ambient light outside, and I just open my eyes and stare at the ceiling and also notice a sort of static like that, but with a brighter background light.

Meron35@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 04:17 next collapse

If you see this when your eyes are open then it may be visual snow.

Visual snow syndrome - Wikipedia - en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Visual_snow_syndrome

Zirconium@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 04:23 next collapse

I have this in my right eye without break but also no migraines

DrWorm@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 04:54 next collapse

I have this… I just thought this was normal vision. I hate my eyes 😔

Cenotaph@mander.xyz on 19 Nov 05:04 collapse

So did we all, friend. You’re one of the tv static people now. Welcome

starlinguk@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 07:18 next collapse

I have it. I’m used to it. It’s not as if I can do something about it.

SCmSTR@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 19 Nov 08:50 collapse

What if you can at-will toggle the perception?

DarkAri@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 19 Nov 05:03 next collapse

You have too much gain.

But yeah it’s normal.

shalafi@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 05:37 next collapse

Aight! I want to heart from people thinking this is normal, or not, and if you can actually see pictures in your inner space. I feel a doctoral dissertation could be written here.

14th_cylon@lemmy.zip on 19 Nov 06:56 collapse

I feel a doctoral dissertation could be written here.

i feel you may be trying to break into open doors.

thermal_shock@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 05:41 next collapse

I can make static if I squeeze my eyes very tightly, sometimes spots. No one i asked when I was little had the same results. Haven’t thought about it in a long time.

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today on 19 Nov 08:15 next collapse

is it like swimming lights.

MrShankles@reddthat.com on 19 Nov 10:20 collapse

Yes

wide_eyed_stupid@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 05:51 next collapse

I always assumed everyone saw it. I’m not special after all.

Though mine is gray, definitely not purple.

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today on 19 Nov 08:14 next collapse

i had it intensely when i also developed other neurological issues like peripheral neuropaty, and palinopsia(afterimage)although symptom was temporary. now its more of a background if i concentrate hard enough i see snow. i had also had pretty bad RLS for several weeks.

mental_block@lemmy.wtf on 19 Nov 12:45 collapse

That gray is unique to individual. And if course has its German term. Similar to the other links floating about in this thread.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eigengrau

wide_eyed_stupid@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 16:46 collapse

Ha, of course it does! Germans have a word for everything.

Tollana1234567@lemmy.today on 19 Nov 06:57 next collapse

a small proportion of people have this, i have it mildly as well. my opthamologist at the time said it wasnt common and he only knew a teen that had it. its mostly because of the part of yuor brain thats active. its a wierd neurological thing. i suspect mines was due to diphenhydramine at the time, plus i had undaignosed spinal issue which would cause neurological/neuropathy in my limbs. i think the DPH made it more pronounced, as bringing it from the background.

its something having do with your lingual gyrus that is hyperactive(correlation)

TheTurner@lemmy.zip on 19 Nov 07:13 next collapse

I see patterns and colors. Almost like a screensaver.

Venator@lemmy.nz on 19 Nov 08:35 next collapse

probably caused by some small amount of light getting through your eyelids , or random noise in your nerves

INHALE_VEGETABLES@aussie.zone on 19 Nov 08:41 collapse

That’s what they tell you to think. Hmmmm.

Venat0r@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 11:12 collapse

could also be cosmic background radiation exciting the rods and cones inside your eyes

Venat0r@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 11:12 collapse

or maybe it’s black body radiation coming from your own cells inside your eyes

cley_faye@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 08:46 next collapse

Better than seeing weird letters and 80 style colored geometric shape sliding around.

deus@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 10:06 next collapse

Here’s an artist’s impression of what that might look like.

hungryphrog@lemmy.blahaj.zone on 19 Nov 10:45 collapse

I only get patterns (usually floral-ish) if I press my eyes a little. You guys are getting them for free?!

ArchmageAzor@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 09:17 next collapse

I think it’s called visual snow, and it’s normal.

justastranger@sh.itjust.works on 19 Nov 10:48 next collapse

Seconding this. It’s not incredibly common but it’s not incredibly uncommon. Research shows that most people who have it don’t notice it until it’s pointed out. Drugs and stress tend to exacerbate the effect as well.

LwL@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 13:51 next collapse

Visual snow is when you see it with eyes open afaik. But yea, still not terribly abnormal on its own. Visual snow syndrome is a thing though, but it’s more than just seeing an abnormal amount of visual snow (the normal amount seems to be when looking at unicolored surfaces and in dim light).

quick_snail@feddit.nl on 19 Nov 15:43 collapse

Just don’t snowcrash

NigelFrobisher@aussie.zone on 19 Nov 09:21 next collapse

I see a little “DVD” logo zipping around that changes colour when it bounces off the periphery of my vision.

monkeyslikebananas2@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 12:47 next collapse

I saw it hit the corner perfectly once!

quick_snail@feddit.nl on 19 Nov 15:42 collapse

This, but there’s paddles on either end that hit the logo back and forth.

And I never seem to win

87Six@lemmy.zip on 19 Nov 10:33 next collapse

Bro is a CRT

BuboScandiacus@mander.xyz on 19 Nov 10:35 next collapse

I personally don’t see it as intensively

AnUnusualRelic@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 12:04 next collapse

Probably just your tuner that’s unplugged. Feel around for any loose wires.

madjo@feddit.nl on 20 Nov 19:50 collapse

Or “upgrade” to digital, the downside to that is that you either have vision or no vision at all if reception is kinda weak.

dragonfucker@lemmy.nz on 19 Nov 12:11 next collapse

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Closed-eye_hallucination

rustydrd@sh.itjust.works on 19 Nov 12:43 next collapse

This is just the result of neurons firing and chemical reactions taking place, and it’s normal. Personally, for me it depends on my state of mind when I try to sleep. When agitated, I see noise like in your picture. When calm, I see flat, colorful shapes with soft edges that float around and change shape more or less rapidly (kind of like a lava lamp).

RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 16:18 next collapse

Vision floaties? Me too.

Zetta@mander.xyz on 19 Nov 16:39 next collapse

Mine can vary wildly depending on what kind and the quantity of psychoactive substance I’ve taken.

Draegur@lemmy.zip on 19 Nov 16:42 collapse

Ohhh yeahhhh the lava lamp like ones are cool. Sometimes vague impressions of cyan and red, sometimes propagating in waves. I’m so glad other people are describing it!

rustydrd@sh.itjust.works on 19 Nov 18:40 collapse

I also find them really helpful for falling asleep. Sometimes when I feel stressed and see mostly noise, I’ll try to spot the color shapes and focus on them. It’s kind of meditative and helps me fall asleep faster.

arsCynic@lemmy.ml on 19 Nov 12:59 next collapse

Yes. I “see” it too but can unsee it quite easily. I think it’s more apparent in unlit environments.

QuinnyCoded@sh.itjust.works on 19 Nov 16:01 collapse

i see it more when I look up at the bright blue sky or a bright white wall

arsCynic@lemmy.ml on 19 Nov 17:26 collapse

Hm okay. I’ll check again in six months when Belgium isn’t a depressing film Noir scene straight from Max Payne 1 & 2.

beemikeoak@lemmynsfw.com on 19 Nov 13:21 next collapse

In poor light I see an outline to all visible shapes. The outline is in green color.

QuinnyCoded@sh.itjust.works on 19 Nov 16:05 next collapse

for the topic of discussion it might be worthwhile to also look into en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aphantasia

1/10 people have it and have no idea it’s not normal, my sister and mother too

RampantParanoia2365@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 16:17 next collapse

I do, and have had the same question.

MehBlah@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 16:43 next collapse

Mine varies from the static to a fine lattice grid that is constantly changing.

ameancow@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 16:47 next collapse

Yes, it’s random firings of light receptors from the absolute ocean of potential stimulators for such sensitive cells and sensitive neurons that connect them to your brain.

Your brain does a profoundly involved job at every moment editing your visual input into a coherent, moving picture, but your brain edits out a LOT of interference and noise every moment.

If you really wanna blow your mind and prove it, make a pinhole in a card and in a dark room and look towards a light source. If you wiggle the pinhole light beam across your retina you will suddenly see all the blood vessels that feed your retina. Evolution decided it would put them on the front for some reason, but your brain normally makes it literally disappear for you. When you wiggle the shadows of the vessels, your brain forgets how to edit it and they appear like a mass of floater-spaghetti.

Edit: you can suddenly see your nose. You’re welcome.

Venus_Ziegenfalle@feddit.org on 19 Nov 17:46 next collapse

If you really wanna blow your mind and prove it

You can also see them by holding a (not too bright) flashlight against your cheekbone and pointing the beam at your eye. The light needs to come from right below and you might need to move it around a little until you get the angle just right.

FosterMolasses@leminal.space on 19 Nov 18:51 next collapse

Oooo, cool!

HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 22:21 next collapse

that’s what that is? cool.

madjo@feddit.nl on 20 Nov 19:48 collapse

For that edit you now have to breath manually!

ameancow@lemmy.world on 20 Nov 21:21 collapse

Jokes on you, I’ve never stopped. AND Good news everyone, you read this in Farnsworth’s voice!

madjo@feddit.nl on 20 Nov 21:51 collapse

You’re a mean cow!

card797@champserver.net on 19 Nov 17:04 next collapse

From m’eye experience. Yes.

angrystego@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 17:41 next collapse

Yes. And if you want to see something really cool, take a look at a clear blue sky. You’ll notice tiny dots of lighter color moving quickly following constant short trajectories. These are your own leucocytes moving through the capilars right in front of your retina. The brain compensates the darker color of the predominant red blood cells, so you can’t see the capilars, but the white blood cells are translucent, so they appear as lighter dots!

Adderbox76@lemmy.ca on 19 Nov 18:31 next collapse

What you’re seeing is the inner workings of the holographic universe we inhabit. Your brain interprets the signal as static.

/Obviously I’m not serious…

tree_frog_and_rain@lemmy.world on 20 Nov 13:18 collapse

But you’re right.

Only the hologram is produced by the nervous system. Not God’s super computer or whatever.

Adderbox76@lemmy.ca on 20 Nov 14:38 collapse

I mean, I guess that’s true in a peculirar sort of way in which nothing really exists outside of our perception of it.

What I mean by that is that whatever we see, hear, taste, etc… is merely neurons firing in our brain, processing a signal that it receives. So if we’re looking at a tree for example; that tree is just light/energy waves vibrating on a specific frequency. It’s only when it hits our optic nerve and travels to our brain that it’s translating into something that we call a “tree”.

So when the eyes are closed, the random interference pattern could indeed be interpreted as you say. Goog catch. Kind of makes you wonder.

tree_frog_and_rain@lemmy.world on 20 Nov 20:09 collapse

Yeah there’s a term for it in Hinduism, Maya.

I’ve also spent a lot of time and study with Buddhism. Explored a lot of mind altering drugs.

Perception is a map of the territory influenced by karma (evolution and personal experience) In constant feedback with the territory, of course.

But the map edits itself out. Because when a tiger appears on the map we need to run, not debate rather or not there’s really a tiger.

communist@lemmy.frozeninferno.xyz on 19 Nov 18:44 next collapse

Uhhh everyone is saying this is normal and I don’t have it…

YiddishMcSquidish@lemmy.today on 19 Nov 18:57 next collapse

Same. Had to check, but yeah, no purple static. Just nothingness.

Snowpix@lemmy.ca on 19 Nov 21:35 next collapse

I have it, but there’s no purple. Just a sea of red and green dots.

HeyThisIsntTheYMCA@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 22:18 next collapse

it’s too bright in the room i’m in currently, but i get it at night

XeroxCool@lemmy.world on 20 Nov 12:25 collapse

It happens to me at night because not only does it have to be quite dark, I audio need to be dork dark adapted. Your pupil is part of your dark adaption and widens in a mater of seconds. However, your receptors also get doped with rhodopsin, which takes up to 20 minutes to full replenish (blue/uv light bleachers rhodopsin). It’s like being able to lower the F-stop on a camera like normal, but taking 20 minutes to raise the ISO

BanMe@lemmy.world on 19 Nov 22:29 next collapse

Purple, green, pinks and oranges (that’s the blood in my eyelids I think). If I rub my eyes, the pixellated screensavers get wild, which I think means you’re not supposed to do that.

shirro@aussie.zone on 19 Nov 22:40 next collapse

It is hard to know exactly what we see because our brain processes it so much and then we have to put it into words and we could easily be describing different experiences the same way or same experiences differently.

I would guess any light receptor produces noise whether that is a few stray protons or just thermal chemical/electrical processes. I would think for most people the brain is receiving noise very much like this but how they experience it depends on how it is processed. Unless there is some after image from recently staring at something bright, when my eyes are shut my brain gives me an impression of nothing which is almost certainly not what my retina is detecting.

chunes@lemmy.world on 20 Nov 12:37 next collapse

everyone says this is normal but i’ve never seen it. am i cooked

ivanafterall@lemmy.world on 20 Nov 17:50 collapse

Don’t worry, friend, it’ll all be over soon. You won’t feel a thing.

Zozano@aussie.zone on 20 Nov 12:51 next collapse

Does anyone else see ‘the ring’ when you rub your eyes and then just look at the canvas of your eyelids?

orize@lemmy.dbzer0.com on 20 Nov 18:43 collapse

Yes. Its feedback of the pressure upon your eye. Your brain needs to interpret but nerves will be wonky when eyeball is pushed.

Zozano@aussie.zone on 21 Nov 06:07 collapse

the void circle calls to me with its radiance

i will cherish its gaze as my body liquifies

and my mind authors an analgesic static

Mediocre_Bard@lemmy.world on 20 Nov 13:22 next collapse

The static yes, the purple no.

Korhaka@sopuli.xyz on 20 Nov 19:17 collapse

That shade of purple seems a bit off, but you might see colours depending on the light going through your eyelids

AllNewTypeFace@leminal.space on 20 Nov 19:43 collapse

If there’s no light, you should see eigengrau.