BLUF

The brain constantly processes visual signals from the eyes and mental images from the imagination. Brain scan studies have shown that the neural activity patterns for seeing and imagining something are quite similar.

Summary

KEY POINTS:
  1. The brain differentiates between seen and imagined experiences using a "reality threshold."
  2. Intense imagined signals can be perceived as real, leading to hallucinations or dreams.
  3. This knowledge could aid in understanding conditions like schizophrenia, hyperphantasia, and aphantasia.
  4. The challenges posed by virtual reality make distinguishing between real and fake experiences crucial.
READ: Is It Real or Imagined? Here’s How Your Brain Tells the Difference

References