Hallucination as a Response to the Ecological Approach to Perception

In this narrative review and analysis, the neurological data pertaining to the occurrence of hallucinations are investigated and used to create an argument against Gibson\u27s ecological approach to visual perception. In particular, the known etiologies and phenomenological traits of hallucinations caused by Charles Bonnet Syndrome, sensory deprivation, and migraine are examined and discussed with respect to Gibson\u27s theory. The reasons behind the lack of coherent hallucinogenic taxonomies and complications of studying the phenomena are reviewed in order effectively compare types of hallucinations and draw meaningful conclusions. This theoretical article argues that although hallucinations are not fully understood, they do exist and share apparent characteristics with normal visual sensation. Thus, hallucinations provide substantial evidence to contradict direct realist notions of perceiving affordances, both in Gibson\u27s original model as well as other contemporary theories. This analysis endeavors to further the development of visual perception models and recognizes that by combining practical aspects of current predominant theories and unique aspects of the ecological approach, new and exciting future models may potentially be created. Keywords: visual perception, ecological perception, hallucination, affordance