Types of perceptual distortions

Surely you have ever heard this phrase: The mind deceives us! Or perhaps it is our senses that do it? In this article, we will learn what perceptual distortions are, also called sensory distortions. These are perceptual anomalies in which a real stimulus from the outside is perceived differently than expected given its formal characteristics.

There are different types of perceptual distortions that can be classified according to a series of parameters, such as: intensity, quality, size, shape…

We should not confuse perceptual distortions with hallucinations.. In hallucinations (perceptual deceptions), the perceptual experience is not based on really existing stimuli, unlike perceptual distortions, where a real stimulus does exist.

These two phenomena make up the so-called psychopathology of perception, an area of ​​psychopathology that has always aroused great interest among researchers. Do you want to know what the types of perceptual distortions are and how they work? Here we will unravel the mysteries of this sensory-perceptive phenomenon as curious as it is complex..

The persistence of the memory of Salvador Dalí

According to the manual by Belloch, Sandín and Ramos (2008), the different types of perceptual or sensory distortions can be classified according to five parameters:

IntensityQualitySize and shapePerceptual integrationIllusions

Now, let’s see what each of the distortions are called according to their typology, what characteristics they present and what are some of their examples.

According to its intensity

They are those perceptual phenomena that imply an anomaly in the intensity with which we usually perceive the environment (for example, sounds). In this case, the quality of the stimulus is maintained, but to a different degree. In this group we find three types of perceptual distortions:

Hyperesthesia

Hyperesthesia can be defined as a perceptual condition that involves increased sensitivity to stimuli. That is, excess sensitivity occurs. Hyperesthesia generally affects the sense of touch, but also other senses such as hearing.

On the other hand, hyperesthesia can also lead to an increase in the perception of pain. Examples of hyperesthesia would be: perceiving the clock ticking very loudly or noticing the taste of sugar as excessively sweet.

This alteration of perception It usually occurs in people who suffer from anxiety disorders, some schizophrenia, migraines, or who are in toxic states. (acute alcohol or drug intake).

Hypoesthesias

On the other hand, hypoesthesias are perceptual distortions in which there is a decrease in sensitivity to stimuli. These are usually common in complex mental disorders such as, where there is an inability to feel or notice tastes, smells, sounds.

Anesthesia

In the case of anesthesia, there is an absence of perception of the environment; That is, it is the absolute absence of perception of the intensity of the stimuli. In the specific case of the absence of pain perception, we talk about a variant: analgesia.

According to its quality

Depending on the quality of the perceptual distortions, we find those that affect, as their name indicates, the quality of the stimuli. That is to say, involve a change to another quality; For example, perceiving sugar as salty, seeing everything black, or flowers smelling like excrement.

They are usually associated with distortions in the intensity and They tend to manifest in mental disorders such as schizophrenia and depression. On the other hand, we should not confuse this type of distortions with gustatory or olfactory hallucinations. Let us remember that in the latter the stimulus that causes the sensation is not present, while in distortions it is.

Depending on its size and shape

They are called metamorphopsias and refer to distortions in the visual perception of size (dysmegalopsias) and/or shape (dysmorphopsias). In general, they occur in a wide range of situations: from neurological disorders to as consequences of the effects of certain drugs. However, they are very rare in acute episodes of schizophrenia and neurotic disorders.

Now, let’s see what distortions each type encompasses.

Dysmegalopsias (size)

If we perceive an object as larger than it really is, then we suffer from macropsia or megalopsia.. These phenomena also occur when we perceive an object or stimulus as closer to us than it really is. An example of this would be “seeing an ant the size of a dog.”

On the other hand, if we perceive the object as smaller or further from reality, we speak of micropsies. Finally, the Autometamorphopsias are distortions referring to the body itselfin shape and size (for example, perceiving ourselves as taller and longer).

Dysmorphopsias (form)

Dysmorphopsias have to do with shape; They are classified into:

Plagiopsy: involves seeing elongated and oblique objects, as well as larger than they really are.Dysplatiopsia: consists of seeing objects with greater width.Kinetopsy: This is seeing with larger, moving objects (when they are not actually moving).

We can see an example of dysmorphopsia illustrated in the Dalí soft watches.

According to perceptual integration

This quality refers to the union or separation of the stimulus. Thus, when the stimulus is perceived fragmented or separated, we speak of a perceptual split. On the other hand, when we perceive it merged with another, we speak of an agglutination. They are rare anomalies that sometimes appear in organic states and in schizophrenia.

Perceptual split

In perceptual splits we perceive that The objects are separated from each other, when in reality they remain united. If the separation occurs in the form of the object, then we speak of morpholysis; On the other hand, if it occurs between a color and a shape (perceiving that the color is separated from the object, for example), we speak of metachromia.

An example of perceptual splitting would be seeing the hands of the clock separated from the numbers.

Agglutination

Perceptual distortions that involve agglutination are called synesthesias. Someone with synesthesia involuntarily experiences the activation of an additional sensory or cognitive pathway in response to specific stimuli. An example would be perceiving colors when listening to music.

Other perceptual distortions: illusions

Optical illusions are also perceptual distortions. In this case, these are anomalies in the structuring of ambiguous stimuli; In other words, it is an illusion, a mistaken perception of a specific object.

There are two kinds of illusions: pareidolias (when a vague and random stimulus, for example an image, is mistakenly perceived as a recognizable shape) and the sense of presence (feeling that someone is physically close to us, when in reality they are not). it is).

Examples of illusions would be: the faces we see drawn on a bonfire or having the feeling of not being alone when we really are.

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