By 
Elizabeth Cox
 | 
TED-Ed Original

What causes hallucinations?

A condition called Charles Bonnet Syndrome can cause blind patients to hallucinate scenes in vivid color. fMRI studies show that these hallucinations activate the same brain areas as sight — areas that are not activated by imagination. Other hallucinations also involve the same brain areas as real sensory experiences. What's going on? Elizabeth Cox details the science of hallucinations. [TED-Ed Animation by Nerdo].

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