A ‘Scene-Change Phenomenon’ in Externalized Imagery

Abstract

Reported here is another apparent constructional characteristic of the visual—imagery process. It is becoming established that dream imagery has to operate within certain limitations. The new effect shows that, at least in some cases, pictures immediately before and after a drastic scene—change in waking imagery are pictorially similar in shapes and colours, yet totally different in setting. The effect was originally discovered by the author in ‘hypnotic’ dreams, but it later transpired that these subjects simply had very good imagery and that the effects could be produced without the notion of ‘hypnosis.’ Since it seems likely that the same imaging apparatus is employed in waking imagery and dreams, the effect may also be universally observable in lucid dreams. A study is to be made in this area, but colleagues are requested to seek similar information from lucid dream subjects while they are still naive. Using the unique ability within the lucid dream to manipulate the course of events, and carefully observe what transpires, many such valuable insights into the dream process are bound to be revealed.