Avoiding false negatives: are some auditory hallucinations an evolved design flaw?
BACKGROUND
This paper draws on cognitive psychology research and clinical observation to propose a model for the formation of auditory hallucinations that are located externally, and experienced in noisy environments.


METHODS
This model highlights a series of cognitive processes that may make an individual prone to detecting false positives, i.e. believing they have heard something that is absent. A case study is used to illustrate the model.


RESULTS
It is suggested that the false positives may be a by-product of a perceptual system that has evolved to reduce false negatives in conditions of threat. The term hypervigilance hallucination is proposed for this type of experience.


CONCLUSIONS
The clinical implications of the model are discussed.
Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust, UK. guy.dodgson@ntw.nhs.uk
Guy
G
Dodgson
Sue
S
Gordon
D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001143:Arousal; D001288:Attention; D005075:Biological Evolution; D015928:Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; D003469:Culture; D003657:Decision Making; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007389:Internal-External Control; D008016:Life Change Events; D008297:Male; D010469:Perceptual Distortion; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012752:Shame; D017603:Signal Detection, Psychological; D012931:Social Environment; D012938:Social Perception; D055815:Young Adult