title: A case of persistent visual hallucinations of faces following LSD abuse: a functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging study.
abstract: In this study, we report the case of a patient experiencing hallucinations of faces that could be reliably precipitated by looking at trees. Using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI), we found that face hallucinations were associated with increased and decreased neural activity in a number of cortical regions. Within the same fusiform face area, however, we found significant decreased and increased neural activity according to whether the patient was experiencing hallucinations or veridical perception of faces, respectively. These findings may indicate key differences in how hallucinatory and veridical perceptions lead to the same phenomenological experience of seeing faces.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychology, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada. giaria@ucalgary.ca
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iaria
authors.forename: Christopher J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Fox
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Scheel
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Stowe
authors.forename: Jason J S
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Barton
mesh_terms: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001931:Brain Mapping; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004185:Disability Evaluation; D005145:Face; D007839:Functional Laterality / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006212:Hallucinations / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006213:Hallucinogens / Q000009:adverse effects*; D006801:Humans; D008238:Lysergic Acid Diethylamide / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010775:Photic Stimulation; D011618:Psychotic Disorders / Q000150:complications; D018490:Serotonin Agents / Q000009:adverse effects; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D013995:Time; D014793:Visual Cortex / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014795:Visual Pathways / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D014150:Antipsychotic Agents; D006213:Hallucinogens; D018490:Serotonin Agents; D008238:Lysergic Acid Diethylamide