Entoptic perceptions of spiral waves and rare inward spirals

Abstract

This report concerns Entoptic Rotating Spiral Waves as observed and documented by the author over a period of 46 years (1962-2008). The manifestations of these state-dependent, elusive rotating spiral entities were brief, emerging only during sleep-to-waking arousal epochs (in limbo). The images were seen only with closed lids in favorable ambient lighting-here, termed the umbral view. The clusters of rotating spiral entities emerge briefly to conscious view; their angular subtenses are estimated to be between 1° and 4°, and the rotations at ten-turns per second. Epochs of these activities commonly continued for about 20 s, with longevity of each visible entity up to 4 s. 90% of all observed entities were circular and outwardly levorotary; 5% were elliptical, appearing only as horizontal (prolate) entities. Overlapping units were rare, and were chiefly elliptical. Observations of twin spirals were also rare, seen in counter rotations, each twin inwardly rotating.