When the trip doesn't end

Abstract

The nature of hallucinations has puzzled and fascinated us since the dawn of human consciousness. Where they come from, what they mean, and what they portend are questions that the psychological sciences have grappled with since Esquirol coined the term in 1817. Hallucinations are the stuff of dreams, drugs and diverse influences on the mind. Today it is possible to investigate the problem of hallucinations by taking advantage of tools that Esquirol never dreamt of.