An inquiry into eidetic imagery with particular reference to visual hallucinations.

This inquiry is an attempt(1) to obtain experimental evidence concerning the nature of eidetic imagery in alcoholic subjects with histories of visual hallucinations, and (2) to determine the relationship between eidetic and hallucinatory phenomena. A group of 40 alcoholics (20 experimental and 20 control) were submitted to fixating and nonfixating periods on homogeneous and heterogeneous stimuli. The results were used to compare the existing differences between the 2 groups. 1. Eidetic images were reported by 3 subjects in the experimental group and none in the control group. 2. The after-images elicited by a 20-second fixated exposure of the homogeneous stimulus, reported by both experimental and control subjects, did not possess any significant qualitative or quantitative differences. 3. Eidetic images were reported one hour after exposure to the silhouettes by all 3 eidetic subjects but showed a decrease in mean duration and number of details. 4. The memory images of 20 control subjects were richer in ...