The Collaborative International Dictionary
Phosphene \Phos"phene\, n. [Gr. ? light + ? to show.] (Physiol.) A luminous impression produced through excitation of the retina by some cause other than the impingement upon it of rays of light, as by pressure upon the eyeball when the lids are closed. Cf. After-image.
Wiktionary
n. A sensation of lights caused by mechanical or electrical (rather than optical) stimulation of the retina.
Wikipedia
A phosphene is a phenomenon characterized by the experience of seeing light without light actually entering the eye. The word phosphene comes from the Greek words phos (light) and phainein (to show). Phosphenes that are induced by movement or sound are often associated with optic neuritis.
Phosphenes can be directly induced by mechanical, electrical, or magnetic stimulation of the retina or visual cortex as well as by random firing of cells in the visual system. Phosphenes have also been reported by meditators (commonly called nimitta), people who go for long periods without visual stimulation (also known as the prisoner's cinema), or those who are using psychedelic drugs.
Usage examples of "phosphene".
The patient is instructed not to move his eyes to look directly at the phosphene patterns that are generated during mapping, as eye movement will skew the results, making it necessary to repeat the stimulation sequence.
Watch had resembled the aura of a migraine: a sickening phosphene dance which seemed to cast every individual mote of reality into chaos.
Their face shields seemed to be directed at the phosphene kaleic scope of the POV screen, but he had no way to know for sure.
Then, if chance favors, the simple laboratory technique for determining codon assignments, the leverage so agonizingly close that he can close his eyes and see it in the phosphene tracers on his lids.
So it was, I thought, with my eyes and the small black-and-white beast they claimed to see: a derangement of phosphene patterns, cross-tied with childhood memories and snatches of linguistics courses ten years past.
It remained out of sight, teasing me like the first phosphene hints of a migraine.
Faint phosphene speckles swam through the eddies and peaks, weaving in and out of the thicker ammonia-laden braids, their light ebbing and kindling in hesitant patterns.
The blade came alive, radiating a spectral yellow light that gave his face a phosphene hue.
These test subjects all reported that they saw bright flashes of light called phosphenes when electrically stimulated.
At this point, the presence of phosphenes is more important than their placement in the visual field.
Jens admits that the artificial phosphenes do not create highly defined shapes, but it is possible to identify objects and their spatial orientation.
Normann claims that penetrating arrays require less electricity and will allow individual neurons to be stimulated, and could result in smaller and more closely focused phosphenes, creating an image with higher resolution.
Extent Of The Region Of Occipital Cortex That When Stimulated Gives Phosphenes Fixed In The Visual Field.
The heavy cloud filled her sight like dusk, swirled like phosphenes before her: darkness seeped into her eyes as if her life and blood were oozing away.
This time when the Waynhim spoke, she heard a low spatter of sound like the phosphenes which lingered in her vision, complicating the shadows.