#palinopsia

Just published: The Institute for Psychogametous Life: A Novel Approach to Investigating Symbolic Alien Replication and Human Cognitive Response. Read the paper. Abstract

The discovery of the "Alien Botany" archive from the ill-fated Novy Mir mission has unveiled a unique and perplexing phenomenon: the apparent replication of alien botanical imagery within the human mind, manifesting as vivid palinopsia and an ideomotor compulsion to recreate these forms. This paper describes the establishment of the "Institute for Psychogametous Life (IPGL)," a novel research and public engagement facility designed to investigate this phenomenon. The IPGL employs a multi-faceted approach, combining controlled sensory environments, physiological and psychological monitoring, and public interaction to elucidate the mechanisms underlying image germination and its potential implications for understanding symbolic alien life and human cognitive susceptibility. We argue that treating the human public as active participants in this process is crucial for advancing our knowledge of this extraordinary phenomenon.

thank god i’m not who i once was

The most annoying thing is it can make drawing and reading difficult because I’ll get after-images of text and lines whenever I move my line of sight. Lining in particular does this because I’m staring closely at bold lines against a light background.

I think it’s also worth mentioning that I can’t use a dark background with bright/white text because then the after-images become horrendous as the background is what gives me after-images, so it starts to bleed over the text. This has happened for as long as I’ve had visual snow-- the bad after-images in general have, but they just seem worse lately, and more easy to come by.

I can’t tell if it’s because of anxiety (which I’ve had a lot of lately), dry eyes, my eye-related tics that put pressure on my eyes, my wacky sleep schedule, a massive combination of all of these things, or something I should be more concerned about. I have a doctor’s appointment tomorrow so I want to bring it up to my doc, but god I’m so fucking scared of vision issues that this is really ramping up my anxiety.

Me in childhood: asthma, allergies, scapular dyskinesia (due to Ehlers-Danlos), first symptoms of gastroparesis, neurocardiogenic syncope, chondromalacia patellae, hemorrhoids. Also some functional gastrointestinal syndrome that is mild enough I’ve never gotten it diagnosed (my guts just dislike me).

Me in high school: Ehlers-Danlos becomes more evident, also first evidence of vaginismus (which is due to the Ehlers-Danlos as it happens)

Me in college/university: Ehlers-Danlos becomes disabling, plus I develop Bipolar Disorder. Also hello to Narcolepsy.

Me in my technician job: Hello fibromyalgia (likely due to Ehlers-Danlos).

Me in my PhD: Hello POTS thank you (not!) for showing up in my life plz stop. Also palinopsia and migraines. Also grinding my teeth badly.

Me in postdoc #1: Gastroparesis becomes worse enough to be diagnosed. Also anaphylactoid response to some antibiotics. Also rosacea. Turns out I also have a hiatal hernia.

Me in postdoc #2: Hello there Hashimoto’s thyroiditis subsequent to a hemithyroidectomy subsequent to a benign thyroid tumor (which started in postdoc #1 but was diagnosed during postdoc #2). Gastrointestinal issues get worse (separate from gastroparesis).