Definition of Hallucination

Hallucination: A profound distortion in a person's perception of reality, typically accompanied by a powerful sense of reality. An hallucination may be a sensory experience in which a person can see, hear, smell, taste, or feel something that is not there.

The types of hallucinations include:

• An auditory hallucination is an hallucination involving the sense of hearing. Called also paracusia and paracusis.
• A gustatory hallucination is an hallucination involving the sense of taste.
• A hypnagogic hallucination is a vivid dreamlike hallucination at the onset of sleep.
• Hypnopompic hallucination is a vivid dreamlike hallucination on awakening.
• Kinesthetic hallucination is an hallucination involving the sense of bodily movement.
• Lilliputian hallucination is an hallucination in which things, people, or animals seem smaller than they would be in reality.
• Olfactory hallucination is an hallucination involving the sense of smell.
• Somatic hallucination is an hallucination involving the perception of a physical experience occurring with the body.
• Tactile hallucination is an hallucination involving the sense of touch.
• Visual hallucination is an hallucination involving the sense of sight.

Source: MedTerms™ Medical Dictionary
http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=24171
Last Editorial Review: 6/14/2012