Well said. It's the "impression" of things being farther or closer, but not the "raw image" we see. When I have this, the size of the objects on my retina are constant: they are not taking larger or smaller proportion of my visual field. The only thing that is affected is the "feeling" of things being farther or closer.
Thus, as a M.Phil. in psychology, this is my assumption what happens during this episode:
When you are exhausted or relaxed or you have a fever, sometimes the dorsal visual stream towards the parietal lobe gets unsynchronized, that is, the neurons aren't firing in concert. While the the ventral path codes the what the object is and its action is mediated by conscious thinking, the dorsal path codes the distance and the location of an object in 3D space and its function is mainly automatic. If the dorsal path gets interrupted, it may become difficult to assess the distances or sizes of objects, even though our conscious perception of the image remains constant (no visual illusions or vertigo). The feeling of "oscillating distance" perhaps indicate that at the conscious level the information isn't integrated properly by the brain. Thus, we experience the sizes and distances as contradictory.
Déjà vu is a very similar phenomenon. It's caused by unsynchronized neuronal information, but instead of affecting spatial proportions, Déjà vu causes temporal confusion: here, you get a feeling you have already lived this moment.
This is just speculation. The true specific location behind the episode may lay even in the frontal lobe, or more likely, the activity is diffused around the brain. Anyway, I hope this helps to understand better what sort information (sensory vs. perceptional) is affected by this phenomenon.
Thus, as a M.Phil. in psychology, this is my assumption what happens during this episode:
When you are exhausted or relaxed or you have a fever, sometimes the dorsal visual stream towards the parietal lobe gets unsynchronized, that is, the neurons aren't firing in concert. While the the ventral path codes the what the object is and its action is mediated by conscious thinking, the dorsal path codes the distance and the location of an object in 3D space and its function is mainly automatic. If the dorsal path gets interrupted, it may become difficult to assess the distances or sizes of objects, even though our conscious perception of the image remains constant (no visual illusions or vertigo). The feeling of "oscillating distance" perhaps indicate that at the conscious level the information isn't integrated properly by the brain. Thus, we experience the sizes and distances as contradictory.
Déjà vu is a very similar phenomenon. It's caused by unsynchronized neuronal information, but instead of affecting spatial proportions, Déjà vu causes temporal confusion: here, you get a feeling you have already lived this moment.
This is just speculation. The true specific location behind the episode may lay even in the frontal lobe, or more likely, the activity is diffused around the brain. Anyway, I hope this helps to understand better what sort information (sensory vs. perceptional) is affected by this phenomenon.
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I know this doesn't help you too much, but I have also had the similar thing happen to me, It started when I was younger, it always seemed to happen when I had nightmares and my mom had to get me out of bed, holding me, and walk around with me. Then, and still now, I call it "The Far Away Thing" because I don't know how else to explain it, other than everything just seemed farther away than what it seemed; like my depth perseption was off....
I'm 23 now and I get it randomly about once every couple months. I don't know what it is from.
Since I was 13-14, I've had constant migrants, I've had MRIs, X-Rays, and CAT scans and more eye exams than I can count.
Everything has came back "normal"... Whatever normal is. But I still don't understand what is going on. And most of the time I feel uncomfortable talking about it to my loved ones because I think they will think I'm "crazy."
I'm sure this doesn't help you much other than knowing that other people are going through the similar things. I hope there is some kind of answer for all of us.
I'm 23 now and I get it randomly about once every couple months. I don't know what it is from.
Since I was 13-14, I've had constant migrants, I've had MRIs, X-Rays, and CAT scans and more eye exams than I can count.
Everything has came back "normal"... Whatever normal is. But I still don't understand what is going on. And most of the time I feel uncomfortable talking about it to my loved ones because I think they will think I'm "crazy."
I'm sure this doesn't help you much other than knowing that other people are going through the similar things. I hope there is some kind of answer for all of us.
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I think that's what I used to call it..."the far away thing"..I tried to tell my Mum about it when I was a kid, but she pretty much brushed it off. In my case, it only happened when I was tired. I had a friend over the other night and she started having seizures (she is not a known epileptic). Before the second one, she said that everything looked far away. Maybe there is some truth to the fact that they might be small seizures. I haven't had one since I was about 6....50 years ago, but I remember it vividly.
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Have you found anything out? My 6 year old has been waking up terrified because things are really big, or very far away. It's beginning to concern me.
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ive been having this since forever and I thought that I could possibly be the only one, last night it happened and I started to shake and I couldn't go to sleep everything seemed so tiny and it distracted me from sleeping, at least now I know I'm not the only one who suffers from this.
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This used to happen to me all the time when I was much younger. Recently I have similar disturbances with my vision about two or three times a year. It only lasts 20 minutes or so but while it's happening I am unable to walk around or perform tasks for fear of hurting myself by stumbling or waking into something. Just be relieved that you are not alone. Nothing can be done about it except rest and wait for it to pass for me. Good luck with it.
Steve
Steve
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I've read where it is a symptom of a brain tumor, which freaks me out! My 4 year old has said that something looks really far away about 3 or 4 times this week. Is the brain tumor part of this rare or should I have her checked?
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I used to get it quite often when I was around the same age. I think I would see the doctor about it and maybe get some idea as to why it is happening. I have never heard of it being a symptom of a brain tumour. :)
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Something similar always happens with me..Iam still 16 years old...but this has happened many times..
I feel iam a tiny fellow in the a room everything running in a slow motion and everything is far away..though it doesnt feel horror..but I start sweating and I don't get sleep...and I fell AFRAID..so much..I have been keep on saying my parents but they ignore...thanks to you I thought only iam the one who has the problem....
For this problem..firstly when this occurs..you must wake up and get into a place of light...and then observe and get adjusted...your view gets back to normal..then try to distract your mind..like watching T.V or use cell phone...and then try to sleep with those pictures in your mind..and don't think about that...you will get good sleep...Trust me this will help
I feel iam a tiny fellow in the a room everything running in a slow motion and everything is far away..though it doesnt feel horror..but I start sweating and I don't get sleep...and I fell AFRAID..so much..I have been keep on saying my parents but they ignore...thanks to you I thought only iam the one who has the problem....
For this problem..firstly when this occurs..you must wake up and get into a place of light...and then observe and get adjusted...your view gets back to normal..then try to distract your mind..like watching T.V or use cell phone...and then try to sleep with those pictures in your mind..and don't think about that...you will get good sleep...Trust me this will help
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I noticed your comment and had t reply. I am 20 yo and i have been experiencing these exact symptoms from a VERY young age. Still no answers from doctors as to what it is.
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I had this problem as a child. My poor mom would sit up with me during the night telling me to close my eyes, but the darkness was far away too. It is real and scary. Just support your child. I outgrew it, thank goodness.
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i am 32.i experienced this during my childhood. it happened randomly every few weeks or few months. it did not scare me. it usually used to happen late in the evening or at night while im with my parents watching tv and feeling sleepy. everything looks small and far. maybe half the size. i would also know that it is active even when my eyes were closed. my father took me to a doctor who he didnt know what it was from. it happened very rarely during my teens then it stopped as an adult. i wasnt using mobiles or computers those days. im not sure if the tv has anything to do with it. i still want to know what it means
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I have this problem too but it happens 1 or 2 times a year........ it happens when I am very sick..... I feel like everything is getting smaller..... even if I close my eyes it feels the same ......... The walls,clock everything seems to look smaller than usual....... It lasts for a couple of minutes and then goes..... is this dangerous???????
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