How Phosphenes Reveal Inner Light

Phosphenes are the strange colors or flashes you see when you rub your eyes. These visual sensations are not caused by actual light, but by mechanical pressure stimulating your retina.

When you apply gentle pressure to your eyelids, you trigger cells in the retina that usually respond to photons. Your brain cannot distinguish between pressure and actual light, so it creates artificial images like stars or geometric patterns. These phenomena were even used by early researchers to map how the visual cortex functions. It is a fascinating reminder that your brain is constantly interpreting signals to build your perception of reality.