I have recently found this simple but versatile fractal generating software, and, along with it, an unexpected perceptual experience.
(Fraqtive)

http://fraqtive.mimec.org/

After using this software for a bit to create different fractal images, there is a large window of time afterwards within which a layer of my perception that would normally be blank forms fractal images that are both similar to and distinct from what is possible to see in this program. They do not overlay my vision but are a few layers back and are not distracting.

There are a number of nervous system areas that involve recreating and allowing perception of detailed visual environments. This specific software is very mathy and the output is both exceptionally beautiful as well as fairly direct in appearing to come from a "formula".

These brain/perceptual consciousness systems that are becoming active in recreating these complex images must have at least some overlap with those which allow people to experience all of the complex imagery of hyperspace including experiences of fractal shapes.

Something about this very strictly numbers/maths-based software seems to have done what other more freely formed fractal artwork has not, in activating a layer of perception and keeping it working for several hours.
There is something about the complexity of these images that seems to wake up the perceptual areas. I am willing to say that endogenous DMT at the very least is potentially involved, and, even if not, whatever this phenomenon is may also be a healthy and unique way of exploring life.
I will try to add more information in the upcoming days.

The whole idea of 'endogenous DMT' playing some role of perception/consciousness/dreaming/whatever is unsubstantiated. We have no idea what DMT is doing in the brain or what factors cause it's synthesis/release, or if it plays a role at all and isn't just biochemical white-noise.

That said, I know what you're talking about: I've always thought it had to do with some kind of residual stimulation, or echo-effect, sort of like how if you spend the day on a boat, you might still have 'sea legs' after getting off, or experience the up-and-down rocking as you try and fall asleep.

Blessings
~ND

Yes The connection with DMT is mentioned especially to receive responses from all perspectives; thank you for yours especially due to how clarifying it is!

I have found some summary information about a process that may be involved in these phenomena that has been scientifically validated.

``Retinotopy is the mapping of visual input from the retina to neurons, particularly those neurons within the visual stream. For clarity, 'retinotopy' can be replaced with 'retinal mapping', and 'retinotopic' with 'retinally mapped'.

In many locations within the brain, adjacent neurons have receptive fields that include slightly different, but overlapping portions of the visual field. The position of the center of these receptive fields forms an orderly sampling mosaic that covers a portion of the visual field. Because of this orderly arrangement, which emerges from the spatial specificity of connections between neurons in different parts of the visual system, cells in each structure can be seen as contributing to a map of the visual field (also called a retinotopic map, or a visuotopic map).

Those visual areas of the brainstem and cortex that perform the first steps of processing the retinal image tend to be organized according to very precise retinotopic maps.``

You might be interested in this paper.

"Geometric visual hallucinations are seen by many observers after taking hal- lucinogens such as LSD, cannabis, mescaline or psilocybin, on viewing bright flickering lights, on waking up or falling asleep, in “near death” experiences, and in many other syndromes. Klu ̈ver organized the images into four groups called “form constants”: (1) tunnels and funnels, (2) spirals, (3) lattices, in- cluding honeycombs and triangles, and (4) cobwebs. In general the images do not move with the eyes. We interpret this to mean that they are generated in the brain. Here we present a theory of their origin in visual cortex (area V1), based on the assumption that the form of the retino–cortical map and the architecture of V1 determine their geometry. We model V1 as the continuum limit of a lattice of interconnected hypercolumns, each of which itself comprises a number of interconnected iso-orientation columns. Based on anatomical evi- dence we assume that the lateral connectivity between hypercolumns exhibits symmetries rendering it invariant under the action of the Euclidean group E(2), composed of reflections and translations in the plane, and a (novel) shift–twist action. Using this symmetry, we show that the various patterns of activity that spontaneously emerge when V1’s spatially uniform resting state becomes unstable, correspond to the form constants when transformed to the visual field using the retino–cortical map. The results are sensitive to the detailed spec- ification of the lateral connectivity and suggest that the cortical mechanisms which generate geometric visual hallucinations are closely related to those used to process edges, contours, textures and surfaces."

Very cool software, trncefigurate_aomn, thanks for sharing! It's too bad it doesn't let you enter more complicated iterative functions though. Still, very cool and I'll have fun with this for awhile.

I've noticed that ever since I've used psychedelics my mind has strongly associated Julia sets and Mandelbrot sets with the psychedelic experience, particularly LSD because of the nature of the visuals and headspace. Seeing those infinite intricate details and brilliant colors brings back a bit of that feeling of being in that space. That could be consistent with your idea of some overlap in brain activity between viewing real fractal images and experiencing psychedelic visuals.

Nathanial.Dread, I remember reading that paper a few years ago and it was very interesting. I had forgotten about it until you posted that. Good find. I'll have to look it over again when I have some time.

I am very very interested and pleased by this paper in fact.


Thank you! This provides so much information about what has been happening. It seems like my experience with the fractal images may be from requiring ``those used to process edges, contours, textures and surfaces`` to process edges, contours, textures, and surfaces that are all produced by the Julia set fractal formula, in multiple arrangements.

The ways that the neurons communicate to process the signals must, just like you are saying about the boat-on-water processing remaining after going on shore, continue to cycle, allowing novel fractal arrangements to appear.

It seems then to be actual computer software that produces safe "psychedelic" images both on screen and in essence 'teaches' or imprints the fractal proportions into the brain regions how to create the images for a time.