Auditory distortion

An auditory distortion is the experience of perceived alterations in how audible noises present and structure themselves. [1] [2] [3] [4]

These distortions can manifest in many styles, but commonly take the form of echoes or murmurs arise from sounds and are accompanied by fluctuating changes in speed and pitch. [4] [5] [6] This can intensify to the point where sounds are consistently followed by continuous reverberation, [7] often rendering the original sound completely unrecognizable. However, it often quickly resets to base level and starts over if the source of noise is stopped or changed.

The experience of this effect can be broken down into three distinct levels of intensity. These are described and documented below:

  1. Mild - At the lowest level of intensity, auditory distortions consist of subtle and spontaneous reverberations, echoes, and changes in the pitch of noises within the external environment. They are fleeting, low in intensity, and easy to ignore.
  2. Distinct - At this level, auditory distortions consist of more noticeable and spontaneous echo effects alongside changes in pitch attributed to noises within the external environment. They are longer, more drawn out and loud enough that they become increasingly difficult to ignore.
  3. All-encompassing - At the highest level, auditory distortions become constant and impossible to ignore. The complexity of the resulting alterations quickly renders the original sound as unintelligible.

Auditory distortions are often accompanied by other coinciding effects, such as auditory hallucinations, [6] [8] [1] auditory suppression, and auditory enhancement. [2] [4] They are most commonly induced under the influence of moderate dosages of psychedelic compounds, [10] [11] [12] such as LSD, 5-MeO-DiPT, and DMT. However, they can also occur less commonly under the influence of dissociatives, such as ketamine, [13] [14] PCP, and nitrous. [4] [5]


References

  1. [1][2]
    Carbonaro, T. M., Forster, M. J., & Gatch, M. B. (2013). Discriminative stimulus effects of N, N-diisopropyltryptamine. Psychopharmacology, 226(2), 241-246. | https://doi.org/10.1007/s00213-012-2891-x
  2. [1][2][3]
    Juszczak, G. R., & Swiergiel, A. H. (2013). Recreational use of D-lysergamide from the seeds of Argyreia nervosa, Ipomoea tricolor, Ipomoea violacea, and Ipomoea purpurea in Poland. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 45(1), 79-93. | https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2013.763570
  3. Mehta, U. M., Naveen Kumar, C., Venkatasubramanian, G., & Thirthalli, J. (2017). Multimodal sensory distortions in postpartum exacerbation of schizophrenia. Clinical schizophrenia & related psychoses, 10(4), 222-224. | https://doi.org/10.3371/CSRP.MEKU.112013
  4. [1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
    Weinel, J. (2016). Entoptic Phenomena in Audio: Categories of Psychedelic Electroacoustic Composition. Contemporary Music Review, 35(2), 202-223. | https://doi.org/10.1080/07494467.2016.1221633
  5. [1][2][3][4]
    Strassman, R. (2000). DMT: The spirit molecule: A doctor's revolutionary research into the biology of near-death and mystical experiences. Simon and Schuster. |
  6. [1][2][3][4]
    N Stanciu, C., & M Penders, T. (2016). Hallucinogen Persistent Perception Disorder Induced by New Psychoactive Substituted Phenethylamines; A Review with Illustrative Case. Current Psychiatry Reviews, 12(2), 221-223. | http://www.ingentaconnect.com/contentone/ben/cpsr/2016/00000012/00000002/art00013
  7. [1][2]
    Espiard, M. L., Lecardeur, L., Abadie, P., Halbecq, I., & Dollfus, S. (2005). Hallucinogen persisting perception disorder after psilocybin consumption: a case study. European Psychiatry, 20(5), 458-460. | https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eurpsy.2005.04.008
  8. [1][2]
    Shulgin, A. T., & Shulgin, A. Transform Press; Berkeley, CA: 1997. TIHKAL: The Continuation. |
  9. Strassman, R. J., Qualls, C. R., & Berg, L. M. (1996). Differential tolerance to biological and subjective effects of four closely spaced doses of N, N-dimethyltryptamine in humans. Biological psychiatry, 39(9), 784-795. | https://doi.org/10.1016/0006-3223(95)00200-6
  10. Meatherall, R., & Sharma, P. (2003). Foxy, a designer tryptamine hallucinogen. Journal of analytical toxicology, 27(5), 313-317. | http://citeseerx.ist.psu.edu/viewdoc/download;jsessionid=F3773EF1876BD69CAF408DA77CCBF8EF?doi=10.1.1.689.2033&rep=rep1&type=pdf
  11. Mowry, M., Mosher, M., & Briner, W. (2003). Acute physiologic and chronic histologic changes in rats and mice exposed to the unique hallucinogen salvinorin A. Journal of psychoactive drugs, 35(3), 379-382. | https://doi.org/10.1080/02791072.2003.10400021
  12. Leake, C. D. (1972). Hallucinogenic Drug Reaction—MDA. JAMA, 219(8), 1069-1069 | https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.1972.03190340073029
  13. Hillhouse, T. M., Porter, J. H., & Negus, S. S. (2014). Reply to: Rapid antidepressant effects and abuse liability of ketamine. Psychopharmacology, 231(9), 2043. | https://dx.doi.org/10.1007%2Fs00213-014-3544-z
  14. Oye, I., Paulsen, O., & Maurset, A. (1992). Effects of ketamine on sensory perception: evidence for a role of N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors. Journal of Pharmacology and Experimental Therapeutics, 260(3), 1209-1213. | https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1312163/

Tags

auditory
deliriant
distortion
effect
miscellaneous
psychedelic
sensory

Contributors

The following people contributed to the content of this article:

JosieKayleeGrahamNatalie