phosphene

American  

[fos-feen] / ˈfɒs fin /

noun

Physiology.

1. a luminous image produced by mechanical stimulation of the retina, as by pressure applied to the eyeball by the finger when the lid is closed.

---

phosphene British  

/ ˈfɒsfiːn /

noun

1. the sensation of light caused by pressure on the eyelid of a closed eye or by other mechanical or electrical interference with the visual system

---

Etymology

Origin of phosphene

1870–75; < French phosphène, irregular < Greek phôs light (contraction of pháos ) + phaínein to show, shine

Example Sentences

Published in the Journal of Neural Engineering, 'A novel simulation paradigm utilising MRI-derived phosphene maps for cortical prosthetic vision' presents a more realistic simulation for cortical prosthetic vision.

From Science Daily • Oct. 12, 2023

Sighted participants recruited for the study were asked to test and verify the phosphene maps based on visual acuity and object recognition.

From Science Daily • Oct. 12, 2023

There’s a Riot borrows its title from Sly and the Family Stone’s 1971 masterpiece There’s a Riot Goin’ On, trading the modified American flag on its cover for a hazy phosphene.

From Slate • Mar. 16, 2018

Each participant received stimulation on the scalp near an area called the primary visual cortex until they saw a flash of light known as a phosphene.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 17, 2011

The suspicion proved correct: in fact, people without synesthesia required three times as much stimulation to reliably evoke the phosphene, the team reports online today in Current Biology.

From Science Magazine • Nov. 17, 2011