The shape constant is a recurring geometric pattern seen during hallucinations or altered states of consciousness. It was discovered by Heinrich Klüver in the 1920s while studying the effects of peyote. The prevailing constants are grouped into four categories: checkerboard, cobwebs, tunnels, and spirals. The phenomena is caused by interference in the visual cortex. It can be experienced through natural or stimulated hallucinations and has inspired psychedelic art.
A shape constant is a type of geometric pattern that a person usually sees when they are hallucinating or have entered an “altered state of consciousness.” It is often recurring. Patterns can vary widely, from spirals, wavy lines, to tunnel-like images. Some patterns may not be as diverse as those geometric images you see in a kaleidoscope. People who see a constant shape may also experience it more closely, such as being pulled towards the tunnel they are seeing.
The concept of the shape constant was first discovered in the 1920s by Heinrich Klüver, a German-American psychologist who at the time was studying the effects of chewing peyote, a cactus plant that plays a significant part in rituals of Native American tribes. He began his experiments by enlisting volunteer subjects willing to ingest peyote and documented the results. Klüver observed very similar descriptions in his subjects’ testimonies of what they see when under the influence of peyote, such as moving shapes, distorted lines, and the presence of vibrant colors. He dubbed the images as “shape constants.”
Based on his observation, Klüver grouped the prevailing shape constants into four categories: the checkerboard pattern, cobwebs, tunnels, and spirals. Under the checkerboard design, the lines usually intersect, making squares, triangles, and any criss-cross patterns. Hexagons that form a honeycomb image are also classified in this category. Images of tunnels and spirals tend to be very similar, but tunnels have a distinct center, which may contain light or just plain darkness. It is possible that a shape constant does not fit into either category, as images can vary greatly.
Many psychologists and scientists have tried to explain the phenomena of the constant form. One plausible theory is that when a person is hallucinating or having a “high,” the visual cortex, the part of the brain that processes images, experiences some “noise” or interference, causing the images to distort, creating a constant . You can use the television as an analogy: when a storm disrupts the transmission between the television antenna and the network signal, the picture becomes blurry or distorted.
A form constant can be seen and experienced not only through stimulated hallucinations, but also through natural ones, as well as other forms of psychosis and delusions. Near-death incidents can also induce visuals, as can severe migraines. Form constants have also become a source of inspiration for “psychedelic art” which uses similar elements such as vibrant colors and various repetitive shapes.
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