Mosaic illusion

Mosaic illusion denotes the fragmentation of the visual image into multiple pieces of varying form dimensions, interlaced as in a mosaic.

Migraine Art: Mosaic illusion. © 2007 Migraine Action Association and Boehringer Ingelheim

"It reminded me of sequences I anticipate when I have a migraine, but have never really thought about afterwards -- for instance, the movement from negative scotoma (blank patches) to 'mosaic vision' (where things look fractured and broken up)."

(ormica, Newsgroups: alt.food.waffle-house, Subject: Migraine, June 19, 1999)

"HELP! I experienced an exceedingly frightening episode. I suddenly found that I could not think and it was like my head was racing uncontrollably. Everything around me was in disarray. I did not know what on earth was happening. I thought I must have ended up in hell or somewhere! There was an increasing pressure inside my head and the pressure became so bad that it felt like my head might 'explode' if it did not stop. My vision was not quite right images did not appear to join up properly, and I just could not think properly at all. I could not believe that I was still conscious with all this going on, I thought I was going to collapse on the floor, it was as if something was pulling me down inside. I had to die, how could I still be alive it was so horrendous! Oh why couldn't I have just died. I shouted out 'Help' desperate for it to stop. I tried to walk but my legs felt like jelly, and my co-ordination was all wrong, where was I going? I sat down and found it almost impossible to talk and try to explain what was happening. It was as if all that was left was only half of my brain on the left side, the right side had completely 'malfunctioned' and was tingling, after a few minutes which felt like a lifetime my head gradually stopped racing. I may have had a headache, but it would not have been my initial main symptom."

(Michael, Neurology WebForum Homepagemaintained by the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, July 29, 1998)

"Sounds like migraine... Migraine sufferers often have quite vivid hallucinations with their headaches... It's common for this to include 'mosaic vision' where everything in view becomes tessalated like a cubist painting... It is possible to have a migraine without the headache - I have them without the headache! Get a book and read up on it, this helped me to not be so scared, but above all, find a doctor who doesn't accuse you of being nuts!"

(Anonymous, Neurology WebForum Homepagemaintained by the Department of Neurology at Massachusetts General Hospital, July 29, 1998)

"Gradually the sight is coming back near the center of view, but it's coming in 'twisted bits and pieces' (very much like a painting of Pablo Picasso!)."

(Danny Caes, EDM Discussion Group, February 12, 2003)

"Petite Migraine. I hope that last paragraph looks OK: I can hardly see it! And my tough typing is iffy. This condition has happened before and is momentary (I hope 8-). An MD friend calls it a petite migraine. I do not get headaches, but sometimes my visual system goes pixelated. I expect that for the next half-hour or so, the world will be a kaleidoscope. It's really very entertaining for a little while... like the color organs and other psychedelia of the 1960s without the prohibited pharmaceuticals. But it sure makes me alternately-enabled. Cannot read. Dare not drive. Better sit down to pee so I don't need to aim. 9-) Now, I think the 'send' button is in the upper left corner... here goes...

This page is found at http://www.smoo.com:8080/smOO/PetiteMigraine.

I found that when I need it to explain myself, I cannot see it, and when I can see it, I look elsewhere, so I'll just leave it as I first typed it."

(dsl-9-112.ipns.com, November 28, 2004)

References

Podoll K, Robinson D. Mosaic illusion as visual aura symptom in migraine. Neurol Psychiat Brain Res 2000; 8: 193-196.
Sacks OW. Migraine. Revised and expanded. University of California Press, Berkeley-Los Angeles-Oxford 1992.

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