Mystic and Schizophreniform States and the Experience of Depth

Mystic experiences have been classically associated with mountainous or desert places. The experiences of a hypnotized and a simulating subject are compared under suggestions which enhance and eliminate perceived depth, increase and decrease visual clarity, and under control conditions. These are in turn contrastedwith the responses of a previously reported subject under these same conditions. Mystic experience seems associatedwith increased depth suggestions, schizophreniform experience with no depth. These effects are not produced by altering visual clarity. Mystic and schizophrenic states may be opposite to one another. The interaction of objects in the environment with space seems crucial in producing either.