Comparison of Phantoms and Atavistic Body Schema Experiences in a Schizophrenic: A Contribution to the Study of Hallucinations

Abstract

Attention is drawn to a neglected type of phantom experience, in which phantom movements are added to the experience of the body schema without an associated phantom body part. Comparison of such phantom movements in an adult schizophrenic with phantoms of body parts reveals atavistic-regressive features in both phenomena. The phantom head-face movements of this schizophrenic adult permit a structural analogy to the rooting reflex as well as to other rotation reflexes. Phantom limbs may assume phylogenetically old forms too. Such atavistic features are apparently based on regressively reactivated phylogenetically inborn patterns of experiences, which are at least beyond those of normal infancy. A similar reactivation of atavistic patterns may occur in other types of hallucinations too.