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Avoiding False Negatives: Are Some Auditory Hallucinations an Evolved Design Flaw?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 April 2009

Guy Dodgson  and
Sue Gordon
Guy Dodgson*
Affiliation:
Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust, UK
Sue Gordon
Affiliation:
Northumberland Tyne and Wear NHS Trust, UK
*
Reprint requests to Guy Dodgson, Greenacres Centre, Green Lane, Ashington, Northumberland NE63 8BL, UK. E-mail: guy.dodgson@ntw.nhs.uk
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Abstract

Background: This paper draws on cognitive psychology research and clinical observation to propose a model for the formation of auditory hallucinations that are located externally, and experienced in noisy environments. Method: This model highlights a series of cognitive processes that may make an individual prone to detecting false positives, i.e. believing they have heard something that is absent. A case study is used to illustrate the model. Results: It is suggested that the false positives may be a by-product of a perceptual system that has evolved to reduce false negatives in conditions of threat. The term hypervigilance hallucination is proposed for this type of experience. Conclusion: The clinical implications of the model are discussed.

Keywords

Auditory hallucinationshypervigilancecognitive psychologyevolution
Type
Research Article
Information
Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy , Volume 37 , Issue 3 , May 2009 , pp. 325 - 334
Copyright
Copyright © British Association for Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapies 2009

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