Auditory or visual stimuli that have no basis in reality are called what?

Auditory or visual stimuli that have no basis in reality are called what?

• A. Delusions
• B. Illusions
• C. Perceptions
• D. Hallucinations

Answer: (D)

Hallucinations are sensory experiences—such as hearing voices or seeing things—that occur without any actual external stimulus. They differ from delusions, which are fixed false beliefs, and from illusions, which are misperceptions of real external stimuli. Perceptions is a broad term for sensing and interpreting stimuli, not specifically describing experiences without a real source. So the phrase “auditory or visual stimuli that have no basis in reality” fits hallucinations because it describes experiences not grounded in real input.

Hallucinations are sensory experiences—such as hearing voices or seeing things—that occur without any actual external stimulus. They differ from delusions, which are fixed false beliefs, and from illusions, which are misperceptions of real external stimuli. Perceptions is a broad term for sensing and interpreting stimuli, not specifically describing experiences without a real source. So the phrase “auditory or visual stimuli that have no basis in reality” fits hallucinations because it describes experiences not grounded in real input.