WebMD
Font Size

Hallucination

A hallucination is a perception of something that is not really there. A hallucination can involve any of the senses: hearing, sight, smell, taste, or touch.

The most common hallucinations are seeing (visual) and hearing (auditory) things. For example, the person may hear voices or see an object that other people do not see.

Other types of hallucinations include tasting (gustatory), smelling (olfactory), or feeling (tactile) something that is not there.

Treatment for hallucinations depends on the cause.

ByHealthwise Staff
Primary Medical ReviewerKathleen Romito, MD - Family Medicine
Specialist Medical ReviewerMiklos Ferenc Losonczy, MD, PhD - Psychiatry
Last RevisedAugust 19, 2010

WebMD Medical Reference from Healthwise

Last Updated: August 19, 2010
This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.