SCItations

I would guess most of you don’t spend much time with your eyes closed for the sole purpose of looking at the backs of your eyelids. I don't either. In fact, the only reason this topic is on my mind at all is because recently I have been treating some intermittent eye-itchiness by applying warm compresses to my closed lids. This requires me to spend several minutes with my eyes shut with nothing to do but watch the backs of my eyelids. How pleasantly surprised I was to find that there is ample entertainment back there to keep me from either going crazy or falling asleep. What I discovered while reclining with a hot towel on my face were phosphenes: brilliant patterns of light, pulsing and evolving with intricate motion and color, intensified by the application of  pressure on my covered lids. You've probably seen phosphenes before, perhaps while rubbing your weary eyes or while dosing off in a pitch dark room, but have you ever purposely tried to evoke