Ever wondered what it’s really like to experience a psychedelic trip, without actually taking the substances? A digital artist known as Loka_vision may have just given us the closest thing to it. His recent simulation, shared widely online, vividly mirrors the color-shifting patterns, visual distortions, and intricate designs that many people report seeing when under the influence of psychedelics. The short video has caught the attention of viewers everywhere, who are amazed by how accurately it reflects the surreal, mind-bending effects of these substances.
How the simulation was made
Loka, who describes himself as passionate about exploring “the mind’s deeper dimensions,” uses CGI and audiovisual design to reproduce altered states of perception. His goal is to push the boundaries of how human consciousness can be represented visually.
One of his recent clips, shared on Instagram and viewed millions of times, has attracted thousands of comments from people familiar with psychedelic experiences. Many have praised its accuracy, with one viewer writing: “That is the most accurate visual I’ve ever seen for the hallucinations.”
Loka said the visuals were inspired by his own experiences, where he saw “indescribably complex patterns embedded in surfaces, inanimate objects breathing, moving, warping, and colours shifting and cycling through different hues and shades.” The simulation attempts to recreate those effects digitally, translating fleeting and abstract perceptions into visible form.
Reactions and broader context
While viewers have acknowledged how well the video captures the visual component of psychedelics, several noted that the full experience involves more than just what is seen. Some users described sensations of euphoria, while others recalled feelings of anxiety depending on their setting and state of mind at the time.
Health professionals caution that psychedelic substances carry psychological risks. They can cause “bad trips” characterized by panic and confusion, and may in some cases lead users to unsafe behavior. Psychedelics can also trigger latent mental health conditions and, in rare instances, cause Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD), where visual changes continue long after the drug’s effects wear off.
What science says about psychedelic vision
Research helps explain why psychedelic experiences often feature vivid and geometric imagery. A study titled “Neural Mechanisms of Psychedelic Visual Imagery,” found that psychedelics act mainly on serotonin receptors, especially those in brain regions linked to vision and mental imagery. This interaction reduces the brain’s usual filtering of sensory data and heightens reliance on internal, top-down signals, inputs from imagination, memory, and expectation. As a result, the visual cortex begins to generate its own imagery, blending external perception with internally created visuals.
An article in Quanta Magazine describes a similar process. It notes that under psychedelics, the brain attempts to interpret chaotic neural activity by imposing order based on its intrinsic wiring, producing repeating patterns such as spirals, lattices, and fractals.
The Cleveland Clinic’s 2025 overview on hallucinations further explains that psychedelics “loosen the boundaries between reality and imagination,” allowing the mind to project images even when no external visual input is present.
Together, these findings show that the vivid shapes and shifting colors reported during psychedelic experiences stem from altered communication between sensory input and top-down processing. When the balance between the two is disrupted, the brain’s visual system effectively paints its own version of reality.
How the simulation was made
Loka, who describes himself as passionate about exploring “the mind’s deeper dimensions,” uses CGI and audiovisual design to reproduce altered states of perception. His goal is to push the boundaries of how human consciousness can be represented visually.
One of his recent clips, shared on Instagram and viewed millions of times, has attracted thousands of comments from people familiar with psychedelic experiences. Many have praised its accuracy, with one viewer writing: “That is the most accurate visual I’ve ever seen for the hallucinations.”
https://www.instagram.com/p/C0cNcxBA26j/ https://www.instagram.com/p/C0cNcxBA26j/
Loka said the visuals were inspired by his own experiences, where he saw “indescribably complex patterns embedded in surfaces, inanimate objects breathing, moving, warping, and colours shifting and cycling through different hues and shades.” The simulation attempts to recreate those effects digitally, translating fleeting and abstract perceptions into visible form.
Reactions and broader context
While viewers have acknowledged how well the video captures the visual component of psychedelics, several noted that the full experience involves more than just what is seen. Some users described sensations of euphoria, while others recalled feelings of anxiety depending on their setting and state of mind at the time.
Health professionals caution that psychedelic substances carry psychological risks. They can cause “bad trips” characterized by panic and confusion, and may in some cases lead users to unsafe behavior. Psychedelics can also trigger latent mental health conditions and, in rare instances, cause Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder (HPPD), where visual changes continue long after the drug’s effects wear off.
What science says about psychedelic vision
Research helps explain why psychedelic experiences often feature vivid and geometric imagery. A study titled “Neural Mechanisms of Psychedelic Visual Imagery,” found that psychedelics act mainly on serotonin receptors, especially those in brain regions linked to vision and mental imagery. This interaction reduces the brain’s usual filtering of sensory data and heightens reliance on internal, top-down signals, inputs from imagination, memory, and expectation. As a result, the visual cortex begins to generate its own imagery, blending external perception with internally created visuals.
An article in Quanta Magazine describes a similar process. It notes that under psychedelics, the brain attempts to interpret chaotic neural activity by imposing order based on its intrinsic wiring, producing repeating patterns such as spirals, lattices, and fractals.
The Cleveland Clinic’s 2025 overview on hallucinations further explains that psychedelics “loosen the boundaries between reality and imagination,” allowing the mind to project images even when no external visual input is present.
Together, these findings show that the vivid shapes and shifting colors reported during psychedelic experiences stem from altered communication between sensory input and top-down processing. When the balance between the two is disrupted, the brain’s visual system effectively paints its own version of reality.
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