In its simplest form this approach dates back to the beginning of the twentieth century as the idea that they are due to pathological (‘irritative’) neuronal activity in the auditory cortex 6. The other main approach, the ‘neurological’ or ‘perceptual’ model, proposes that AVH are in some sense genuinely perceptual in nature. Theoretical approaches to AVH include so-called ‘cognitive’ models, which argue that they are a manifestation of non-perceptual processes, for example inner speech that fails to be labeled as internally generated 3, or memories whose vividness and/or intrusiveness leads them to be misinterpreted as perceptions 4, 5.

While the clinical features of the phenomenon are well established-AVH may be single or multiple, are often but not always derogatory, and may be experienced inside or outside the head (or both) 2−the mechanism or mechanisms underlying them remain obscure. Auditory verbal hallucinations (AVH) are a major symptom of schizophrenia, estimated to occur in around 70% of patients 1.

Auditory hallucination hearing test