He observed one case in the right frontoparietal astrocytoma, and reported on several cases of autoscopy associated with right and left hemisphere damage due to shell injury. Many famous poets and writers have described autoscopy, sometimes based on their own experiences, like the German poet Goethe. While out in the woods, he thought he recognized himself in someone coming toward him. He perceived himself not through his real, physical eyes, but through the eyes of his soul. This factor supports the idea that an extreme narcissism is a specific psychogenic factor here.
Patients see themselves either in their contemporary aspect or sometimes older or younger.
When preparing this case history in 1985, I myself had a dream that I entered a restaurant and saw myself sitting at the bar. I realized in the dream that this was an autoscopy. I approached my double and tried to put my hand through him to verify his physicality. The person usually retains a certain detached insight into the unreality of the experience and reacts with bewilderment and often with sadness. In schizophrenics, the reaction is one of indifference.