What term is used to describe a false perception of reality, which may be visual, auditory, or olfactory?

The term that describes a false perception of reality, which may be visual, auditory, or olfactory, is "hallucination." Hallucinations involve the sensory experience of perceiving something that is not actually present in the environment. For instance, a person may hear voices that do not exist, see images that aren't there, or smell odors that are not being emitted. This contrasts with delusions, which are false beliefs not based in reality, such as believing one is being persecuted when there is no evidence for this belief. Psychosis is a broader term that encompasses both hallucinations and delusions, referring to a mental state that significantly impairs the ability to discern reality. Mutism, on the other hand, refers to a lack of speech or intentional communication, which is not related to the perception of reality. Therefore, hallucination is the correct term for the false perception itself.