Sense Perception: Real life examples
VISUAL SENSE
The visual sense is the sense where most questions are raised, for example when we see illusions, typically because there are more than one interpretation. The picture to the left shows us how our brain our can be tricked. The picture has two aspects to it, but if you are not told that there is two possible ways of perceiving the image, then you will most likely only see one of the aspects. It is only when you are told what the other picture is, then you will no longer be able to ignore it, and it may even become the dominant image.
The visual sense is the sense where most questions are raised, for example when we see illusions, typically because there are more than one interpretation. The picture to the left shows us how our brain our can be tricked. The picture has two aspects to it, but if you are not told that there is two possible ways of perceiving the image, then you will most likely only see one of the aspects. It is only when you are told what the other picture is, then you will no longer be able to ignore it, and it may even become the dominant image.
TEDTalks is a daily video podcast of the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world's leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes. Beau Lotto's color games puzzle your vision, but they also spotlight what you can't normally see: how your brain works. This fun, first-hand look at your own versatile sense of sight reveals how evolution tints your perception of what's really out there.
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AUDITORY SENSE
The audio above shows how are our brain reacts to different sound. Our brain perceives sounds as specific words, as it is trying to make sense of the sound. People will hear different things depending on previous experiences and what may be on their mind at the time they hear the sound. The second illusion in the audio clip, are tones separated by octaves, which creates an effect of a descending tone, that really goes nowhere but stays at the same level. The examples illustrate how our brain works and how it can be triggered; as it is constantly trying to find a way of perceiving things that is not suppose to be there.
GUSTATORY SENSE
Our brains actively interpret the data we receive through our sense perception. The sense of taste along with the sense of smell determines the flavour of foods or other substances. There are five basic terms we use in order to determine a taste: sweetness, sourness, saltiness, bitterness and umami. Taste buds are able to detect taste by interacting with the molecules and ions and the connection we make with past experiences and qualia. Our tongue is split into sections where the different taste-buds can taste different flavours. Inside out taste-buds are receptors that react with the chemicals from the food we eat and the drinks we drinks. [1] Food gets broken down into molecules in our mouth. These molecules stimulate special sensory cells in the mouth and throat and send messages through three main specialized taste nerves to the brain, where these tastes are identified. Damage to these nerves can alter our sense perception.
Our brains actively interpret the data we receive through our sense perception. The sense of taste along with the sense of smell determines the flavour of foods or other substances. There are five basic terms we use in order to determine a taste: sweetness, sourness, saltiness, bitterness and umami. Taste buds are able to detect taste by interacting with the molecules and ions and the connection we make with past experiences and qualia. Our tongue is split into sections where the different taste-buds can taste different flavours. Inside out taste-buds are receptors that react with the chemicals from the food we eat and the drinks we drinks. [1] Food gets broken down into molecules in our mouth. These molecules stimulate special sensory cells in the mouth and throat and send messages through three main specialized taste nerves to the brain, where these tastes are identified. Damage to these nerves can alter our sense perception.
OLFACTORY SENSE
The olfactory sense, or the sense of smell, is the method in which the human body perceives its environment around it through its scent. Our sense of smell is substantially more sensitive than any of our other senses, and its ability to recognise scents is immediate. The mind relies on this recognition ability of our olfactory sense in order to recall memories. When dealing with a familiar scent, the brain immediately associates the scent with a past experience. Therefore, a person’s qualia of a particular scent is largely dependant on the person’s memories, as a person could associate a particular scent as pleasant while another person could associate the same scent as unpleasant. There are a lot of people who report problems with their sense of smell, about one to two percent of North Americans. This is more common in men than women, and more problems occur with the sense of smell as age increases, and in one study, nearly one-quarter of men ages 60–69 had a smell disorder, while about 11 percent of women in that age range reported a problem.
The olfactory sense, or the sense of smell, is the method in which the human body perceives its environment around it through its scent. Our sense of smell is substantially more sensitive than any of our other senses, and its ability to recognise scents is immediate. The mind relies on this recognition ability of our olfactory sense in order to recall memories. When dealing with a familiar scent, the brain immediately associates the scent with a past experience. Therefore, a person’s qualia of a particular scent is largely dependant on the person’s memories, as a person could associate a particular scent as pleasant while another person could associate the same scent as unpleasant. There are a lot of people who report problems with their sense of smell, about one to two percent of North Americans. This is more common in men than women, and more problems occur with the sense of smell as age increases, and in one study, nearly one-quarter of men ages 60–69 had a smell disorder, while about 11 percent of women in that age range reported a problem.
CUTANEOUS SENSE
The sense of touch involves 3 different types of receptors. The basket cell, the Pacinian corpuscle and the free nerve ending. The basket cell consists of neural fibres wrapped around the base of a hair cell. The Pacinian corpuscle senses physical pressure to the skin in areas that are hairless. The Free nerve ending is simply a nerve fibre in the skin, it is sensitive to any kind of distortion such as pressure or tissue damage. Basket cells and Pacinian corpuscles are pressure receptors. Free nerve endings are pressure receptors and also temperature receptors. Pressure and temperature are the basic ingredients of the cutaneous sense [2]. Our cutaneous sense have to do with our reflexes and the way we respond to factors such as temperatures. For example, If you were to touch something burning hot your reflexes will retract your hand from the surface.
The sense of touch involves 3 different types of receptors. The basket cell, the Pacinian corpuscle and the free nerve ending. The basket cell consists of neural fibres wrapped around the base of a hair cell. The Pacinian corpuscle senses physical pressure to the skin in areas that are hairless. The Free nerve ending is simply a nerve fibre in the skin, it is sensitive to any kind of distortion such as pressure or tissue damage. Basket cells and Pacinian corpuscles are pressure receptors. Free nerve endings are pressure receptors and also temperature receptors. Pressure and temperature are the basic ingredients of the cutaneous sense [2]. Our cutaneous sense have to do with our reflexes and the way we respond to factors such as temperatures. For example, If you were to touch something burning hot your reflexes will retract your hand from the surface.
Many people suffer from taste and smell disorders, which has a huge affect on the people. This can be explored more in the link to the right.
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