Sensory Perceptions - Essay Example

Sensory Perceptions Provide at least 3 reasons for believing in the accuracy or inaccuracy of sensory information  Sensory information is absorbed by the senses and is interpreted by the brain (Freberg, 2006). For instance, when the eyes senses a stimuli, it is known as a certain object as it is perceived by the mind. The senses of sight, smell, hearing, taste, and touch are the gateways of data from the environment. An individual can appreciate and know the things around him through these entryways.

Sensory information is believed to be accurate if the feedback from the senses is consistent with the environment, interpretation is logical, and is backed up by knowledge. For instance, an individual perceives that it is cold since the sky is gray and trees are being swayed by the strong wind. The interpretation that the temperature is cool is coherent with the surroundings’ state. Information is also believed to be accurate when the cause and effect add up. For example, a person believes that he heard a loud sound when he hit a drum.

Facts supported by research aids in making sensory information believable. For instance, it is reasonable to feel cold even if the weather is warm if one has fever. This is caused by the body’s signals to the brain (hypothalamus) to raise the temperature to kill unwanted foreign bodies. Since the temperature becomes lower than the set point, the hypothalamus sends the message that it feels cold. Even if the perception is not consistent with the environment, it can still be explained by medical facts. 2. Identify and describe at least 3 factors contributing to the accuracy of sensory data.

  Three factors that can affect the accuracy of sensory information are: cognition capability and information source, reliability of stimuli, and the brain’s interpretation of the stimuli (Goldstein, 2009). Firstly, the five senses serve as the receptors for data. These data are then sent to the brain via neural pathways for perception. The accuracy of both sensation and perception affects the quality of the sensory information. Secondly, the more dependable and consistent the facts observed, the more accurate the sensory perception will be.

Thirdly, the brain must be in good physical shape to be able to function properly. 3. Discuss the roles of "nature" and "nurture" with regard to the interpretation and evaluation of sensory data. Nature and nurture have always affected the existence of beings (Myers, 2009). These two forces also have significance in the assessment of sensory data. The human body’s development is affected by the elements around it like time, temperature, and food. Inherited traits such as physical attributes, allergies, and diseases are likewise essential in determining one’s existence.

Considered under nature are some atypical conditions of the nervous system that are not proven to be inherited like different kinds of syndromes and disorders. Concerning nurture, people who are often exposed to a warm environment are more likely to develop a stronger resistance to heat and a lesser resistance to cold. Therefore, a person from a tropical country like Hawaii may perceive Alaska colder than someone from a similarly cold place like Greenland. Another example is how time ages the body’s functioning.

Old people’s senses are less accurate due to the degeneration of cells. On the other hand, a young adult’s senses are sharper. Thus, is more likely to have accurate sensory information. Regarding nature, someone who has inherited his father’s rhinitis perceives dust and pollens as threatening whereas a person who has not inherited any allergy does not mind being in a garden or stock room. Similarly, a child with Asperger’s syndrome which is a pervasive developmental disorder may have hypersensitivity to noise due to his condition.

On the contrary, a child with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder may usually thrive in noise. Reference ListGoldstein, E. (2009). Sensation and perception. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth. Freberg, L. (2006). Discovering biological psychology. Belmont, CA: Wasdworth. Myers, D. (2009). Psychology in everyday life. New York, NY: Worth Publishers.