Patterns of sensations. Types and properties of sensations

A person has an amazing ability not only to see this world, but also to feel it. Perceiving the surrounding space by sensory systems, he studies and cognizes it while scientists study human feelings, boundless and intangible. However, the ministers of science found an explanation for the sensations, all laid out on the shelves, singled out properties and species, and also discovered some patterns.

What is sensation

First, let's consider what it means to feel for a person. This is primarily a psychophysical process of reflecting the direct action of objects and phenomena of the material world on the sense organs. It is with their help that a person learns the world around him. Here such it is possible to give the concept sensations, which laws reveal to us, how by means of analyzers the person learns and establishes communication with an environment.

The analyzer is an anatomical and physiological apparatus that takes the influence of some stimuli from the outside world and transforms them into sensations. It consists of the following parts:

• Peripheral department - receptors.
• Sensitive neural pathways.
• Central Department of the Nervous System.

Next, consider the types and properties of sensations.

Types of sensations

Depending on where the receptors are located, there are the following types of sensations:

• Interoceptive. They are located inside the body in tissues and organs and react to changes occurring in them.
• Exteroceptive. Receptors are located on the surface of the body and react to external influences.
• Proprioceptive. Receptors are found in muscles and ligaments.

The objects of the external world correspond to organic sensations. They are the source of willed impulses, give birth to desires and are divided into types:

• Olfactory. The olfactory receptors are excited by gaseous substances.
• Spotting. The visual receptors are involved.
• Flavoring. Taste receptors are excited by food chemicals.
• Auditory. The receptors of the auditory analyzer are involved.
• Tactile. Tactile receptors are stimulated by tactile stimulation.

Properties of sensations

Properties that are inherent in sensations:

• Quality. Defined by the qualities of the object that causes sensation. This is one of the characteristics of perception.
• Intensity. Depends on the strength of the stimulus and the sensitivity of the receptors. The quality and intensity of sensations are closely related.
• Duration. Depends on the strength and intensity of the effect, the state of the receptors and the duration.
• Localization. Any sensations have particles of the spatial location of the stimulator.

Having considered the types and properties of sensations, let us proceed to regularities. What is the interconnection of analyzers, which determines the development of processes in the cognition and perception of the world?

Patterns of sensations

Sensations occur only at the time of changes that occur in receptors under the influence of the movements of the surrounding world, or the senses themselves.

Several regularities of sensations can be distinguished:

• Sensitivity thresholds.
• Adaptation.
• Interaction.
• Sensitization.
• Contrast.
• Synesthesia.

And now let us dwell on each of them.

Sensitivity

The sensitivity threshold is the relationship between the intensity of the sensations and the strength of the irritating factor. Not every stimulus can cause sensations, so they are divided into several types.

Thresholds of sensations:

• Lower absolute. Characterizes how sensitive the analyzer is. These are hardly noticeable sensations, which are caused by the least strength of the stimulus.
• The upper is absolute. The lower the sensitivity threshold, the higher the sensitivity. The upper absolute threshold is the strength of the stimulus, in which sensations are still preserved.
• The sensitivity threshold of discrimination. This is the minimum increase in the strength of the stimulus, in which hardly noticeable differences become visible. For example, increase or decrease the sound.

Depending on what task is facing a person, he uses certain thresholds of sensations. A physical stimulus may be above or below the threshold of sensations.

Adaptation

The device represents a change in sensitivity during the action of a single stimulus. In this case, the sensitivity thresholds will change. The patterns of sensations can not exist without this property.

So, for example, we adjust by entering gradually into cold water. Or we soar our feet, getting used to raising the temperature of the water.

High degree of adaptation in the receptors of olfactory and tactile organs. Lower in the receptors of the auditory analyzer.

Adaptation to different flavors occurs at a different speed. It can be destructive for the body adaptation to pain, but to an insignificant degree it is characteristic of the body.

For the adaptation to light and darkness, the receptors of the visual analyzer meet. Light adaptation does not require high sensitivity, which can not be said about the adaptation.

For adaptation, the ratios of the processes of excitation and inhibition in the cerebral cortex are important, where the main centers of all analyzers are located. There is such a phenomenon as a consistent mutual induction. It is worth noting that the device is conditioned reflex.

Contrast sensations and synaesthesia

If the sensations, their intensity and quality change under the influence of a preliminary or concomitant stimulus, then this can be called a contrast of sensations.

After a cold drink warm to us will seem hot. And after the sour sweetly sweet very sweet. The light also seems lighter on a black background, and on white it is darker.

This is due to the fact that a sharp cessation of the influence of the irritating factor does not cause a momentary cessation of the processes of stimulation in the receptors. If we recall the law of induction, then the process of inhibition in excited neurons arises with time, gradually. In order to restore the initial threshold of sensitivity, several phases of excitation and inhibition of the induction shift must pass.

Synaesthesia is when, as a result of the influence of one stimulus, sensations that are characteristic of another arise. So, hearing one sound, we represent a certain image. Artists create paintings by translating music into colors. But not all people have such abilities. Synesthesia shows us that all the analytic systems of the human body are interconnected.

подчеркивают зависимость и значимость анализаторских систем от их функционирования под действием раздражителей. Properties and regularities of sensations emphasize the dependence and significance of analyzer systems on their functioning under the action of stimuli.

Interaction of sensations and sensitization

Sensitivity has the property of changing. Thus, the change in the sensitivity of some receptors under the influence of others is called the interaction of sensations.

Weak sound stimuli increase the sensitivity of the visual receptors. And with a strong effect on the receptors of the auditory analyzer, the sensitivity of the eyes decreases. Weak taste flavors increase visual susceptibility. The latter is intensified by the action of certain flavors, that is, of smelling stimuli. It is also known that pain sensitivity stimulates auditory, tactile, olfactory and visual receptors.

The process of sensitization is an increase in sensitivity with the help of regular exercises, and also as a result of the interaction of analyzers.

It is known that with loss of hearing or vision, there is a compensation of sensitivity by exacerbation of other types of sensitivity.

Sensitization is possible in certain professions. You can train the sensitivity.

So, we can distinguish two ways of sensitization:

• Compensation for sensory defects.
• Requirements as a result of a specific type of activity.

Also here you can include independent work on improving the senses.

The regularity of sensations creates the necessary conditions for a full perception of the world.