Sensory refers to nerve messages coming into the brain.
In psychology, the term "sensory" refers to the information we receive through our senses, including sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Sensory information is critical for our ability to perceive and understand the world around us. Here are some examples of how sensory information is processed and used in psychology:
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Perception: Sensory information is used to create our perception of the world. For example, visual information from our eyes is processed in the brain to create our perception of color, shape, and movement.
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Sensory Integration: Sensory information from multiple senses is integrated in the brain to create a coherent perception of the environment. For example, our brain integrates visual and auditory information to create our perception of speech.
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Sensory Processing Disorders: Some individuals may have difficulty processing sensory information, leading to sensory processing disorders. For example, individuals with autism may have difficulty processing sensory information, leading to hypersensitivity or hyposensitivity to certain sensory stimuli.
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Sensory Memory: Sensory information is briefly stored in sensory memory before being processed and encoded in long-term memory. For example, the sound of a song may be briefly stored in sensory memory before being encoded as a long-term memory.
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Sensory Modality: Sensory information can be divided into different modalities, including visual, auditory, tactile, gustatory, and olfactory. Each modality has its own unique sensory receptors and processing pathways.
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Sensory Deprivation: Depriving individuals of sensory information can have significant effects on cognition and perception. For example, individuals in solitary confinement may experience sensory deprivation, leading to hallucinations and other cognitive distortions.
Overall, the concept of sensory information is critical to our understanding of how we perceive and interact with the world around us, and how our brain processes and integrates information from different senses.