How We Perceive the World Around Us
Choose ONE option below for either diminishing your vision or hearing with the goal of becoming more conscious of the relationship between sensation and perception.
Option 1: Vision
Spend between 15 to 30 minutes “observing” without using your vision. Rely on your hearing, smell, touch or taste (if appropriate) to navigate your environment. During this time try to perform several different tasks that you would normally, such as picking up an object, or if you’re at home try walking to the next room, all while not using your vision. To impair your vision, you can simply close your eyes or wrap a scarf to cover your eyes.
After your observation time is over, answer the following questions in 2-3 pages.
What are the basic processes underlying the sense of vision?
During the activity, what other senses were you using and how did you use them to accomplish your tasks to perceive the world around you?
What information did you pick up on that you may have ignored if you were using your sense of vision?
Define habituation and sensory adaptation. Provide examples from your observation time of habituation and/or sensory adaptation to support your response.
While this activity was only for a short amount of time, describe how your perception might change if one of your senses was permanently lost.
Option 2: Hearing
Spend between from 15- 30 minutes “observing” without using your hearing. Rely on your sight, smell, touch or taste (if appropriate). You can use earplugs or noise cancelling headphones (if you have them) to aid in diminishing your hearing. During this time try to perform several different tasks that you would normally, such as watching television (muted), or walking outside all while not using your hearing.
After your observation time is over, answer the following questions in 2-3 pages.
Briefly describe how sound travels through the ear to the auditory nerve.
During the activity, what other senses were you using and how did you use them to accomplish your tasks to perceive the world around you?
What information did you pick up on that you may have ignored if you were using your sense of hearing?
Define habituation and sensory adaptation. Provide examples from your observation time of habituation and/or sensory adaptation to support your response.
While this activity was only for a short amount of time, describe how your perception might change if one of your senses was permanently lost.
