Sensations are experiences that allow us to perceive and understand the world around us through our senses. Our body constantly receives information through these sensations that help us interpret and make sense of our environment. In psychology, several types of sensations are distinguished, each of which fulfills a specific function in the way we process information from the world. Next, we will explore the 7 types of sensations and the information they capture.
Sight: Visual Sensation
Vision is one of the most important senses for human beings, since it allows us to perceive the light and the shapes that surround us. Through visual sensation, we capture information about the color, shape, size and distance of objects. Our eyes are capable of distinguishing thousands of tones and nuances, which allows us to perceive the world in a detailed and complex way.
Information that vision captures:
- Color: It allows us to distinguish between different wavelengths of light, creating the visual experience of color.
- Shape: It helps us recognize the silhouettes and contours of objects, allowing us to identify their structure.
- Depth: Stereoscopic vision allows us to perceive the distance and depth of objects in our visual field.
- Motion: The ability to detect movement is essential for our survival, as it helps us react to possible dangers.
Hearing: The Auditory Sensation
The ear is the sense that allows us to perceive the sounds and vibration of the environment. Through auditory sensation, we capture information about the intensity, frequency, timbre and direction of the sounds around us. Our auditory system is extremely sensitive and allows us to interpret a wide range of sound stimuli.
Information that the ear captures:
- Intensity: It allows us to distinguish between soft and loud sounds , providing us with information about the acoustic energy of the environment.
- Frequency: It helps us perceive the tones and nuances of sounds, allowing us to distinguish between low and high sounds.
- Timbre: The quality of the sound we perceive, which helps us differentiate between similar sounds but emitted by different sources.
- Direction: The ability to locate the source of a sound in space, which allows us to orient ourselves in our environment
Taste: Gust Sensation
Taste is the sense that allows us to perceive the flavors of the foods and substances we ingest. Through the taste sensation, we capture information about the sweet, salty, bitter, sour and umami of foods. Our sense of taste is closely related to our sense of smell, allowing us to enjoy a full sensory experience when eating and drinking.
Information that captures taste:
- Sweet: It allows us to identify sweet flavors, commonly associated with foods rich in sugar.
- Salty: It helps us recognize salty flavors, which are usually present in foods such as snacks and prepared meals.
- Bitter: Alerts us to possible toxic substances in food, since the bitter taste is commonly associated with poisons.
- Acid: Allows us to identify acidic flavors, such as citrus, which provide freshness and acidity to foods.
- Umami: The fifth flavor, associated with the intensity and complexity of certain foods rich in glutamate, such as parmesan cheese and mushrooms.
Smell: The Olfactory Sensation
Smell is the sense that allows us to perceive the smells of the environment. Through the olfactory sensation, we capture information about the chemical molecules present in the air we breathe. Our sense of smell is capable of discerning a wide variety of aromas and fragrances, which influences our preferences and emotional associations with certain odors.
Information captured by the sense of smell:
- Aromas: It allows us to identify the volatile substances emitted by objects and living beings in our environment, providing information about their nature.
- Fragrations: It helps us perceive pleasant or unpleasant odors, influencing our perception of the environment and our emotional responses.
- Memories: The sense of smell is closely related to memory and emotions, since certain smells can immediately evoke past memories and sensations.
Touch: Somatosensory Sensation
Touch is the sense that allows us to perceive physical sensations through the skin. Through somatosensory sensation, we capture information about the pressure, temperature, pain, and texture of the objects we touch. Our skin is equipped with specialized sensory receptors that allow us to experience a wide range of tactile sensations.
Information captured by touch:
- Pressure: Allows us to perceive the force exerted on the skin when touching an object, which helps us discriminate between different textures and consistencies.
- Temperature: It informs us about the temperature of the objects we touch, allowing us to experience sensations of heat, cold or neutrality.
- Pain: Alerts us to possible injuries or damage to the skin, activating protective responses and avoiding contact with harmful stimuli.
- Texture: Allows us to distinguish between smooth, rough, rough or soft, providing information about the quality of the objects we touch.
Kinaesthesia: The Sensation of Movement
Kinaesthesia is the sense that allows us to perceive position and the movement of our body in space. Through kinesthetic sensation, we capture information about the location of our limbs, the orientation of our body and the position changes we make. Our kinesthetic system provides us with a sense of body awareness and allows us to coordinate our movements fluidly and precisely.
Information that kinesthesia captures:
- Position: It allows us to perceive the location of our joints and limbs in relation to the rest of the body, facilitating motor control and coordination.
- Movement: It informs us about the changes in position and movements that we make in space, allowing us to adapt to different situations and environments.
- Orientation: It helps us maintain a sense of balance and stability, allowing us to maintain proper posture and avoid falls or injuries.
- Coordination: Kinesthesia allows us to coordinate our movements in a harmonious and efficient way, facilitating the execution of complex motor tasks.
Propioception: The Sensation of Body Position
Proprioception is the sense that allows us perceive the position and movement of our body in relation to the environment. Through proprioceptive sensation, we capture information about muscle tension, tissue elasticity and body posture. Our proprioceptive system provides us with a sense of stability and balance, allowing us to interact effectively with the world around us.
Information that proprioception captures:
- Muscle tension: It informs us about the degree of contraction of our muscles, allowing us to regulate the strength and resistance in our motor actions.
- Flexibility: It helps us perceive the elasticity of our tissues and joints, facilitating fluid movement and avoiding muscle injuries.
- Posture: Proprioception allows us to maintain an adequate and aligned posture, avoiding deformities or imbalances in the spine and extremities.
- Balance: It provides us with a sense of stability. and coordination, allowing us to move safely and precisely on different surfaces and environments.
In conclusion, the 7 types of sensations play a fundamental role in the way we perceive and process information in the world that surrounds us. Each of these senses provides us with a unique sensory experience and allows us to interact effectively with our environment. Understanding how these sensations work and the information they capture is essential to understanding the complexity of the human experience and the way we relate to the world.