Tag: sensory adaption

Early last year, I purchased a Penn State Analog clock I found at Walmart. I’ve never owned an analog clock and thought it would look cool on my wall. When I got home, I set it up and left my house for the night. At the end of the day, I went back and got in my bed. When I closed my eyes to try and fall asleep, all I could hear was the ticking from the clock. Eventually, I fell asleep. For a few nights, I struggled to ignore the constant sound. Finally, I completely forgot the clock was even there and never noticed to sound. This concept is called sensory adaption.
Sensory adaptation is when humans are exposed to unchanging stimuli over some time; our brains reduce the sensitivity to the stimuli. Hearing is not the only sense we can adapt to. We can change our sensitivity to smell in the air or get used to the cold on an autumn morning. Arguably, sight and hearing are the most critical adaptations we make. When we are exposed to a loud sound over some time, the muscles in our ears limits the amount of vibration. This adaptation is done to protect our eardrums from any damage. Our sight adapts to allow us to see better in the dark. Our pupils open wider to let more light in. Our rods and cones also become more sensitive to pick up light better. In my case, being exposed to the constant ticking of the clock over some time, my brain reduced to the sensitivity of the sound so that I can fall asleep. Sensory adaptation is an essential function that our minds have. If we didnt have sensory adaptation, certain stimuli would be overbearing to withstand. Being able to desensitize ourselves to certain stimuli allow us to focus on the things we want to focus on. Imagine if I didn’t adapt to the clock. The ticking would drive me insane and force me to take it down.

https://explorable.com/sensory-adaptation

https://www.khanacademy.org/science/health-and-medicine/nervous-system-and-sensory-infor/sensory-perception-topic/v/sensory-adapting

Throughout the class discussions of the brain, we have discussed many different topics involving the senses the their perception. One example of how our brain interprets our senses is through sensory adaption. All five of our senses are constantly receiving a response from a stimuli. However, sometimes the receptors receive a prolonged and persistent stimuli. This results in diminished sensitivity and the receptors then block out the stimulus. One simple example of this would be putting a bandaid on a cut or scrap. At first, you can feel the bandaid as it pulls on the hairs of your skin, making you constantly aware of the bandaid sticking to you. Over time, you adapt to the feeling of the bandaid on your skin and you forget that it is even there. Another example of sensory adaption is taken from a personal experience. When I was in seventh grade, I broke my wrist. After I went to the doctor, I found out that I needed to get a cast and wear it for a certain amount of time until my wrist was completely healed. The first couple days and weeks with the cast, was so uncomfortable and felt so different. However, as time went on living with the cast, I did not even know the difference of not having it on my arm. When it was time to get the cast off, it felt so weird, yet again, having a drastic change to my arm. But yet again, sensory adaption took place and I was used to not having the cast on anymore. In conclusion, getting the cast on and then off again are both examples of sensory adaption. This is because the body sensed a stimulus, but then quickly became used to the sensation and reduced the sensitivity due to the prolonged state of the stimulus.