Awakening the Brain to Interact with Our Environment
Posted on 7th January 2025 at 10:11
Understanding how our senses work is fundamental to interacting with our environment effectively. The brain must be fully alert to process sensory information, which in turn influences our ability to learn, socialise, and engage in daily activities. This blog explores the critical role sensory processing plays in our cognitive and emotional development, drawing on insights from our course on understanding sensory processing disorders.
Sensory Processing and Brain Alertness
Each of us has multiple senses, including vision, hearing, touch, smell, and taste. Additionally, we have proprioception (sense of body position), vestibular (sense of balance), and interoception (internal body sensations). These senses collect information that our brain needs to interpret our environment and react appropriately.
Vision
Over-Responsiveness: For some, patterns may be overwhelming, or eye contact could be painful. This heightened sensitivity can make it challenging to navigate environments with too much visual information.
Under-Responsiveness: In others, the brain may not be alert enough, causing difficulties in finding objects or navigating spaces, which can seem like they are in their "own world."
Hearing
Over-Responsiveness: Individuals might find it impossible to filter out background noises like the humming of lights, which can be distracting and even distressing.
Under-Responsiveness: A lack of alertness to auditory information can hinder interaction with the environment, affecting how one responds to sounds that might otherwise dictate a reaction.
Touch
Under-Responsiveness: Some might wear tight clothes to feel more secure and grounded because their sense of touch is not as sensitive.
Over-Responsiveness: Conversely, everyday activities like brushing hair or taking a shower can become painful ordeals due to hypersensitivity.
Smell
Under-Responsiveness: Individuals who struggle to detect smells may not react to important environmental cues, such as smoke from a fire, which can pose safety risks.
Over-Responsiveness: Those who are overly sensitive to odors might find themselves overwhelmed in environments with strong fragrances or cooking smells, leading to discomfort and anxiety.
Taste
Under-Responsiveness: A muted sense of taste can lead people to prefer stronger flavors or spicier foods, which helps them feel more engaged with their meals.
Over-Responsiveness: An acute sense of taste can restrict diet, as individuals may refuse new or complex flavors due to the intense sensory experience, potentially leading to nutritional issues.
Why Must the Brain Be Awake?
The brain's alertness to sensory information is crucial because it directly impacts how we interact with our environment.
For instance:
A child in the classroom might struggle with learning if they cannot fully process auditory or visual cues.
Social interactions can be fraught with misunderstandings if an individual does not respond typically to nonverbal cues like body language and facial expressions due to sensory processing issues.
In cases of sensory processing disorders, individuals may find environments either not stimulating enough or overly stimulating, which can lead to withdrawal or sensory-seeking behaviors. Both scenarios illustrate a brain struggling to remain engaged with its surroundings.
Practical Implications and Support
Understanding these sensory processing differences is crucial for creating supportive environments that can cater to varied sensory needs. For example, providing a quiet corner in classrooms or workplaces can help those who are over-responsive to noise, while structured sensory play can benefit those who are under-responsive.
In conclusion, the brain needs to be awake, not just in the literal sense of not being asleep but fully engaged and responsive to the sensory information it receives. This alertness is what enables us to learn, adapt, and interact meaningfully with our environment. By understanding and accommodating the diverse ways people process sensory information, we can create more inclusive and supportive spaces for everyone.
Share this post: