Due Week 3 and worth 100 points
Can you really trust your senses and the interpretation of sensory data to give you an accurate view of the world? Describe and discuss the accuracy and the weaknesses of the human senses as they pertain to thinking in general and to your own thinking in particular.
Write a two to three (2-3) page paper in which you:
1. Provide at least three (3) reasons for believing in the accuracy or inaccuracy of sensory information.
2. Identify and describe at least three (3) factors contributing to the accuracy of sensory data.
3. Discuss the role of memory with regard to the interpretation and evaluation of sensory data.
4. Use at least two (2) quality resources in this assignment. Your textbook may count as one (1) source. At least one (1) of your sources must be obtained from the collection of databases accessible from the Learning Resources Center Web page.
Your assignment must:
• Be typed, double spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
• Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
• Develop skills for overcoming barriers which limit objective and productive critical thinking.
• Create written work utilizing the concepts of critical thinking.
• Demonstrate adherence to academic integrity policy and APA Style guidelines for academic citations.
• Use technology and information resources to research issues in critical thinking skills and informal logic.
• Write clearly and concisely about issues in critical thinking using proper writing mechanics.
Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic/organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using this rubric.
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“Nothing revives the past so completely as a smell that was once associated with it” is a famous quote by Vladimir Nabokov. Sensory information refers to the information we gather through our five senses: sight, hearing, taste, smell, and touch. According to Mclean et al. (2022), this information plays a crucial role in our daily lives, as it helps us navigate and understand the world around us. The accuracy of this information is vital, as it can significantly impact our perceptions and decisions. Mclean (2022) states that our senses allow us to perceive and interpret the environment. The information gathered by our senses is processed by the brain, representing the world we experience. However, not all sensory information is accurate, and many factors can influence the accuracy of sensory information. In this essay, we will explore the reasons for believing in the accuracy or inaccuracy of sensory information, the factors contributing to the accuracy of sensory data, and the role of memory with regard to the interpretation and evaluation of sensory data.
Evolutionary adaptation is one of the reasons for believing in the accuracy or inaccuracy of sensory information. According to Peterka (2018), our senses have evolved to provide accurate information about our environment. Evolutionary adaptation has enabled us to develop highly specialized sensors that are finely tuned to the specific demands of our environment. For example, our eyes have evolved to detect light and color, allowing us to navigate and find food, while our ears have evolved to detect sound, which has helped us locate potential predators or prey. Thus, evolutionary adaptation shows that our senses continue to provide us with accurate information.
Consistency is another reason for believing in the accuracy or inaccuracy of sensory information. According to Peterka (2018), if multiple people independently report the same sensory information, it is more likely to be accurate. For example, if several people see the same object and describe it similarly, it is reasonable to assume it is genuine and not an illusion. Peterka (2018) also stated that this principle of consistency is often used in scientific research, where multiple experiments are conducted to confirm the accuracy of a particular observation. Thus, consistency determines the accuracy of sensory information.
Biases are another reason for believing in the accuracy or inaccuracy of sensory information. Our senses can be influenced by our past experiences, expectations, and emotions, leading to inaccurate perceptions. According to Plack (2018), biasness can affect the accuracy of our senses. For example, if we have a negative experience with a certain food, we may perceive it as bad, even if it is good. Similarly, if we have a preconceived idea about a specific person, we may perceive their behavior in a way that confirms our belief, even if it is inaccurate. Thus, biases can affect the accuracy of our sensory information.
The brain’s ability to process sensory information contributes to the accuracy of sensory data. According to Wan et al. (2018), the brain plays a crucial role in interpreting and making sense of the information gathered by our senses. It compares new sensory information to previous experiences and knowledge and uses this information to construct a representation of the world. Wan et al. (2018) brain regions, such as the thalamus and the cerebellum, influence the brain’s ability to process sensory information. The thalamus is a relay station that receives and processes information from the senses before sending it to the primary sensory cortices. The cerebellum is responsible for coordinating and fine-tuning movements, balance, and posture. Thus, the ability of the brain to process sensory information contributes to the accuracy of sensory data.
The context of the sensory information contributes to the accuracy of sensory data. According to Pisarchick (2019), the context can increase the accuracy of sensory information by influencing the person’s expectations. For example, if a person expects to see a certain object, they may perceive it even if it is not there. Similarly, if a person expects to hear a certain sound, they may perceive it even if it is not there. Pisarchick (2019) states that context can also affect the accuracy of sensory information by influencing the person’s emotions. For example, a person may perceive an object as pleasant if they are in a good mood, even if it is not pleasant. Thus, the context of the sensory information contributes to the accuracy of sensory data.
Another factor is the validation by other senses. Validation by other senses is a process that refers to the ability of one sense to confirm or refute information gathered by another sense. According to Alyahya et al. (2021), it can be considered more accurate if other senses validate sensory information. For example, seeing an object and hearing it makes it more likely that it is genuine and not an illusion. If multiple senses independently report the same sensory information, it is more likely to be accurate. Validation by other senses plays a critical role in the process of perception. The brain receives and processes information from multiple senses simultaneously and integrates the data to form a coherent representation of the world. Thus, when multiple senses provide similar information, it increases the likelihood that the information is accurate.
Memory plays a crucial role in the interpretation and evaluation of sensory data. It is the process by which we encode, store, and retrieve information, and it is essential for our ability to navigate and understand the world around us. According to Seremetakis (2019), memory allows us to compare new sensory information to previous experiences and knowledge, and it helps us interpret and make sense of the information we gather through our senses. Seremetakis (2019) states that one way in which memory plays a role in the interpretation of sensory data is through the process of pattern recognition. Our brains constantly search for patterns in the information we gather through our senses. These patterns help us understand the world and the relationships between different objects and events. Our memory plays a crucial role in this process, as it allows us to recognize patterns we have seen before and compare them to new sensory information. Thus, memory plays a role in the interpretation of sensory data.
In conclusion, evolutionary adaptation, consistency, and biasness are some of the reasons for believing in the accuracy or inaccuracy of sensory information. The factors contributing to the accuracy of sensory data include the brain’s ability to process sensory information, the context of the sensory information, and validation by other senses. Memory plays a crucial role in the interpretation and evaluation of sensory data. Memory plays a crucial role in pattern recognition, expectation, and top-down processing, which are essential for interpreting and evaluating sensory data. Our memories shape our expectations of the world, which influence how we interpret new sensory information. Sensory information plays a crucial role in our daily lives. It allows us to perceive and interpret the world around us and is essential for survival. The five senses – sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing- work together to understand our environment comprehensively.
Alyahya, M., & McLean, G. (2022). Examining tourism consumers’ attitudes and the role of sensory information in virtual reality experiences of a tourist destination. Journal of Travel Research, 61(7), 1666-1681.
Peterka, R. J. (2018). Sensory integration for human balance control. Handbook of clinical neurology, 159, 27-42.
Pisarchik, A. N., Makimonos, V. A., Andreev, A. V., Frolov, N. S., Makarov, V. V., Zhuravlev, M. O., … & Hramov, A. E. (2019). Coherent resonance in the distributed cortical network during sensory information processing. Scientific Reports, 9(1), 1-9.
Plack, C. J. (2018). The sense of hearing. Routledge.
Seremetakis, C. N. (2019). The memory of the senses, part I: Marks of the transitory. In The senses still (pp. 1-18). Routledge.
Wan, C., Cai, P., Wang, M., Qian, Y., Huang, W., & Chen, X. (2020). Artificial sensory memory. Advanced Materials, 32(15), 1902434.