Sensation

Sensation is the process that allows our brains to take in information via our five senses, which can then be experienced and interpreted by the brain. Sensation occurs thanks to our five sensory systems: vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.

Overview

Sensation is part of the larger sensory system, which includes all the senses: vision, hearing, touch, taste, and smell. The sensory system is part of the nervous system, which contains the brain and the spinal cord. The sensory system is responsible for detecting stimuli from the environment and sending this information to the brain.

Sensory Systems

Vision

The visual system is the part of the sensory system that allows organisms to see. It interprets the information from visible light to build a representation of the surrounding environment.

Hearing

The auditory system is the sensory system for the sense of hearing. It includes both the sensory organs (the ears) and the auditory parts of the sensory system.

Touch

The somatosensory system is a complex system of sensory neurons and pathways that responds to changes at the surface or inside the body. The axons (as afferent nerve fibers), of sensory neurons connect with, or respond to, various receptor cells.

Taste

The gustatory system or sense of taste is the sensory system that is partially responsible for the perception of taste (flavor).

Smell

The olfactory system is the sensory system used for smelling (olfaction).

See Also

• Perception
• Psychophysics
• Sensory neuroscience

Sensation Resources
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