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Sensory Deprivation

  • Reference work entry
Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development

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Synonyms

Restricted environmental stimulation

Definition

Sensory deprivation involves partial or complete loss of sensory stimulation, usually under involuntary circumstances. It has been associated with a number of psychological adversities but also with neural plasticity and therapeutic potential.

Description

Gathering information from the social and physical environment involves perceptual mechanisms, which in turn draw upon information supplied by the senses. Senses are cell types that have evolved to respond to different types of environmental stimuli, including vision, hearing, touch (somatic sensation), taste (gestation), smell (olfaction), balance (equilibrioception), proprioception (kinesthetic sense), and temperature (thermoception). These may be located in specialist receptor organs (e.g., nose, eyes) or located at nerve endings on the skin. The environmental data collected by these receptors are carried to the brain and cortex, where they are mediated by cognitive processes.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Human and Life Sciences, Roehampton University, Holybourne Avenue, London, UK

    Penny Stribling & Cecilia Essau

Authors
  1. Penny Stribling
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  2. Cecilia Essau
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Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Neurology, Learning and Behavior Center, 230 South 500 East, Suite 100, Salt Lake City, Utah, 84102, USA

    Sam Goldstein Ph.D.

  2. Department of Psychology MS 2C6, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, 22030, USA

    Jack A. Naglieri Ph.D. (Professor of Psychology) (Professor of Psychology)

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Stribling, P., Essau, C. (2011). Sensory Deprivation. In: Goldstein, S., Naglieri, J.A. (eds) Encyclopedia of Child Behavior and Development. Springer, Boston, MA. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_2580

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-0-387-79061-9_2580

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Boston, MA

  • Print ISBN: 978-0-387-77579-1

  • Online ISBN: 978-0-387-79061-9

  • eBook Packages: Behavioral Science

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