Synonyms
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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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
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