Understanding the senses
The Eyes enable us to see what is happening in our environment. Stimuli are caught by sensors in the eyes and sent to the brain via sensory nerves. These are electro-chemical impulses being sent to the brain uninterruptedly. The function of the visual system in later phases includes reading, driving and watching TV and film.
The Ears enable hearing. Sensors in the ears pick up the signals and send them to the brain in an uninterrupted stream.
The Nose detects scents/smells in our environment and sends them to the brain.
Touch sensors in the skin register stimuli like touching, heat, cold, wind etc and send them to the brain.
Taste sensors on the tongue register the taste of food and drink and constantly inform the brain.
The Vestibular System in the inner ear registers information on movements experienced by the body (such as vibrations in a moving vehicle) as well as the balance of the body.
Proprioceptive organs/Joint senses are found everywhere in the joints. These organelles feed the brain constantly with information on muscle tonus and the body’s position in space.
More about the brain and development
How the brain develops The brain consists of nerve cells called neurons. Neurons arise in the prenatal phase before birth and are differentiated by chemical signals in order to specialize. The development process of neurons...
Growth through experience
The brain of a newborn grows by experience. Most brain growth in the cerebral cortex and limbic system – brain regions involved in abstract thought, language and emotional control – occurs after birth. One aspect...
More about the senses
Visual Perception Vision development At first, babies observe the world through a misty haze. Within 5 days they start perceiving light, blink their eyes at bright light and follow moving lights with their eyes. Within...