Sensory-Perceptual Systems, Essay Example

Sensory-perceptual systems are nothing more than a complex way of saying your five senses. The evolutionary process has meant in the theoretical framework at least a gradual modification of internal structures to change their functionality to ultimate survival capacity. Comparative studies have found that all living things have areas of commonality. (Science Daily,2001) This commonality increases with similarity among species. Thus a chimpanzee is only 2% away from sitting in a class. A few more and it would be lecturing us on why they evolved to being so smart.(Gazzaninga,2010)

If we move on to which is the most important for survival? It has been long been my view the cortical areas are the most important for survival, the least important is the sense of smell.(Science Daily,2001). The answer lies both from an evolutionary stand point and simple examples. The sense of sight is the most important in that we need to see what to hunt, when we cook, to effectively invent, to create associations. The perceptual part from a psychological stand point is one of the most important. The perception when socializing, this is part of the selection process. Friend as opposed to enemies, a suitable mate to mate with. It is important to identifying threats and possible advantages from a distance.

The nose even from an everyday stand point we hardly use it. We are either attracted to a smell or repulsed by it. The most useful thing about our ability to smell is pheromones. This aided in the mating process as well as the selection process. It could have helped in hunting but when you look at skills like tracking. .(Gazzaninga,2010)Eyes are much better suited to replacing every task performed by the eye. When held in conjunction with the other senses. We know that senses can be enhanced through evolution and not having the sense of smell would mean all other senses would be enhanced. Our perceptual experience would be enhanced also

References

Science Daily, “Sensory Evolution” Web. 29/3/2012

Gazzaninga, M., Heatherton, T., Halpern, D. & Heine, S. (2010). Psychological Science ( 3 ed.). New York: W.W. Norton & Company.