Ip2 Psy

ip2 psy

Sensory Adaptation Experiments

Raffi Roubanian

American InterContinental University

Experiment #1

The first experiment conducted was done with sandpaper and I recorded the coarseness of it with the same finger two different times. The first recording was rated at a 6 on a scale of 1-7, 7 being the highest in coarseness. The second recording with the same finger was rated surprisingly at a 3, approximately half the coarseness I felt on the original recording.

Experiment #2

The second experiment we were asked to swish sugar water in our mouths for a few seconds without swallowing it. Then we were to dispose of it and do the same for freshwater and record our observations. On the second recording, the freshwater still tasted a little sweet to me which was surprising. I was expecting the freshwater to taste very fresh in contrast to the sugary water, but I observed the exact opposite.

Experiment#3

In the third experiment, we were to prepare 3 bowls of water hot, lukewarm and cold. I inserted one hand in the hot water and one hand in the cold water, after I inserted both hands into the lukewarm and recorded my observations. The hand that was originally in the hot water felt colder in the lukewarm water, while the hand that was in the cold water felt warmer. I expected this outcome because I know that the blood temperature in my hands adapted to the original temperatures, so the lukewarm water observations were exaggerated by the original temperatures they felt.

Sensory Adaptation

Sensory Adaptation is when sensory receptors alter their feeling to the stimulus which occurs in all senses with the exception pain (Sensory Adaptation, n.d.). This means that our senses are adaptable to our surroundings and environment. I believe our mind and bodies adapt to our environments, evolution is a perfect example of this. Our bodies have changed over years and years to adapt to our environments and climates.

References

Sensory Adaptation. (n.d.)....