- adaptation
- the process by which sensory systems adjust to ongoing stimuli, optimizing processing efficiency
- alert
- a state of heightened wakefulness, attentiveness, and responsiveness in which an individual is fully awake, aware of their surroundings, and capable of actively engaging with stimuli and tasks
- altered consciousness
- any deviation from the normal waking state of consciousness, characterized by changes in perception, cognition, or awareness
- anhedonia
- reduced sensory pleasure and decreased interest in sensory experiences
- asleep
- a natural state of rest characterized by reduced consciousness, diminished responsiveness to external stimuli, and altered brain activity during sleep
- auditory sensory perception
- the process by which the auditory system receives, transmits, and interprets sound stimuli from the environment
- awareness
- conscious perception and understanding of oneself, one’s surroundings, and the experiences that arise from sensory input and cognitive processes
- coma
- a profound state of unconsciousness characterized by a complete loss of consciousness, absence of wakefulness, and lack of response to external stimuli
- conscious states
- range of mental experiences and subjective awareness that individuals perceive as part of their waking life
- extraversion
- personality trait characterized by sociability, outgoingness, and a preference for social interactions
- Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS)
- a neurological assessment tool used to evaluate a patient’s level of consciousness and neurological function
- gustatory sensory perception
- the ability to detect and interpret tastes using the gustatory system
- kinesthetic sense (also, proprioceptive sense)
- the sense of body awareness and movement control
- lethargic
- a state of drowsiness, sluggishness, and reduced energy levels in which an individual appears excessively tired or fatigued
- neural plasticity
- the brain's ability to reorganize and adapt its structure and function in response to changes
- obtundation
- a state of decreased alertness and responsiveness in which an individual opens their eyes in response to tactile stimuli or other external cues but responds slowly and may appear confused or disoriented
- olfactory sensory perception
- the ability to detect and interpret smells using the olfactory system
- ototoxic
- medications that have the potential to cause damage to the structures of the inner ear or the auditory nerve
- proprioceptors
- specialized sensory receptors located in muscles, tendons, and joints that detect changes in muscle length, tension, and joint position, providing continuous feedback to the brain about the body’s position in space
- reticular activating system (RAS)
- a crucial neural network in the brainstem responsible for regulating arousal, attention, and consciousness
- sensation seeking
- tendency to seek out novel, varied, and intense experiences
- senses
- physiological mechanisms by which organisms perceive and respond to stimuli from their environment
- sensoristasis
- balance between under- and overstimulation, optimizing arousal levels for sensory perception and cognitive function
- sensory deficit
- impairment or loss in one or more sensory modalities, such as vision, hearing, touch, taste, or smell
- sensory deprivation
- refers to the absence or reduction of normal sensory inputs, leading to a state of decreased stimulation and sensory isolation
- sensory discrimination
- the brain’s ability to interpret and distinguish between different sensory stimuli
- sensory discrimination disorder (SDD)
- a condition characterized by difficulties in accurately interpreting and distinguishing between sensory stimuli
- sensory integration
- the brain’s ability to organize and make sense of information received through the senses
- sensory modulation
- the brain’s ability to regulate and respond appropriately to sensory stimuli from the environment
- sensory modulation disorder (SMD)
- a condition characterized by atypical responses to sensory stimuli, resulting in difficulties regulating and processing sensory information
- sensory overload
- occurs when an individual is exposed to an excessive amount of sensory stimuli that overwhelms their ability to process and integrate information effectively
- sensory perception
- process by which organisms gather information from the environment through the senses (such as sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell) and interpret and make sense of that information
- sensory processing disorder (SPD)
- a neurological condition that affects how individuals process and respond to sensory information from the environment
- sensory-based motor disorder (SBMD)
- a condition characterized by challenges in coordinating motor movements due to underlying sensory processing difficulties
- states of arousal
- levels of physiological and psychological alertness and responsiveness exhibited by an individual
- stupor
- a state of reduced consciousness marked by extreme lethargy, diminished responsiveness, and a significant decrease in alertness and awareness
- tactile sensory perception
- the ability to detect and interpret touch sensations
- unconscious states
- mental processes and activities that occur without conscious awareness or voluntary control
- vegetative state (also, unresponsive wakefulness syndrome)
- a condition marked by wakefulness without awareness, in which the individual appears awake but lacks meaningful responsiveness
- visceral sense (also, interoceptive sense)
- responsible for detecting and monitoring internal body sensations such as hunger, thirst, pain, and visceral organ function
- visual sensory perception
- the process by which the visual system detects, interprets, and makes sense of visual stimuli