SENSATION

v  Any experience that takes place through a sense organ is called sensation. Sensation is also called as the gate ways of knowledge, because all our knowledge is based upon the functioning of sense organs. Sensation is the simple and most elementary process, which creates the desire to work for something and how to know something based on previous experiences.

v  It is purely sensory knowledge, which does not have any relationship with any knowledge or awareness. A sensation does not help us acquiring complete knowledge.

Definition:

1. The impressions received through the sense organs are called sensations – Mathur.

2. A sensation is an elementary cognitive experience – Dr. Jalota.

3. Sensations are first things in the way of consciousness – James.

4. Sensation is defined as the simplest of all conscious experience – Duglas and Halland.

5. Sensation is the process of receiving, translating and transmitting information to the brain from the external and internal environment – Huffman.

Types of Sensation

We can divide easily the sensation process into five categories on the basis of sense organs. The following table clearly indicates all the sense organs, senses and the amount of knowledge gaining through them.

Sl. No.

Type of Sensation

Sense Organ

Senses

Knowledge gaining

1.

Visual Sensation

Eye

Sight

83%

2.

Auditory Sensation

Ear

Hear

11%

3.

Olfactory Sensation

Nose

Smell

3.5%

4.

Taste Sensation

Tongue

Taste

1.0%

5.

Tactual Sensation

Skin

Touch

1.5%

Elements of Sensation

The main elements of the sensation process are given below:

1. Quality: the nature of each sensation is different from other. Every type of sensation has got its own special quality or characteristics. This quality of the sensation helps us to distinguish one from other.  For example, green sensation of eye, cold sensation of skin.

2. Intensity: Sensation differs in respect of its intensity. If two sounds are created at once, one will be the intenser than other. It is differs in same type of sense or among the different types of sensations.

3. Extensity: Extensity refers the extension in space. Each sensation has its extensity. The vaster the stimulus, the more extensive the sensation. The extensity is not true for all the types of sensation, but restricted to certain.

4. Duration:  Every sensation has its duration or lasts for certain time. The auditory sensation of aero plane sound is more extensive than the sound of the calling bell.

5. Clarity: every sensation has got clarity. The sensation which lasts for longer period becomes clearer than the sensation lasts for shorter period.

DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SENSATION AND PERCEPTION

Sensation

Perception

Sensation is a normal, initial mental process.

Perception is a complex and refined mental activity

It begins with stimulus

It begins with some object / fringe of meaning

It is based on external stimuli, conditions

It is associated with  internal mental conditions

There is passivity in sensation

There is activity in perception

The basis of sensation is mental analysis

The processes of perception linked with actual life experience.