Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Balance
One of the most interesting parts of the text that I've found so far is the integration of the five senses. As many people do, and the text suggests in Chapter 7, I have always thought of the five senses as working in isolation. I guess on my part it was just a case of ignorance, in that they are typically listed or spoken of individually. With a little deeper thought though it is clear that the senses are in cooperation at all times. The balance test on page 158 is a good example that I chose to try for myself. There is a clear difference in trying to balance with my eyes closed, and I find myself immediately leaning as I closed my eyes. This may have been a response to the fact that I just read the experiment, and was influenced by it but it was hard nonetheless. The frame of reference we receive from our vision helps us to maintain the balance necessary to stay upright. I relate this to my own life experience by connecting it to one of my jobs, basketball coach. The ability to stay on balance is incredibly underrated, and the best players always have a great sense of balance. This is why there are more stories every year about athletes incorporating yoga into their workout routines. The ability to flex and maintain balance separates many players into a different level. This balance is achieved through the cooperation of the five senses.
I thought this point was interesting as well. I wrote of binding in a previous post, which discusses different parts of the brain to recognize different qualities about an object being perceived. Various regions must work together to understand an object as a whole. It's interesting to learn that not only are various regions of the brain actively working together to sense, but various senses work together to effectively function. People discuss not being able to taste food while they are sick and unable to smell. I've also heard of someone with an ear infection mentioning difficulty with balance and coordination. It's interesting to learn how many processes work together within our body to sense, perceive, and understand in order for our body to function at its best.
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