Naked Science Forum

On the Lighter Side => That CAN'T be true! => Topic started by: Simulated on 15/11/2007 01:39:28

Title: This may have been asked before, but if you lose one of your senses....
Post by: Simulated on 15/11/2007 01:39:28
do your other ones become more enhanced?
Title: Re: This may have been asked before, but if you lose one of your senses....
Post by: SquarishTriangle on 15/11/2007 08:08:06
Good question. I would say, in a sense (...sorry) they would.

Say if I lost my sense of sight, I would have to rely more heavily on my remaining ones such as touch and smell...however I wouldn't think I would increase the number of sensory (olfactory) cells in my nose, or number of nerves that, say, relay information from my skin. Rather, I think it's more a case of developing better integration of the information that IS still being received by the brain.

If you're ever in a lift, try running your fingers over the braille symbols that are usually next to the regular numbers. As someone with sight, I find it amazing that anyone could distinguish such subtle differences between each number...But the blind learn to do it; they have to. I think the brain is pretty good at learning to cope with changing situations through necessity.
Title: Re: This may have been asked before, but if you lose one of your senses....
Post by: Simulated on 18/11/2007 17:47:36
Ah what an explaination. thank you