The Plasticity of Perception | Psychology for UPSC Optional (Notes) PDF Download

Introduction

Plasticity refers to the remarkable ability to shape, mold, or alter something. When it comes to the human brain, this concept takes on a fascinating dimension known as neuroplasticity. Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's capacity to adapt and change over time by creating new neurons and building new networks. It challenges the previous belief held by scientists that the brain stops growing after childhood.
In our daily lives, the plasticity of perception manifests in various ways, influenced by changes in time and individual perspectives. Consider the scenario where two individuals have been best friends since their school days. However, after many years of friendship, a tragic incident occurs in one friend's life, leading them to blame their once-close companion. This example illustrates how perception can evolve over time as a person's mindset and experiences change. Observations and experiences play a crucial role in shaping one's perception of others. Moreover, it must be emphasized that perception is highly subjective, varying from person to person and evolving over time.

What is Perception?

Perception encompasses the process or outcome of becoming aware of objects, relationships, and events through the senses. It involves recognizing, observing, and discriminating stimuli encountered in one's surroundings. Perception is subjective, differing from person to person. It occurs when an individual comes into contact with their environment, regardless of whether it is familiar or new. The person gathers information about their current circumstances, makes observations, and finally arrives at inferences. Perception varies depending on the nature of the individual, the environment, and the timing of the experience. These factors contribute significantly to an individual's perceptual experiences.

Types of Perception

Perception can be categorized into several major types, including:

• Visual Perception
• Auditory Perception
• Olfactory Perception
• Haptic Perception
• Gustatory Perception

Stages of Perception

The process of perception is divided into five fundamental stages, each influenced by time, individual characteristics, and the environment. These stages are as follows:

• Stimulation: The recognition that stimuli exist.
• Organization: Comparing existing knowledge with the encountered stimuli.
• Interpretation: Assigning meaning to the stimuli.
• Memory: Storing personal experiences related to the stimuli.
• Recall: Utilizing the stored knowledge in future encounters.

Plasticity of Perception

• Sensory processing exhibits plasticity, where sensory systems continuously recalibrate to optimize coding for the current context as environments change over time and space. Notably, sensory apparatus varies significantly between individuals and undergoes dramatic changes over time and space. Plasticity must account for the properties of both the external world and the observer.
• Plasticity occurs at various structural levels, ranging from large-scale cortical reorganization, where cortical areas dedicated to one sense are recruited by other modalities when a sense is lost, to local synaptic dynamics and sensitivity regulation within cells and networks. Regardless of developmental stage or complexity, plasticity appears to be a universal property of nervous systems.
• Perceptual plasticity in the visual systems of higher mammals has been extensively studied during development and adulthood. However, recent debates have emerged concerning the existence and properties of visual plasticity following permanent damage to the adult visual system. Researchers are keen on studying perceptual plasticity in damaged adult visual systems for several reasons. Firstly, it provides a useful tool for determining the contributions of individual visual areas to visual learning, adaptation, priming, and other plastic phenomena. Secondly, it offers valuable insights for developing effective therapies to rehabilitate individuals facing functional consequences due to damage at different levels of the visual hierarchy.
• This review summarizes the available evidence and suggests that visual plasticity may be as prevalent after damage as it is in the intact visual system. However, damage may introduce alterations to visual plasticity that are yet to be fully understood.
• Plasticity is akin to a solid piece of metal being bent or pounded into a new shape, resulting in permanent changes within the material. Similarly, our past experiences, education, values, culture, preconceived notions, and current circumstances all influence our perceptions. Importantly, the perceptions we create become our reality. People instinctively act based on their perceptions, and their actions reflect these beliefs. For example, if one believes their significant other is overly preoccupied with socializing, their interactions will be influenced accordingly.

Human Plasticity

Human plasticity denotes the brain's ability to make long-term structural changes in response to environmental demands that exceed the organism's current functional capacity. Numerous factors influence plasticity during development, including sensory stimuli, psychoactive drugs, gonadal hormones, parental-child relationships, peer relationships, early stress, intestinal flora, and diet. These factors collectively shape brain development and function.

Conclusion

• Neuronal plasticity is a biological process enabling changes in neural circuitry, which can modify the structure and function of the brain. These changes facilitate learning and memory, while deviations from normal plasticity are associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. While plastic changes in the brain often enhance motor and cognitive functions, they can also interfere with behavior.
• Perception plays a vital role in the decision-making process as it helps individuals organize received data. Decision-makers should contrast their own experiences with those of others to gain a comprehensive understanding of specific situations.
• In summary, the plasticity of perception demonstrates the remarkable adaptability of the human brain and its subjective nature. By understanding the various types of perception, stages involved in the process, and the significance of plasticity, we gain insights into how our perceptions shape our reality and influence our interactions with the world.