Sensation and perception are directly related since we experience skiing through the senses and interpret these experiences cognitively to give them a meaning via perception. Perceiving includes not only sensation pickup and interpretation; it also includes consciousness facing reactions, i.e., deciding when to act and when to react. Perception produces an interpretation, which is not necessarily appropriate since what is real and what is perceived is not the same (Berthoz, 2009).
Usually, both terms are often confused. The sensation is physical, while perception is mental. The sensation does not give an idea of the features of the object or the situation, but by perception, we know what we can do with the object or how we must act in a situation. Sensations are purely passive and perceptions are born of an active principle which judges (J.J. Rousseau).
To perceive is the process of interpreting and organizing sensations, which gives meaning to us. We sense the mechanical action of our skis on the snow but perceive how they carve or skid, as well as we sense the air on our face but perceive the speed of motion. What we sense or expect to sense is the experience of perception.
Sensations are elementary data allowing knowledge. The first selection of sensations is made and then we obtain perception, which is the comprehension of what we sense. Perception includes sensations’ decoding and interpretation according to programs of past experiences stored in our brain. Perception organizes and compares sensations.
Additional differences between sensation and perception are:
- Sensation is physiological and perception is psychological.
- Sensation is innate and perception is acquired.
- Our body senses and our mind perceives.
- Sensations need stimuli and perceptions need sensations.
- Sensation is the sensory stage and perception is the interpretive stage.
- Sensation is a passive process and perception is an active process.
- Sensations are perceived but perceptions cannot be sensed.
- Sensation is sensing that the skis glide and perception is that we are skiing.
The sensory-perceptual process
When skiing, we need to adapt to the mountain and act according to the arising needs. To achieve this, we must detect sensory information coming from receptors, interpret and compare them with past experiences, and develop a motor response. This is called the sensory-perceptual process.
Perceiving is a process of organizing and interpreting sensations. It involves sensorial (sensations), mental (attention, memory), and affective processes (emotional state). This is used to get to our consciousness through the interpretation, organization, and storage of sensorial information. It helps us define and differentiate what it is like to ski by selecting important stimuli and discarding redundant ones. It also contributes to skiing learning and interpretation and, above all, to give us a meaning to our sliding experiences. Even small improvements in this process translate into significant performance effects comparing the desired and the actual state.
The sensory processing is the physiological part in which the information initiates from a stimulus until our brain detects it. The perceptive process is cognitive and follows the sensory processing in which our brain processes information, interprets it and develops the perception, that is, the meaning of the sensation. This stage is directly related to our learning, comparing new technical concepts with past experiences through memory and discernment.
The detected stimuli are transmitted to our brain through nerve impulses and transformed into significant information. It involves not only nervous information transmitting sensations but also our personality, motivation, and attitude since it is, essentially, active exploration and investigation for information. This process connects us with the environment, being a fundamental procedure to interpret the surroundings where we move.
Phases of the sensory-perceptual process
The phases of the sensory process are the stages from the moment the stimulus excites the sensory receptor until our brain produces the sensation. These are:
- In the stimulationand arousal phase, the stimulus gets to the sensory receptor and activates the nerve cells.
- In the transmission phase the activation is moved by the sensitive paths (nerves) to our brain cortex.
- The projectionand elaboration phase is when finally arrives at our brain and it is transformed into a sensation.
The perceptive process is classified in the following phases:
- In the selection phase we filter sensory information in terms of novelty, intensity, contrast, context, and familiarity.
- The organization phase involves organizing sensations according to its importance.
- In the interpretation phase we give a meaning to the sensation, which is influenced by our expectations and motivation.
According to these considerations, you can apply the following recommendations in your own skiing:
- Remember that what you sense or expect to sense is the experience of your perception, and that your body senses but your mind perceives.
- You will experience different sensations by sensing that your skis glide and your perception will be that you are skiing.
- To improve your perception skills, it is essential that you start anactive exploration and investigation for sensory information.
