Brain Processing of Senses

Information collected through the senses is processed by the nervous system.

Our eyes, ears, and nose all help us gather sensory information. Each organ has special structures that collect the information and send it to the brain through the nervous system. The brain is also part of the nervous system and tells us how to act and react to sensory information. The nervous system also includes the spinal cord and miles of nerves spread throughout the body. The nerves are kind of like wires which send electrical signals to and from the brain.

Example: Frogs have an amazing sense of hearing. When a frog’s ears hear another frog making noise, the ears send the information to the brain. The brain then processes the information and tells the frog how to respond. That response might be to move away from another frog’s area, or to go toward the other frog in hopes of finding a mate. Frogs also hear and respond to many other sounds that help them locate food and avoid predators.

Animals use sensory information to help them survive.

When sensory information is gathered and sent to the brain, the brain tells the animal how to respond. That response could be to run from predators or to find a mate. This information helps the animal survive.

Example: Chameleons have a unique sense of sight. They are able to see in every direction because their eyes move independently. That means one eye can look forward while the other eye looks backward. Chameleons are able to use their amazing eyes to gather important information about their surroundings, such as the location of a predator.

Animals collect sensory information in different ways.

Most animals are able to collect sensory information in the same way as we do, through touch, taste, smell, hearing, and sight. The way they gather this information may be very different. Some animals may have more heightened senses than we have. For example, dogs and cats can hear higher pitched sounds than we can.

Other animals have more developed senses that allow them to gather information in ways we cannot.

Some bats, whales, and dolphins are able to find prey through echolocation. These animals send out noises which echo back and allow them to “see” their prey.

Snakes smell with their tongues and then transfer the smell to special organs on the roof of their mouths.

Sharks are sensitive to electrical fields made by other animals moving in the water. They use this information to help them find their prey.

Animals respond to sensory information in different ways.

Most animals are born knowing how to use their senses. When fall approaches, certain types of birds sense the changing of the season and fly south for the winter. Other animals choose to hibernate instead.

Both types of animals are gathering information about the changing temperature, amount of daylight, and the different smells in the environment. However, each animal’s response to the information is different.

At the beginning of the video, Zoe and Izzy were trying to locate a dog. They choose to use a high-pitched whistle to call it. Bolt was not born knowing that the whistle means dinner time. He was trained to learn that when he hears the whistle, he will get food.