The sense of direction is not a single one of the six human sensory perceptions. Rather, it is composed of several of these senses. Unlike all other senses, the sense of orientation can be trained and learned. However, since the modern era, the general orientation ability of humans has regressed.
What is the sense of orientation?
The sense of orientation is also known as spatial sense or spatial orientation. It is only indirectly a part of the six human senses. The sense of orientation is also known as spatial sense or spatial orientation. It is only indirectly a part of the six human sensory perceptions. It is not an independent sense, but an interaction of several senses. The sense of sight, as well as the sense of hearing, the sense of smell, the sense of touch, the sense of balance and the sense of muscle (depth sensitivity) are involved in the sense of orientation. In addition to humans, animals also have a sense of space, which is what enables them to orient themselves and move in space in a coordinated manner. Unlike humans, many animals are equipped with an additional sense for vibrations, magnetic fields and polarization patterns. For them, these additional perceptions are included in the sense of orientation. Unlike all other senses, spatial orientation can be learned and trained to a high degree. The basic structure is innate through the anatomical structures of the eyes, muscles and ears. However, since memory and attention also play a role in spatial orientation, the sense of orientation can be improved through certain exercises.
Function and task
Without the sense of direction, humans would no longer be able to orient themselves in space. Coordinated locomotion through space also depends on this sensory structure. A large part of spatial orientation is first learned through directed locomotion in space. Thus, humans learn small-scale orientation in the first years of their lives. Later follows the learning of geographic orientation, which afterwards contributes as memory content to the general sense of orientation. For the near orientation the spatial position plays a role, i.e. the position and attitude of the own body in the space. Especially the sense of sight and the sense of balance allow the estimation of the own spatial position. In particular, the sense of balance is used to determine and maintain one’s own posture and to take into account environmental forces such as gravity. The interaction of this sense perception with the visual perceptions allows us to estimate the angles and inclinations as well as the perpendicular directions of our own spatial position. The sense of touch also plays a role in determining one’s own spatial position, since it calculates one’s own body center of gravity, among other things. This calculation takes place on the basis of the pressure receptors on the soles of the feet and is included in the spatial position. The close connection between the sensory structures mentioned above and depth sensitivity ultimately protects people from falling and stumbling. Depth sensitivity is one of the most rapid senses and is controlled by the cerebellum so that the brain can automatically initiate a protective muscular response as soon as the vestibular organ reports an abrupt change in body posture. For example, people do not automatically fall to the ground when they stumble, but can often still catch themselves by automatically putting their foot forward. Spatial position perception is mainly controlled subconsciously. Large-scale perception, on the other hand, is more conscious. In this type of orientation, the ability to think and attention play an increased role. The memory of distinctive spatial points, such as landscape phenomena, buildings or waymarks, is incorporated into the spatial orientation. Large-scale spatial orientation is thus exclusively learned.
Diseases and ailments
Because the sense of orientation requires practice and training, locomotion in space is essential to this sensory structure. As described, much of the sense of direction is learned. If a person does not move sufficiently in space at an early age, the sense of orientation can decline accordingly. The sciences have therefore been able to identify a decreasing orientation ability in modern man. This decrease is due to modern times, which hardly require orientation and non-motorized locomotion.The sense of orientation can cause discomfort in the case of unusual or unfamiliar spatial movements. When diving or flying, for example, the sense of direction has difficulty determining spatial position and general orientation is disturbed. Under water, the altered spatial perception is responsible for the complaints. When flying, on the other hand, the problems are due to the rotational movements. In particular, the sense of balance, which is relevant for the sense of orientation, can no longer adjust smoothly in these situations. The consequences are vertigo, dizziness, nausea and confusion. Prolonged orientation disorders can be psychological as well as organic. Chemical exposures, drug administration, and other intoxications, for example, can trigger disorientation because they stress the brain‘s orientation center. On the other hand, there may also be actual damage to the brain, such as from Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, or brain lesions of other causes. Depending on which brain centers or individual perceptual centers of the brain are affected by the damage, an orientation disorder can manifest itself in different ways. For example, persistent dizziness may also already be an orientation disorder.
