Monosensory

Monosensory describes experiences, perceptions, or processing that exclusively involve a single sensory modality. This contrasts with multisensory experiences, where information from multiple senses is integrated. It highlights a focus on input from one sense at a time, such as vision, audition (hearing), olfaction (smell), gustation (taste), or somatosensation (touch). Understanding monosensory processing is crucial for studying how the brain isolates and interprets individual sensory signals, and in analyzing sensory-specific conditions or impairments. It is an adjective used in fields such as neuroscience, psychology, and cognitive science to specifically focus on the processing involving a single sense.

Monosensory meaning with examples

• In a soundproof room, the participant experienced a monosensory environment focused entirely on auditory input. Researchers could then analyze the specific brain regions activated in response to pure tones, isolating the effects of hearing.
• During the experiment, subjects relied on a monosensory task where they identified the shape of an object solely by touch. This controlled setting eliminated visual cues to assess tactile perception independent of sight.
• A patient experiencing visual hallucinations might perceive colors and shapes in a monosensory manner. The hallucinations, a malfunction of the visual cortex, are isolated and do not interact with information from other senses.
• Certain individuals, like those who have lost their sight but still experience the ability to taste, rely on monosensory experiences for their survival and to process information. The patient might eat based on the smell and taste.