Sensoriality and thought. In development and in psychopathology

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Neuroscience
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Sensoriality plays a crucial role in psychic functioning and cognitive development.
• Childhood sensoriality is a natural developmental phase preceding abstract thought.
• Pathological conditions can lead to significant perceptual-sensorial distortions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the role of sensoriality in psychic functioning.
• To compare natural child sensoriality with pathological perceptual-sensorial distortions.
• To analyze sensory processing alterations in severe psychic disorders and post-traumatic conditions.

Main Methods:

• Comparative analysis of developmental and pathological sensorial experiences.
• Examination of sensory perception alterations in psychosis and trauma.
• Qualitative description of subjective experiences in affected individuals.

Main Results:

• Severe psychic disorders, particularly psychosis, involve sensory perceptions that impede cognitive functions.
• Trauma-induced phenomena are linked to anxiety, while psychosis causes a radical transformation of sensory reality.
• Psychotic individuals experience an extreme sensorial mode, creating a new reality with non-existent perceptions.

Conclusions:

• Distinguishing between natural developmental sensoriality and pathological distortions is key to understanding psychic functioning.
• Psychosis represents a profound disruption of sensory processing and reality perception.
• Understanding these sensory alterations is crucial for diagnosing and treating severe mental health conditions.