Sensation and perception can be extremely fun and hands-on topics to cover in a psychology class if you have the time and energy to put into creating experiences for your students. These topics encompass so many subtopics that can be intriguing to explore!
Reading books about sensation and perception can be the same way. You probably won't find any one book that covers all of sensation and perception (unless you're looking for a textbook), but there are loads of books that dive deeply into various subtopics and can give you some fun tidbits to share with your students throughout this unit/these units.
Here's my list of fun reads that cover some aspect of the science of sensation and/or perception. Below, you'll find fiction and non-fiction; some include psychological studies and thorough research, but all can improve our understanding of these topics to help us teach from a more informed perspective.
A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass
This book was actually recommended to me by a student and is a great YA (young adult) fiction that you should definitely recommend to your students interested in synesthesia.
Mass makes this perceptual phenomenon accessible and intriguing through the story of a 13-year-old girl who first realized she was different at age eight when her peers laughed at her for saying numbers each had colors.
"I wanted to tell the principal that his name was the color of freshly piled hay. I quickly thought better of it. Even at eight years old, I was smart enough to realize that something was very wrong and that until I figured out what it was, I'd better not get myself in deeper trouble. So I pretended I made everything up."
In this coming-of-age novel, the protagonist discovers that what she's experiencing has a name and other people who experience it as well. Through the normal trials and tribulations of teenage life, she finds ways to cope with her differences and embrace the ways she's able to perceive the world. She makes connections with other syntesthetes and finds value in her unique sensory perceptions.
Smellosophy: What the Nose Tells the Mind by A. S. Barwich
Take a deep dive into the chemical sense of olfaction in Smellosophy. This book explores developments in neuroscience, psychology, chemistry, philosophy, and more. It even includes experts in perfumery and winemaking in the conversation. Barwich, a philosopher and cognitive scientist, delves into the world of olfaction and how our sense of smell shapes our experiences and understanding of the world.
"Smells seduce or repel us, make us feel relaxed or stressed; however, we do not comprehend how the human brain creates and gives them meaning. Perhaps, for this reason, the sense of smell is hopelessly misunderstood and often misrepresented."
Barwich challenges the traditional hierarchy of the senses, emphasizing that smell plays a crucial role in our daily lives, influencing our emotions, memories, and even decision-making. She explores the intricate relationship between the nose and the mind, demonstrating how our olfactory experiences are deeply intertwined with our thoughts and feelings.
The Man Who Mistook His Wife for a Hat: And Other Clinical Tales by Oliver Sacks
This collection of clinical case studies delves into the intriguing and often bizarre world of neurological disorders. Sacks, a renowned neurologist and writer, presents a series of captivating narratives about patients he encountered during his medical career. He shares the stories of individuals who have experienced unusual and perplexing neurological conditions, such as visual agnosia (the inability to recognize familiar objects or faces) and various other disorders that affect perception and cognition. Each case is a window into the complex and diverse ways the human brain can be both resilient and vulnerable.
"Not only did Mr. P increasingly fail to see faces, but he saw faces when there were no faces to see: genially, Magoo-like, when in the street he might pat the heads of water hydrants and parking meters, taking these to be the heads of children; he would amiably address carved knobs on the furniture and be astounded when they did not reply."
Sacks' writing is not only scientifically insightful but also deeply compassionate. He explores the human side of these conditions, emphasizing the humanity of the patients and their struggles. He provides a unique perspective on the complexities of perception, memory, and consciousness, making it a compelling read for both those in the medical field and general readers interested in the intricacies of the brain and the human condition.
Have you read any of these, or any other books about sensation or perception? Share in the comments below!
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