I encourage people to learn all they can about brain function and to apply the knowledge they gain to their own lives on a daily basis. Because it is often easier to start from something than from nothing, I have prepared these summaries related to the sensory systems and sensory preferences.

My goal is to stimulate thinking and observation, trigger increased awareness at an individual level, jumpstart applications for every day living, and provide options for behaviors.

Although I have relied heavily on brain function research, a plethora of studies, and discussions with brain researchers and other experts, the summaries represent my own brain’s opinion.

Typically, conclusions from research projects and studies are presented in the form of generalizations that apply to nearly 70% of the population (to the first standard deviation on either side of the mean). There are always exceptions based on individuality. No two brains are ever identical in structure, function, or perception, not even those of identical twins.

If some of your personal characteristics / behaviors don’t match a specific generalization, it doesn’t invalidate the research findings. It does exemplify individual uniqueness. Avoid discounting first-impression mismatches too quickly. Perhaps you haven’t had the opportunity to hone a specific skill, or your personal past experiences have impacted you in unusual ways.

An auditory sensory preference means that what the individual takes in through sound (e.g., ears, sound waves beating against the skin) typically registers most quickly and intensely in the brain. It gets their attention more quickly and may even require less energy to decode the data.

Some commonly displayed characteristics of auditories follow, including characteristics that may be observed in children based on their individual sensory preference. Use these as general guidelines for discussion, remembering that each brain is as different as the person’s thumbprint and you may be more aware of one system than another at any given moment depending on the environment in which you find yourself.

Characteristics of Individuals with an Auditory Preference

• Use auditory words and metaphors (e.g., that sounds okay to me, it’s clear as a bell, keep your ear to the ground, that doesn’t ring true, as irritating as a dripping faucet, do you hear what I mean?)
• Often exhale deeply and sigh especially when tired, tense, or stressed
• May cock head to one side when listening carefully or speaking intensely or cup or touch ears
• React faster and/or more intensely to auditory stimuli
• The brain responds more quickly and intensely to auditory cues

Auditory Children Summary

• Like pets that make sounds or talk and prefer toys that make sounds
• Food must sound right (e.g., may like or dislike the way food sounds when being chewed)
• May be afraid of loud or scary sounds (e.g., storms, sirens, people crying)
• The way clothing sounds may be important (e.g., may like/dislike swish of nylon or clank of zippers)
• Often sensitive to things they hear in the environment (e.g., caregivers arguing, a child being punished)
• Tend to quickly feel nurtured/loved by positive auditory stimuli (e.g., pleasant sounds in nature, pleasing music, affirming voice tones)
• May be bruised by lack of positive auditory input (e.g., silent treatment, harsh voices, jangling keys, raucous/unpleasant noises)
• Often learn most quickly by listening to verbal explanations of how something is done

Take the Sensory Preference Assessment (available free of charge on website).

Explanation of Sensory Preference Assessment Scores

Write total score for each column in the correct box below:

• Column 1: _____ / 21
• Column 2: _____ / 21
• Column 3: _____ / 21

The highest score on the Sensory Preference Assessment usually represents your overall sensory preference, unless you have adapted away from it for some reason. Remember that you use all of your senses most (if not all) of the time. Sensory preference refers to the type of sensory stimuli that register in your brain most quickly and intensely. Those type of sensory stimuli usually require the least amount of energy expenditures to decode (make sense of them) in the brain.

• Column 1 represents an auditory preference
• Column 2 represents a visual preference
• Column 3 represents a kinesthetic preference

Note: Avoid confusing a Visual sensory preference (e.g., what you take in through sight registers most quickly and intensely in your brain) with an ability to create internal mental pictures. 

If two scores are tied, one of the scores likely represents your sensory preference, while the other represents skills you’ve developed in order to relate to someone significant in your life. If one of the tied scores is kinesthesia, consider the possibility that your innate preference is kinesthetic and that for some reason, you have increased skills in another sensory system.

If all scores are equal, you may have developed higher numbers of skills in other sensory systems due to lack of opportunity to use your own preference, a perceived necessity to relate to a specific person or environment, or because of being punished or shamed for your own preference. Use your scores as a starting point for evaluating your sensory history. Try to uncover and identify factors that may have pushed you away from your sensory preference or made it uncomfortable to use.

For additional information, refer to Practical Applications.

A kinesthetic sensory preference means that what the individual takes in through touch, taste, smell, muscle position, and temperature perception typically registers most quickly and intensely in the brain. It gets their attention more quickly and may even require less energy to decode the data.

Some commonly displayed characteristics of kinesthetics follow, including characteristics that may be observed in children based on their individual sensory preference. Use these as general guidelines for discussion, remembering that each brain is as different as the person’s thumbprint and you may be more aware of one system than another at any given moment depending on the environment in which you find yourself.

Characteristics of Individuals with a Kinesthetic Preference (taste, touch, smell, position)

• Use kinesthetic words and metaphors (e.g., that doesn’t fit or feel right, I’ve got a gut feeling, I’m trying to get in touch with that idea, let’s hammer out a plan, spare me from the jolting headlines!)
• Have a low-pitched voice
• Tend to breathe deeply and speak slowly (e.g., words may flow out like thick cream)
• Often prefer to work with their hands
• React faster and/or more intensely to kinesthetic stimuli
• The brain responds more quickly and intensely to kinesthetic cues (e.g., touch, taste, odors)
• While they relate to the world through touch, taste, smell, position/posture, and sensitivity to the environment (e.g., temperature, humidity, drafts of air, feel of clothing, comfort of furniture) they are, at the same time, often extremely discriminating about who touches them and/or very sensitive to the type of touch (e.g., quickly discern the difference between sexual and nonsexual touch)

Kinesthetic Children Summary

• Like pets that are comfortable to touch and may be very sensitive/intuitive with animals
• Prefer toys that feel good (e.g., smooth, soft, interesting texture)
• Food must feel right (e.g., not too hot or cold, not scratchy, not slimy)
• May be afraid of any type of pain, physical irritation, or discomfort
• The way clothing feels may be important (e.g., feeling against skin, restrictive, sweaty)
• Often sensitive to the way things feel in the environment (e.g., temperature, drafts of wind, furniture)
• Tend to quickly feel nurtured/loved by gentle, affirming touch and environments that feel comfortable
• May be bruised by lack of touch or harsh touch (e.g., spanked, slapped, kicked, jerked, hair pulled, held down and tickled
• • Often learn most quickly by actually touching and doing, hands-on style

Every human being is believed to have skin-hunger needs. Studies of infants in orphanages showed that without sufficient touch, the babies died. When elderly volunteers were recruited to hold infants on the average of 15 minutes per day, the babies stopped dying. All children need nonsexual touch affirmation. So do all adults.

Since many live in somewhat of a “no-touch” society where there are cultural prohibitions against touching, many individuals experience difficulty getting their skin-hunger needs met adequately, especially males. Consequently, many are touch-deprived. This can be an even larger problem for those with a kinesthetic preference.

Some are fortunate to have a partner and/or friends with whom they can exchange touch. Others have pets that can be handled, stroked, and cuddled. Still others attempt to meet their skin-hunger needs through sexual activity. This can result in the individual putting a great deal of pressure on a partner for “sex” in an attempt to get skin-hunger needs met. Sexual activity is primarily about self-gratification and doesn’t fulfill the need for nonsexual, physical touch. Children who do not get their touch needs met appropriately may fail to thrive, or to learn, may be more vulnerable to touch (e.g., sexual abuse, physical abuse), or may be at higher risk for unwed pregnancies.

It can be critically important to take positive steps toward obtaining non-sexual physical-touch affirmation, especially if kinesthetic is your first or second preference. Teach your friends to touch you non-sexually, spend time with a pet that likes to be touched (e.g., curls up in your lap and soaks in petting). If you live or work with children, find ways to affirm them kinesthetically through appropriate non-sexual touch. If you want a kinesthetic to pay attention to what you are saying, try placing your hand gently on his/her arm or shoulder (if you have a relationship that permits this). The touch registers kinesthetically in the brain and allows the individual to focus more easily on receiving the information through the auditory or visual sensory system.

NOTE: Individuals with a kinesthetic preference can sometimes pay attention to auditory or visual stimuli (e.g., seminar setting) much more easily if they can hold something kinesthetically pleasing in their hand (e.g., a soft object or toy, squeezie, stress-reducer ball). This is particularly true of the male brain and often true for some female brains (e.g., kinesthetic, extroverted). That’s one reason I encourage participants to bring handwork to seminars I present if they know they listen better when doing something with their hands.

Not long ago, a group of friends were discussing individual differences related to preference. One of the guests asked when dinner would be ready, and that led to the topic of food in general, which led to a discussion of the way in which different cooks or chefs might approach food preparation from the position of their innate giftedness. Soon a lively discussion was well under way. Here were some of their comments related to sensory preference:

• Kinesthetics would typically taste everything and be very concerned about odors and the consistency of the food.
• Visuals would likely focus more on the presentation—of the food as well as the lighting, table decorations, surroundings, and you name it. 
• Auditories might talk to themselves, the guests, the cat under foot, and even to the food! They might be interested in soft background music, or turn on the indoor water fountain, or suggest a short musical presentation during dessert, with guests making contributions based on their individual talents. 

Romantic Relationships

In romantic courtship situations, partners tend to exhibit whole-brain nurturing. That is, they relate to each other through all three sensory systems. They talk, listen, and express affection verbally. They take pains to show their prospective partners a good time. They may look at each other in that special way and affirm each other’s appearance. They touch, hug, kiss, and caress each other. Being on the receiving end of this type of whole brain nurturing can make one want to spend the rest of our life with the nurturer! When the sensory preferences of partners match, affirming each other in a way that helps to promote a sense of love and acceptance can happen more automatically, as we tend to relate to others in our own sensory preference unless we make a different conscious choice.

When partners experience discord, it may be that their sensory preferences differ. For example, the visual may dress and groom carefully, take the partner places and even give gifts of flowers but may not articulate love words as frequently, nor meet the partner’s skin-hunger needs. The auditory may talk of love, but neglect to look at the other person in that special way, fail to groom carefully, overlook the planning of outings, and neglect to touch or hug enough. The kinesthetic may be good at touching the partner, but may neglect attentions that would appeal to a visual or an auditory person. When the preferred nurturing styles are not understood and when partners are not nurtured in a whole-brained manner, both partners may eventually begin to feel unloved.

When sensory styles differ, one or both partners may gradually perceive a lack of connection and validation. Over time this can lead to discord unless each makes a special effort to offer appropriate nurturing and affirmation to the other in his/her preferred sensory system. Do something every day for your partner (and/or children) in his/her sensory preference and watch your relationships improve.

Legal Unions

With the current divorce rates in some portions of the country reported to be more than 50%, here are a few comments relating to partners who marry or who become involved with another type of legal union. Marriage involves much more than simply living together. Some couples mistakenly hope that living together will serve as a trial marriage. In actual fact, statistics show that partners who live together prior to marriage may be in for a surprise. Only after couples sign on the dotted line (e.g., married, registered legal partners) do they really start acting out their subconsciously absorbed beliefs, attitudes, and expectations related to roles in marriage. It is only then that they often begin to act just like Mom or Dad acted, regardless of whether or not they liked or admired those behaviors. Human beings tend to do as they’ve been done to unless they consciously learn new strategies and choose to exhibit more functional behaviors (if those are needed).

Once the courtship routine is over and the goal (marriage, legal union) has been reached, most people gradually tend to revert to their own sensory preference. In other words, most people tend to express themselves and relate to others in a manner that matches their sensory preference, unless they make a conscious choice to do differently. When two individuals have the same primary sensory preference, there isn’t as great a disparity between the before and after marriage/legal union validation.

When they have different primary sensory preferences they’re much more likely to get caught up in the “my partner really changed after we got married” phenomenon, or lament “he/she doesn’t love me any more.” This can help to explain instances where two people lived together quite successfully (sometimes for years), got married, and then were separated/divorced within months. Each partner may vehemently claim the other really changed after the ceremony. Well-meaning listeners often reply that no one changes after marriage. The truth is they probably did! In order to keep the relationship alive, exciting, and affirming, partners who have different sensory preferences need to understand whole-brained nurturing and consciously relate to the other person (do something every day) in his/her sensory preference.

Early in life you may have learned to identify the five senses by pointing to your eyes, ears, nose, tongue, and skin. Unimpaired you can use all of those senses, too, although you may be much more aware of one sense over the others in specific situations. For example:

• At a symphony concert you may be more aware of the auditory sense

• At a fabulous birthday dinner you may be more aware of the kinesthetic sense

• At an art gallery you may be more aware of the visual sense

You are most likely to feel most comfortable, affirmed, understood, nurtured, and even loved when you receive sensory stimuli in your preferred sensory system. Consequently you tend to gravitate toward, and feel most comfortable in, environments that acknowledge and reward your sensory preference. The ideal is to know your sensory preference and build sufficient skills in all three systems so you can access any or all by choice, as required by the situation at hand.

• Refer to Sensory Preference Continuum for additional information

• Refer to Synesthesia for additional information

Based on your own sensory preference, you may approach the study of music quite differently from others, and may find specific musical activities easier or more energy efficient to accomplish.

Visual Sensory Preference

The two occipital lobes interpret data related to sight. Estimates are that 60% of the population has a visual preference. This sensory system helps you recognize the signs and symbols that represent musical sounds (reading music).

The occipital lobes are active when decoding visual data and during visual imaging. In combination with the frontal cortex, it enables you to maintain the image of an instrument in consciousness. Individuals with a visual preference may be inclined to memorize music by mentally seeing the notes on the page or by noticing musical patterns on the keyboard. They may find it easier to notate music legibly.

Kinesthetic Sensory Preference

The two parietal lobes interpret data related to taste, touch, position sense, physical stimuli, and odors. In combination with the frontal cortex these portions of the brain enable you to hold onto position sense (e.g., the way in which you hold a musical instrument, maintain your position on the piano or organ bench). These neurons fire when decoding kinesthetic data and during movement imagery.

This sensory system also helps you to decode vibrations that beat against the skin and/or that are felt in the 2nd brain layer or limbic system. Perhaps that was what Keats had in mind when he wrote, heard melodies are sweet but those unheard are sweeter. Incidentally, odors can trigger memories faster than any other type of sensory data. The nose is one synapse away from the amygdalae in the emotional brain that routes incoming sensory information to higher centers of association in the thinking brain.

Estimates are that 20% of the population has a kinesthetic preference. This system helps you manage your relative position to bounded shapes such as instruments, and to sense nuances of sound, including vibrations, and perhaps musical interpretation.

Individuals with a kinesthetic preference may gravitate toward tactile memorization (sensing positions of fingers, hands, and body, and how it feels to reproduce the music). They may use musculature to represent the music, modeling important features of musical patterns by means of physical memories (e.g., tap toes, “dance it out” from head to toe).

Auditory Sensory Preference

The two temporal lobes interpret data related to sounds that are heard. Estimates are that 20% of the population has an auditory preference. This system facilitates emphasis on tone color, pitch, and dynamics. It fires when decoding sounds and during auditory imaging. In combination with your frontal cortex it allows you to decode patterns of vibrations, and enables you to sustain musical anticipations for several seconds as you await their resolution.

Individuals with an auditory preference may tend to memorize by recalling the sound of the music, the intervals between notes, volume-of-sound differences, and the distinctive tones typical of the key signature(s). They may hum along with the music, or use the body as a resonator for the music, allowing himself/herself to be played as an instrument, as it were.

A visual sensory preference means that what you take in through sight typically registers most quickly and intensely in your brain. It gets your attention more quickly and may even require less energy to decode the data.

Some commonly displayed characteristics of visuals follow, including characteristics that may be observed in children based on their individual sensory preference. Use these as general guidelines for discussion, remembering that each brain is as different as the person’s thumbprint and you may be more aware of one system than another at any given moment depending on the environment in which you find yourself.

Characteristics of Visual Preference

• Use visual words and metaphors (e.g., I see what you mean, picture this, the light just went on, it’s crystal clear to me, she talked until she was blue in the face, do you see what I mean?)
• Have a higher-pitched voice and often speak rapidly
• May breathe shallowly or hold their breath at times while thinking
• Draw pictures in the air with arms/hands
• React faster and/or more intensely to visual stimuli
• The brain responds more quickly and intensely to visual stimuli

Visual Children Summary

• Like pets that are interesting to watch and may prefer colorful, attractive toys that move
• Food must look right (e.g., may dislike beets and mashed potatoes blending into each other on plate)
• May be afraid of the dark or shadows
• May fear videos, movies, and pictures they perceive as scary
• Appearance is very important (e.g., may be bothered by tattered, worn, mended, or outmoded clothes)
• Often sensitive to things they see in the environment (e.g., facial expressions, shadowing on the wall)
• Tend to feel nurtured/loved by positive visual stimuli (e.g., visually pleasing environments, affirming eye contact or facial expressions).
• May be bruised by lack of eye contact, angry facial expressions, visually unpleasant surroundings, lack of things to look at
• Often learn most quickly by seeing (watching) how something is done

Visual Sensory Preference versus Mental Picturing

What is the difference between a person having a visual sensory preference and being able to mentally picture something in their mind’s eye? Some individuals with a visual sensory preference can do this quite easily. 

Having a visual sensory preference means that visual stimuli typically register more quickly in your brain than either auditory or kinesthetic sensory stimuli, although there might be specific situations when you are more aware of auditory (symphony program) or kinesthetic (eating Thanksgiving dinner) stimuli.

The ability to create internal mental pictures differs from possessing a visual sensory preference. Most people can train themselves to picture something in their mind’s eye, although about 3-5% of the general population cannot. 

Most people can train themselves to be more observant regardless of sensory preference, although it may be more energy intensive for a nonvisual. Having said that, based on your brain lead you may be more or less aware of “details.” If you have a frontal right brain bent (e.g., the FR pays attention to when things are different or changing) you may enter a room and sense that something is different, although if you don’t have a visual sensory preference you may need to have the details pointed out to you….

If you have a visual sensory preference, and have been taught that there is one right way for things to “look” in order to meet societal or family expectations, you may want your person or your environment to look a specific way. This means that if you have a frontal right brain lead you might be much more concerned that your “stacks” are lined up in a visually pleasing way, as compared to what might be important to you if you have a different brain lead.

If you have both a visual sensory preference and a brain bent in the frontal right cerbral division (e.g., thought to be the home of internal mental picturing) you may be very concerned about appearances, especially if you grew up absorbing expectations about the importance of how things look. This is not good or bad. Different individuals simply have very different perceptions and expectations.