©Arlene R. Taylor PhD
Sensory Preference Overview
Human beings interact with each other and with the environment through the senses. Some models portray the sensory systems in mixed combination with other types of brain functions. I perceive them as separate overlays (refer to the Who I Am Pyramid model for more information).
As research expands, a variety of senses have been identified beyond the three most common senses children learn. However, data related to three main categories may be the most relevant for learning.
Sensory Decoding
Most sensory data are decoded in the 3rd brain layer, in the six posterior lobes of the cerebrum, the Maintaining and the Harmonizing divisions. These centers can receive and decode up to 10 million bits of data per second—far more than an individual is capable of processing at a level of conscious awareness.
The six posterior lobes are:
Odors are thought to be decoded in the mammalian brain layer. The nose is only one synapse away from the amygdalae in the emotional brain. Perhaps this accounts for the fact that odors can often trigger recall of memory faster than either sight or sound.
Sensory Preference
The term Sensory Preference refers to the type of sensory data that registers most quickly and intensely in an individual’s brain. Sensory preference may be observed from birth or before in some individuals (e.g., kinesthetic babies sucking a thumb in utero; kinesthetic babies touching anything that is soft such as the satin border on a blanket or being especially sensitive to the feel of something against their skin or being very sensitive to odors or flavors).
By pre-kindergarten age, sensory-preferent behaviors can be observed in most children. Sensory preference impacts the way you take in and process sensory data, your comfort level in any given situation, how you learn new information best, and the way in which you interact with others and with the environment. You tend to feel affirmed, comfortable, and understood when you receive sensory data in your sensory preference. Typically, you expend less energy when decoding data that matches your sensory preference.
Incidence
Estimates are that sensory preference is found in the general population as follows:
| Auditory Preference -20% | Visual Preference – 60% | Kinesthetic Preference – 20% |
|---|---|---|
| More females than males. Take data in through the ears most easily | More males than females. Take data in through the eyes most easily. | Equal females and male, Take in data most easily through taste, touch, and smell most easily. |
Unusual Decoding
Sometimes sensory data is misrouted to the incorrect decoding center. This phenomenon may be related to hallucinations. Think of them as intense, self-generated experiences involving one or more of the senses. Studies show that the voices heard by individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia are their own. Speech is generated in one part of the brain but experienced as auditory input in another part.
Sometimes hallucinations are the result of giftedness. Individuals with eidetic (photographic) memory are more likely to experience hallucinations. For example, children who play with seemingly invisible (to others) playmates may actually be seeing these playmates as clearly as others see real people.
Various forms of dyslexia that have been identified may result from unusual decoding. More information is available from the International Dyslexia Association.
https://dyslexiaida.org › fact-sheets
States of Consciousness and the Senses
Markova, in her book The Open Mind, Exploring the Six Patterns of Natural Intelligence, describes three states of consciousness: conscious, subconscious, and unconscious. She claims that these states can be triggered by any of the sensory systems and that differing mental processes are activated depending on the specific type of sensory stimuli involved. For example:
Human beings interact with each other and with the environment through the senses. Growing up you likely learned to group sensory data into one of three categories:
Unimpaired you can input and decode the entire range of sensory stimuli, although one sensory system may be used more than the other two in a specific situation.
Some models portray the sensory systems in mixed combination with other types of brain functions. I perceive them as separate overlays (refer to the Who I Am Pyramid model for more information).
Most sensory data are decoded in the 3rd brain layer, in the six posterior lobes of the cerebrum, the Maintaining and the Harmonizing divisions.
These centers can receive and decode up to 10 million bits of data per second—far more than you are capable of processing at a level of conscious awareness.
The six posterior lobes are:
Note: Odors are thought to be decoded in the mammalian brain layer. The nose is only one synapse away from the amygdalae in the emotional brain. Perhaps this accounts for the fact that odors can often trigger recall of memory faster than either sight or sound.
The term Sensory Preference refers to the type of sensory data that registers most quickly and intensely in your brain.
Sensory preference may be observed from birth or before in some individuals (e.g., kinesthetic babies sucking a thumb in utero; kinesthetic babies touching anything that is soft such as the satin border on a blanket, or being especially sensitive to the feel of something against their skin, or being very sensitive to odors or flavors).
By pre-kindergarten age, sensory-preferent behaviors can be observed in most children.
Sensory preference impacts the way you take in and process sensory data, your comfort level in any given situation, how you learn new information best, and the way in which you interact with others and with the environment. You tend to feel affirmed, comfortable, and understood when you receive sensory data in your sensory preference. Typically you will expend less energy when decoding data that matches your sensory preference.
Estimates are that sensory preference is found in the general population as follows:
| Auditory Preference – 20% | Visual Preference – 60% | Kinesthetic Preference – 20% |
| More females than males when tallied by genderWho takes data in through the ears most easily? | More males than females when tallied by genderWho takes data in through the eyes most easily? | Equal females and males when tallied by genderWho takes data in via taste, touch, and smell most easily? |
Sometimes sensory data is misrouted to the incorrect decoding center. This phenomenon may be related to hallucinations. Think of them as intense, self-generated experiences involving one or more of the senses. Studies show that the voices heard by individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia are their own. Speech is generated in one part of the brain but experienced as auditory input in another part.
Sometimes hallucinations are the result of giftedness. Individuals with eidetic (photographic) memory are more likely to experience hallucinations than are others. For example, children who play with seemingly invisible (to others) playmates may actually be seeing these playmates as clearly as the rest of us see real people.
Markova, in her book The Open Mind, Exploring the Six Patterns of Natural Intelligence, describes three states of consciousness: conscious, subconscious, and unconscious. She claims that these states can be triggered by any of the sensory systems and that differing mental processes are activated depending on the specific type of sensory stimuli involved.
For example:
Download the Sensory Preference Assessment(pdf)
Explanation of Sensory Preference Assessment Scores
Write total score for each column in the correct box below:
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.
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.
Sometimes Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) interfere with who you are innately, leading you to try and “become” the person that adults expect you to be, and in the process you lose who you really are innately. 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.
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
Auditory Children Summary
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)
Kinesthetic Children Summary
Human Touch Needs
Although Kinesthetics are likely the most wounded without appropriate loving touch or by abusive touch, 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.
A visual sensory preference indicates that what you take in through sight typically registers most quickly and intensely in your brain. It may even require less energy to decode the data. 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.
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 around you.
Characteristics of Visual Preference
Visual Children Summary
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 bent 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. Without 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. For example, you may want your “stacks” of books and papers lined up in a visually pleasing way, as compared to what might be important to you if you have a different sensory preference. This is not good or bad. Different individuals simply have very different perceptions and expectations.
Internal Mental Picturing
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 estimates are that 3-5% of the general population have difficulty doing this.
Females tend to hear better than males (have less acute hearing), and this difference only becomes more pronounced throughout life. For example, eleven-year-old girls are distracted by noise levels that are approximately 10 times softer than the levels that boys find distracting.
Female Brains
| Male Brains
|
Processing of Voice Sounds by Gender
A study at the University of Sheffield and published in the journal NeuroImagefound differences in the way the male and female brains process voice sounds. Females typically process voice sounds in Wernicke’s area in the left cerebral hemisphere. Males tend to process male voice sounds in Wernicke’s area, but process female voice sounds in the auditory portion of the right hemisphere used for processing melody lines.
Females tend to listen with both hemispheres and pick up more nuances of tonality in voice sounds and in other sounds (e.g., crying, moaning). Males tend to listen primarily with one hemisphere and do not hear the same nuances of tonality (e.g., may miss the warning tone in a female voice)
Researcher Dr. Michael Hunter said: “The female voice is actually more complex than the male voice, due to differences in the size and shape of the vocal cords and larynx between men and women, and also due to women having greater natural ‘melody’ in their voices. This causes a more complex range of sound frequencies than in a male voice.”
Males tend to have a long-range narrow, tunnel-vision style. Think of their brains as having a metaphoric built-in set of binoculars. (of course, building a set of binoculars takes time and that may be part of the reason it takes the male brain 1.6 years long to mature as compared to the female brain.
In general, males may find it easier to locate items that are further away (e.g., signs, markers, hunting quarry). They may also be less distracted by other things in the environment as they hone in on the quarry, whatever that is. The flip side is that it can be more difficult and take additional energy to try to find items on a desk, in a cupboard, in the refrigerator, or on a shelf.
Females on the other hand tend to have a short-range, wide, peripheral-vision style. No binoculars. Typically they find it easier to locate specific items in cupboards, drawers, and refrigerators as their vision takes in more of the immediate environment. Their flip side is that when driving on a busy freeway, by the time they can read the exit sign there may be insufficient time for them to move over four lanes and leave the freeway safely. In such cases they’re more likely to go to the next exit and then return. A CHP joked once, rather tongue in cheek, that “women spend a lot more time on the freeway.)
Hunter-Gatherer Societies
It is possible that this vision style difference, along with the increased upper and lower body strengh the average male has (as compared to an average female of similar size) may have contributed to the division of labor in the hunter-Gatherer Societies.
Being able to see further might give the male an advantage when stocking game with a bow and arrow, a spear, or even with a gun.
Summary of Selected Vision Differences
| Females | Males |
| • Have more of the smaller, thinner P ganglion cells that are designed to process color and texture. | • Have a thicker retina containing more of the larger, thicker M cells that are “motion detectors,” so typically need to move around more than do girls. |
| • Are prewired to be more interested in faces | • Are prewired to be more interested in moving objects |
| • Tend to be more sensitive to colors such as red, orange, green, and beige as P cells are prewired to be more sensitive to them. | • Tend to be more sensitive to colors such as black, gray, silver, and blue because M cells are prewired to be more sensitive to them. |
| • When helping a girl with her school assignment, smile and look her in the eye. | • When helping a boy, sit or stand shoulder to shoulder and spread materials in front of you, and avoid telling him to “look at me.” |
| • Role-playing or writing essay on “how you feel” can be an effective exercise. | • Drawing a map or deconstructing a passage of text analytically can be an effective exercise. |
NOTE: This information refers to a style of vision rather than to actual visual acuity (e.g., 20/20 vision).
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.
Your sensory preference impacts not only the career path toward which you gravitated but also your situational comfort level while trying to complete key tasks. Following are examples of career paths that might be selected by individuals based on a strong sensory preference.
Visual Preference Airline pilots | Auditory Preference Musicians | Kinesthetic Preference Athletes |
Real Estate Sales
George (not his real name) is a very successful real estate agent. When others are moaning and groaning, he regularly manages to connect buyers with sellers because he understands the sensory systems. Initially he asks prospective buyers to describe exactly what they want in a home and then observes their body language, listens to the words they use, and tries to sense their motivation. Then he matches his sales pitch to their sensory preference. If the customers appear to be visual, he may tell them that there are windows everywhere so they can see outdoors or ask them to notice the craftsmanship from the carving on the doors to the trim over the portico. To tap into the auditory system, George may mention that there is plenty of insulation to block out undesirable sounds, or call their attention to the rustling of leaves on the full-grown trees surrounding the property. He may suggest that the gentle babbling of the brook nearby can provide restful sounds from nature for them to enjoy.
If George is addressing the kinesthetic system, he’ll draw the clients’ attention to the fine finishing detail and plush carpets. He may talk about the house being soundly constructed and suggest they touch the wood on the railing to feel how smooth it is. He may remind them that the way in which the kitchen window is positioned allows the warmth of the sun to permeate the room. He may talk about the potential for sitting on the wide patio in order to soak up the perfume from the wild flowers that are growing in the lot next door, or how they will enjoy the raspberries that are growing on bushes near the fence. If he’s uncertain about his clients’ sensory preference, George just makes sure to address all three!
Some of his colleagues poke fun at the scientific way in which he approaches sales and accuse him of using manipulation. George says that he just understands human nature. He never tries to sell people a home they do not want. He just tries to present options to them in a language that they can understand and can relate to quickly. And people love to buy from George. They recognize that he speaks their language even if they can’t explain how he does it. His colleagues certainly notice his successes!
Health Counseling
Victoria (not her real name) uses a similar approach when working with people who need to change their lifestyle in order to regain their health. When encouraging smokers to quit she tells auditories how nice it will be not to hear wheezing and gasping for air whenever they climb stairs or exercise, reminds visuals how great it will be to avoid nicotine stains and burn-holes, and encourages kinesthetics reminding them they will enjoy enhanced tasting ability to say nothing of sweeter breath.
When discussing dietary changes, Victoria explains to visuals how a healthier diet and an exercise program can help them to look better, how they can regain a glow to their skin, tighten up flabby muscles, and see a spring return to their step. She reminds auditories how pleasant it will be to hear other people tell them how much healthier they appear. She helps kinesthetics realize how much better they will feel on the new program (e.g., their clothes will soon fit better, they may sleep more soundly, will likely experience a resurgence of energy) and that within three weeks their taste buds can readjust to enjoy low-fat/salt/sugar foods.
Victoria has discovered that her clients are generally much more willing to accept change and to invest the time and energy that it takes to foster personal growth when she communicates in their sensory preference. When making presentations she keeps in mind the estimated incidence of sensory preference in the general population and does her best to include stimuli that engage all three sensory systems (e.g., stories, word pictures, tangible objects, multimedia, handouts, overheads, PowerPoint®). No wonder she is sought after as a speaker!
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:
The Approach/Withdrawal Continuum—believed to be the fastest and nearly automatic decision the brain makes—postulates that people tend to approach (move toward) individuals, environments, situations, or things when they feel comfortable.
Conversely, they tend to avoid (or withdraw from) individuals, environments, situations, or things when they feel uncomfortable. Acknowledging another’s sensory preference and making provision for it can help him/her to feel more comfortable.
| Comfortable I like it! I want more! | Uncomfortable I don’t like it! I want out of here! |
The concept of mirroring involves becoming aware of the sensory signals from other individuals and feeding back similar sensory signals in a discrete and effective manner to help them feel comfortable. Following are examples of three types of mirroring: verbal, body, and content.
1. Verbal (Auditory) Mirroring
When you meet an individual for the first time listen to the type of words he/she uses and reply using similar sensory words.
• The person says, “That looks clear to me.” Those words suggest a visual preference. If you reply with “I’m glad it sounds good (auditory system) or “I’m glad you have ahandle on the concept” (kinesthetic system), you may come across as hailing from a different planet. Try replying in the same sensory preference, “I’m glad you see…” and so on.
These same principles apply whether you’re communicating in person, by letter, by telephone, or by email. Pay attention to the type of sensory words the individual is using and mirror, reply in kind. You may be amazed at how this simple strategy can enhance communication.
2. Body (Kinesthetic and Visual) Mirroring
Body mirroring is another way of helping people to feel comfortable. It involves matching your gestures, body positions, use of space, and way of moving to those of the other individual. People tend to be more comfortable in the presence of individuals they sense are “like them.” You don’t exactly copy the other person’s every gesture or body position but you exhibit similar behaviors.
If the person smiles, smile in return. If the individual sheds tears, exhibit a facial expression that indicates you empathize with those types of feelings. If his/her rate of speech is slow, avoid replying in rapid-fire sequences. If the person’s brow furrows, furrow yours. If the individual nods or crosses arms, legs, consider eventually making similar gestures. If the other person uses large arm gestures and this isn’t your style, simply exhibit smaller motions. If the person moves back from you physically, perhaps he/she has larger space requirements. Pay attention and avoid violating another’s personal space.
Body mirroring can also be enhanced by appropriate use of the eyes. In this culture, most of us have been socialized not to stare at others. However, appropriate eye contact may be the psychologically equivalent to direct touch (e.g., shaking hands, patting on the shoulder). It can help to establish a powerful connection between two people. Think about your own response to someone who looks you directly in the eye versus one who looks everywhere but at you. Look directly into the other person’s eyes. This can be especially important if they have a visual sensory preference.
3. Content Mirroring
Content mirroring is a way in which to create rapport with someone else, a state of sympathetic harmony. Paraphrase what you heard said and then feed it back using words that mirror his/her sensory preference. Match your voice volume and speed of speech to that of the other person. It’s all about helping to reduce stress levels and enhancing comfort levels.
Listen actively. That’s very different from simply hearing. Avoid allowing your mind to wander or start thinking about what you will say next. This can cause you to miss critical portions of the conversation. Pay attention to the big picture, not just the details.
If the person says, “I started feeling bad about a month ago after my cat died,” the critical piece of information may revolve around grief and loss related to the cat. Ask open-ended questions rather than those that can be answered with just a yes or a no. As the individual responds, exhibit behaviors that send a signal that you are truly listening (e.g., nod, smile, raise an eyebrow).
A desirable goal for most people is to identify your own sensory preference and figure out how you take in data most efficiently, and then build sufficient skills to access any and all of the sensory systems by choice, depending on what is required or would be most effective for the situation at hand. Knowing your own sensory preference, recognizing that of others, and matching your communication style to theirs whenever possible can enhance all your relationships and improve your career success.
Unless you make a conscious choice to do differently, you tend to communicate with others in your preferred sensory system. When your sensory preference matches theirs or the specific environment you tend to feel accepted, validated, smart, comfortable, and affirmed. When your sensory preference does not match, the opposite can occur. Communication that acknowledges sensory preference is a learned skill.
Here are six steps for increasing sensory system skills:
| 1. Knowledge | Identify your own sensory preference and then be alert to situations that could be improved through sensory system recognition and application. |
| 2. Choice | Make a choice to exhibit whole-brain-nurturing behaviors, to use all three systems when communicating with others whenever possible. |
| 3. Competency | Develop skills in each of the three sensory systems and become comfortable with each system. |
| 4. Creativity | Be innovative and creative in using the sensory systems. Try something new! Brainstorm alternative ways to offer nurturing to others. |
| 5. Implementation | Communicate with others in their sensory preference. Specifically offer nurturing in the other person’s sensory preference when you know what that is. When in doubt, use all three! |
| 6. Acceptance | Recognize and graciously accept nurturing from others even when it doesn’t come to you in your preferred style, realizing that the other person is likely trying to communicate with you through his/her sensory preference. Otherwise you may miss a great deal of affirmation because it came to you in a nonpreferred sensory system. |
Differences in sensory preference impact relationships and underlie many communication problems, situational misunderstandings, and feelings of discomfort. Understanding this can alert you to ways in which you can prevent some of these from occurring in the first place and can offer strategies for resolution when problems already exist.
If you were shamed, bruised, or ignored because of your sensory preference, or if you observed others being shamed, bruised, or ignored for their preference, the experience may have influenced your use of that specific sensory system. For example:
| Did you have a visual preference, but were you: |
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| Did you have an auditory preference, but were you: |
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| Did you have a kinesthetic preference, but were you: |
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If you experienced these or similar situations in your life, you may have repressed your own innate sensory preference in favor of developing skills in another sensory system that was more acceptable in your environment or more rewarded by people who were important to you. If you discover this is the case, you can take steps to reown your sensory preference.
Remember that you may use all of your senses most (if not all) of the time. Preference refers to the type of sensory stimuli that usually gets your attention most quickly and that may require the least energy expenditure.
If you complete the Sensory Preference Assessment and two column scores are tied, one of the scores likely represents your 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 pulled back from it. If all scores are equal, you may have pulled in your own preference due to trauma or crisis, and developed higher numbers of skills in other sensory systems.
Use your scores as a starting point for evaluating your sensory history. Try to uncover and identify factors that may have influenced you to repress your sensory preference. Recall examples of specific situations and behaviors and make an educated guess.
Sample questions to get you started:
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:
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
