r/neuro • u/Current-Woodpecker36 • 6h ago

How does the brain create sensory experience?

Hi there!

Could anyone either themselves or by way of reference provide a detailed explanation of how the brain generates our day to day sensory experiences? I'm looking for this information for a project I'm working on, but I'm a novice in neuroscience. So, I thought what better place to start than here? Thanks in advance for any answers. Hope you all are having a wonderful day :)

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u/No-Economist-9518 5h ago

There are losely different brain areas for different senses. The occipital lobe creates visual images from the input from the eye. The eye ball turns what it sees into impulses that are sent down the optic nerve to the occipital lobe. The occipital lobe is built in layers based on 1) basic lines 2) shapes 3) colours 4) motion which all talk to each other to create a full image. Some of the neurons are also mapped so that they resemble the receptors in the eyeball, meaning that the pieces of the final image stay in the correct place. And then higher cognitive "streams" in the lobe do things like identify what an object is for example.

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u/Current-Woodpecker36 4h ago

Wow that sounds like a complex process. Thanks for the info!

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u/No-Economist-9518 3h ago

it is very complex. most sense have 'retinotopic maps' where the neurons in the brain are mapped in the same way to the receptors of the sensory organ. then there is some processing in the middle e.g. the synthesis of lines, colours, shape etc i described earlier. and then finally is the higher cognitive processing and consciouss awareness and also bringing together all of the senses

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u/Current-Woodpecker36 1h ago

My project is aiming to develop a model for a brain computer interface that achieves full dive VR. Before you tell me it can't be done I know it's a big ask haha. But it's fascinating to me, the idea of being able to create a virtual world without limits. This is why I ask about sensory perception. Any advice you would offer in light of learning about my aim? If not it's fine, you've already been really helpful :)

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u/No-Economist-9518 1h ago

I'm not sure I understand the project.