Sensereversing

Sensereversing is a proposed perceptual phenomenon in which the brain applies a reversed mapping to incoming sensory information, producing experiences that are inverted relative to the source. The reversal may occur in spatial dimensions, such as a left-right inversion in visual input, or across modalities within multisensory processing. The term is used mainly in theoretical discussions of neural plasticity, sensorimotor recalibration, and the limits of perceptual constancy.

Etymology and scope: The word blends sense with reversing and is not established as a widely used clinical diagnosis. In discussions, sensereversing is treated as a controllable or contact-induced alteration of normal sensorimotor contingencies, rather than a persistent pathological state.

Proposed mechanisms: The concept rests on the idea that cortical maps for touch, vision, and proprioception can be recalibrated or remapped under altered feedback. Neural processes such as recalibration of efference copy, predictive coding, and multisensory integration in parietal and premotor areas are cited as possible substrates. Experimental paradigms often involve manipulating feedback in virtual reality or with prism-like devices to induce a systematic reversal of perceived contingencies.

Evidence and status: Empirical support is limited and primarily within experimental psychology and neuroscience. Some studies report rapid short-term recalibration and aftereffects when reversed feedback is introduced, while others find the effects to be transient or highly variable across individuals. The approach remains controversial and its ecological validity is debated.

Applications and implications: If robust, sensereversing concepts could inform rehabilitation strategies after nerve injury, assistive device design for prosthetics with reversed or novel feedback, and research on how the brain learns and adapts to altered sensorimotor mappings. Further research is needed to establish reliable protocols and outcomes.

See also: sensory substitution, sensorimotor adaptation, prism adaptation, neuroplasticity, multisensory integration.