Sensory Exotica: A World beyond Human Experience

By Howard C. Hughes

Book Overview

An entertaining guide to the exotic sensory abilities of the Earth's nonhuman creatures.

Certain insects and animals such as bees, birds, bats, fish, and dolphins possess senses that lie far beyond the realm of human experience. Examples include echolocation, internal navigation systems, and systems based on bioelectricity. In this book Howard C. Hughes tells the story of these "exotic" senses. He tells not only what has been discovered but how it was discovered--including historical misinterpretations of animal perception that we now view with amusement.

The book is divided into four parts: biosonar, biological compasses, electroperception, and chemical communication. Although it is filled with fascinating descriptions of animal sensitivities--the sonar system of a bat, for example, rivals that of the most sophisticated human-made devices--the author's goal is to explain the anatomical and physiological principles that underlie them. Knowledge of these mechanisms has practical applications in areas as diverse as marine navigation, the biomedical sciences, and nontoxic pest control. It can also help us to obtain a deeper understanding of more familiar sensory systems and the brain in general. Written in an entertaining, accessible style, the book recounts a tale of wonder that continues today--for who knows what sensory marvels still await discovery or what kind of creatures will provide the insights?

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 026258204X
• ISBN13: 9780262582049
• Release Date: February 2001
• Publisher: MIT Press
• Length: 360 Pages
• Weight: 1.30 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 6.1" x 9.0"
• Age Range: 18 years and up
• Grade Range: Postsecondary and higher

Customer Reviews

A jumping off point

I am a neuroscience major and I read this book for a seminar. It is very accessible and engaging. I find the history of science fascinating and I love that Hughes decided to describe the experiments done to investigate these systems. A great read and a good gateway to more difficult perception texts.

Good, but not what I expected.

I was hoping for an overview of dozens of sensory systems in use in the world today. In that I was disappointed, because the book only covers something like 5 of them. By contrast my Encyclopedia Britannica has a better overview of sensoria under 'senses'. On the other hand, those senses that are covered are covered in considerably more depth than I was expecting, and were an enjoyable read. Descriptions of the neurobiology of how the various senses process input were particularly welcome.

Very interesting and educational book

Good reading for those who loves animals,navigation,sensing,biology,physics or nature.

an intriguing read...

how do bats find their way in the dark? how do fish and birds experience or sense the world around them? echolocation, bioelectricity and internal navigation systems are some of the sensory cabilities discussed in this interesting book