Senses, aging, and IDD: Can I kill a mosquito before it bites me?
by Kathleen M. Bishop, Ph.D., Gerontologist, Consultant, NTG
Stock photo
Our seven senses are what connect each of us to the universe around us and anything that is not us. Infants learn there is a world outside by using the information collected through various cells of the body designed to be receptors of sensory information, among other functions.
Once our bodies collect information, it gets sent to the brain where the complex task of sensory processing begins with the brain’s recognition of the sensory information. This process includes sorting information to determine what information needs immediate attention or what can be attended to by habit such as ignoring the sound of the dishwasher while attending to the mosquito swirling around your head.
It’s important to remember that the brain receives sensory information with no pause for reflection. Your sensory receptors and your brain work overtime even when you are sleeping, so there is no rest for these essential receptors. The well-functioning process is automatic so that you don’t need to attend at high alert to every bit of sensory information in the environment. I am also using more simplified terms so that the process can be clearly understood. While I’ve studied this for over twenty-five years, I continually translate scientific terms to everyday words that give practical meaning to the process.
When the brain is processing at full capacity without disease or impairments in the sensory receptors, the sensory information is sent to the various parts of the brain to determine an appropriate response or practical meaning of the information, if one is needed–for example, to determine if you can destroy the mosquito before the pest bites you. (I apologize if there are any mosquito fans amongst the readers).
To highlight the complexity of response to a mosquito I will outline the senses and sensory information needed to stop the mosquito from biting. They are listed in likely order in the usual pattern of becoming aware, receiving the information, and determining response in time to prevent the bite. I have also tried to outline the possible steps of this process in Chart 1 below.
The first sense of the mosquito is likely to be the feeling of vibration and movement mixed with sound and seeing the pesky insect. The skin will be the primary receptor of movement and vibration while the ears will receive the sound. These are the primary receivers of the information while other senses may play a minor role in receiving the information.
Ideally, the possible victim may recognize a mosquito from memory, leave the area, or destroy the mosquito before it lands on his body. The person who is the possible future victim of a mosquito bite will need to be able to determine their position in space, proximity to the mosquito, and the space around to determine whether to take on the mosquito (fight) or quickly leave the area (flight).
Aging related sensory impairments combined with Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia (ADRD) can reduce the ability to receive the sensory information, transmit the information to the brain, and/or reduce the capacity of the brain to receive the information to discriminate what to do with the information.
The disease may impair memory so that even if the target perceives the mosquito, they may not recall what to do. The response could be to scream, roll into a ball for protection, or slap their arm before it lands appearing as self-abuse. The behavior may be labeled as inappropriate or a result of ADRD rather than a confused response out of fear for something they know shouldn’t be there.
If the mosquito’s target has frontal lobe damage, the brain’s first conductor of sensory information, the target may not be able to receive or send the information to the parts of the brain for processing and determining a response. The response may be slow or not at all.
The number of receptor cells on the skin, ears, or eyes and the condition of those cells, i.e., not impaired, can determine how fast the information is sent to the brain and the capacity of the target to notice the sensory information. Each part of the brain has a role in this process. Typically, Alzheimer’s disease results in damage from the front of the brain to the back of the brain over time. The further progression of the disease, the less likely there will be capability for the brain to process and determine the correct reaction.
Additionally, if the target does not know where they are in space or where their body parts are located, they may not be able to determine where the vibration or sound is coming from or where their hands are in relation to the mosquito. They may not remember how to hit the mosquito hard enough to destroy the mosquito without hurting themselves.
The potential victim also must have a sensory memory to recall what the sensory information means and the consequences if they don’t hit the mosquito before it bites them. A memory of a mosquito, the experience of a bite from this pest, and the resulting pain is also helpful to recall for determining action, rapidity of response, and to remember how the intended victim avoided this pain in the past. Recognizing the mosquito by sight would also help avoid the bite.
Conditions like dehydration with less water to transmit sensory information can impede the processing. This is especially true in the brain as fluid is required for passage to the processing parts of the brain. Visual impairment, hearing loss from earwax, background noise, and long periods of lack of motion can reduce the target’s sense of position in space or detecting the sensory information.
I hope this example of killing a mosquito before it harms a person is helpful to you for understanding such a normal activity, especially in wet seasons of the year. Think of other more complex actions and reactions that require multiple memories and significant understanding of the physical environment as well as body parts. The next time a mosquito bothers you and you successfully terminate the little pest, be grateful for your ability to defend yourself from a painful bite.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me a kathiebishop@the-ntg.org with any questions or comments. I apologize if I have made any errors with the characteristics of mosquitos as I know little about them other than I want to be able to defend myself. Any errors here are solely mine and not the responsibility of the resources I have listed.
I wish each of you a safe and happy spring.
Chart 1. Steps of catching the mosquito before it bites
The mosquito approaches Primary Receiver
Vibration from wings Skin
Buzzing Sound Ears
Movement Proprioceptor/Vestibular
Characteristics of Mosquito Sight
Expected Response Fight or Flight
The mosquito lands on the victim’s
Arm
Vibration on skin Skin (Tactile)
Sound Ears
Location/Movement Muscles/Joints/Skin/Eyes
Biting sensation Skin
Expected Response Fight/Hit the mosquito
The target does not remember Sensory memory
how or what to do to avoid pain Memory of Mosquito characteristics
Biting into skin Skin, tactile
Finishes biting, flies away movement/vestibular
Pain/redness Warmth on skin, pain
Expected Response Apply cream or moisture to prevent pain, provide relief from pain.
OR
3a. The target remembers what to do Sensory Memory & Memory
of mosquitos
a. Hits mosquito, slight discomfort Tactile sensation
b. Washes off arm and mosquito Soothing on skin, warmth
Expected Response Wipes off water, fluid, &
Hopefully dead mosquito
Resources:
*Heller, Sharon (2015). Uptight & Off Center: Sensory Processing Disorder Throws Adults off Balance & How to Create Stability. Delray Beach, Florida: Symmetry.
*Grandin, Temple (2014). The Autistic Brain: Helping Different Kinds of Minds Succeed.
*Makhopadlyay, T.R. (2008). How can I talk if my Lips Don’t Move: Inside My Autistic Mind. New York: Arcade Publishing
*Schneider, Rachel (2015). Making Sense. A guide to Sensory Issues. Arlington, Texas: Sensory World
*Williams, D. (1996). An Inside-Out Approach. London: Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
