Perceptual mode isolation

When we are immersed in a situation, we are bombarded by information via our various senses. In order to deal with this rush of information we use meaning schemas to help us filter the input — focusing on what the meaning schema determines is salient and ignoring what it labels as distracting or irrelevant.

One way to reduce the amount of information input is to limit the number of senses used by focusing on one perceptual modality. This is usually about focusing exclusively on visual or auditory information, but could include focusing on signals that are tactile, kinaesthetic, interoceptive, etc.

Sometimes it's hard to do this in a live situation, so it's often easier to do it as part of a self-confrontation activity using a recording. 

Take it in turns to:

• Focus only on auditory information (close your eyes) — listen for patterns and changes in 

  • word usage

  • exclamations and interjections

  • grammatical construction

  • pitch

  • intonation

  • pace

  • speech rhythms

  • hesitations

• Focus only on visual information (turn the sound off) — look for patterns and changes in 

  • posture 

  • positioning and orientation

  • movement

  • gesture

  • expression / micro-expression

  • gaze

  • breathing