Not proprioception, not interoception, but beyond pressure sensitivity?
December 14, 2022 10:02 PM Subscribe
I'm usually pretty aware that I'm wearing a hat or my glasses. But it sometimes happens that when I'm wearing a mask, I'm not always sure about what else might be attached to my head. What, exactly, is failing me when this happens?
For example, I walked out for groceries this evening, bundled up for the Toronto cold. Outside the store, I took off my mittens, untied hat, and glasses so I could put on my N95, then walked into the store. After I was in there for a minute or so, I suddenly wondered where my hat was. I quickly checked my backpack -- nope! -- and started walking towards the entrance, thinking that I had left my hat outside during the mask-donning process. But before I reached the door, I became aware of very gentle pressure on my head, reached up,and confirmed that I had put my hat back on before I entered the store.
I've had similar issues a few times in the summer about my glasses, needing to raise my hand to my face to confirm whether or not they were on my nose.
My best guess is that the firm pressure of the mask can "swamp" the relatively light pressure sensations from my hat or glasses. I also have ADHD and possibly some sensory issues, so that can't help.
But is there a name for this "stuff on my body" location sense that I can be more or less aware of under various conditions, or is this just a specific example of pressure sensitivity?
For example, I walked out for groceries this evening, bundled up for the Toronto cold. Outside the store, I took off my mittens, untied hat, and glasses so I could put on my N95, then walked into the store. After I was in there for a minute or so, I suddenly wondered where my hat was. I quickly checked my backpack -- nope! -- and started walking towards the entrance, thinking that I had left my hat outside during the mask-donning process. But before I reached the door, I became aware of very gentle pressure on my head, reached up,and confirmed that I had put my hat back on before I entered the store.
I've had similar issues a few times in the summer about my glasses, needing to raise my hand to my face to confirm whether or not they were on my nose.
My best guess is that the firm pressure of the mask can "swamp" the relatively light pressure sensations from my hat or glasses. I also have ADHD and possibly some sensory issues, so that can't help.
But is there a name for this "stuff on my body" location sense that I can be more or less aware of under various conditions, or is this just a specific example of pressure sensitivity?
I'd call it "LMGOMFS", Lost My Glasses On My Forehead Syndrome.
posted by BungaDunga at 10:13 PM on December 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
posted by BungaDunga at 10:13 PM on December 14, 2022 [3 favorites]
"Sensory adaptation" is quite normal / essential. Our brains are wired to detect change and filter out no-change as unimportant to our survival. I have spares for my reading spectacles and have been known to find the other pair when I push the glasses up on top of my head and they click against the "lost" pair: FMGOMFS.
posted by BobTheScientist at 10:44 PM on December 14, 2022 [5 favorites]
posted by BobTheScientist at 10:44 PM on December 14, 2022 [5 favorites]
This is a bit orthogonal (can something be? That's probably a separate askme, anyway), but I hope useful data. I wear glasses to see "far away". Under pre-covid circumstances, I would wear them in stores, and other public indoor spaces so I could see signs, distances, etc.
[To be clear, on the regular, I wear my glasses and don't notice or have a sensory issue wearing them, but do usually remove them for close up reading or computer work]
Once COVID hit and still, I cannot function w a kn/n95 and glasses. It's not about possible fogging. It's too much shit on my face. I'd rather bumble a bit on fuzzy grocery store signs (my prescription is pretty weak, I can figure shit out, though I'd never drive without glasses) than wear glasses AND a quality mask.
posted by atomicstone at 5:31 AM on December 15, 2022
[To be clear, on the regular, I wear my glasses and don't notice or have a sensory issue wearing them, but do usually remove them for close up reading or computer work]
Once COVID hit and still, I cannot function w a kn/n95 and glasses. It's not about possible fogging. It's too much shit on my face. I'd rather bumble a bit on fuzzy grocery store signs (my prescription is pretty weak, I can figure shit out, though I'd never drive without glasses) than wear glasses AND a quality mask.
posted by atomicstone at 5:31 AM on December 15, 2022
There's literally a famous children's poem about a guy who's looking for his glasses while wearing them. It's common!
posted by I claim sanctuary at 7:24 AM on December 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by I claim sanctuary at 7:24 AM on December 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
The specific thing that's "failing" is your sensory registration. Your receptors are all working but your brain is not registering/attending to the sensation. This is most commonly discussed in regards to sensory processing problems in occupational therapy, but everyone has their sensory processing go funky sometimes.
posted by brook horse at 10:01 AM on December 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by brook horse at 10:01 AM on December 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
I'm tempted to frame it as a limit to your ability to pay attention. All humans have limited attention, and it tends to be a lot less than we often think it is. It makes sense to me that if the mask is occupying your attention, then you have less capacity to attend to your hat.
Your explanation that the mask "swamps" the sensation of the hat also seems plausible to me.
But really, forgetting about the clothes, glasses, hat, mask, shoes, or whatever that you're currently wearing is totally normal--as others have pointed out--and maybe you've just begun to notice the phenomenon more recently. Furthermore, I think that in my case, adding one more thing to the mix (e.g. can't leave the house w/o my keys AND my wallet AND my phone AND my glasses AND my mask) means one more thing that has the potential to be forgotten and confuse the whole process.
posted by polecat at 2:35 PM on December 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Your explanation that the mask "swamps" the sensation of the hat also seems plausible to me.
But really, forgetting about the clothes, glasses, hat, mask, shoes, or whatever that you're currently wearing is totally normal--as others have pointed out--and maybe you've just begun to notice the phenomenon more recently. Furthermore, I think that in my case, adding one more thing to the mix (e.g. can't leave the house w/o my keys AND my wallet AND my phone AND my glasses AND my mask) means one more thing that has the potential to be forgotten and confuse the whole process.
posted by polecat at 2:35 PM on December 15, 2022 [1 favorite]
Yes, your brain is adapting to the sensation and tuning it out. This is normal and healthy.
posted by Amy93 at 3:14 PM on December 15, 2022
posted by Amy93 at 3:14 PM on December 15, 2022
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by maudlin at 10:05 PM on December 14, 2022