Sensations begin in the womb as the fetal brain senses the movements of the mother's body. This continues in infancy. As the brain organizes and processes sensory information, sensations are digested and the brain, in essence, is nourished. That is one reason why children love to be picked up, rocked, and hugged. It is also why they love to run, jump, and play at playgrounds or at the beach.
Sensations are a source of nourishment for the nervous system.
Children perceive their environment through sensations as they move, look, touch and hear their world. This coordination of a massive flow of sensory information enables the body to move effectively. It also allows accurate perception and adaptation to the environment. For special needs children, particularly those with autism, the brain does not organize and process incoming sensory information effectively. The flow of sensory information is not organized.