The Oscillatory Effect

The oscillatory effect is a theory in experimental psychology that seeks to explain the way sensory organs send information across the neural network.

Theory

• The oscillatory effect theory states that when a sensory organ receives stimulation, it sends impulses of efferent energy through the nervous system. The organ also responds to the stimulus by suppressing and inhibiting this reaction, and the alternating effect of efferent stimulation and suppression within the nervous system produces an oscillation of nervous impulse and inhibition.

Stimulus Intensity

• According to the oscillatory effect theory, the nervous system communicates the intensity of a stimulus by the amount of time allowed between efferent stimulation and suppression. The increase or decrease in latency, therefore, allows the brain to perceive changes in the intensity of stimulation.

Equilibrium

• The oscillatory effect assumes that the oscillation between neural impulses and neural inhibition ultimately seeks equilibrium within the nervous system. For this reason, disturbing the sensory organ with input causes the impulse, while the organ attempts to maintain equilibrium by inhibiting the neural action.