The »Ace of Screens«

— Sensory Deprivation of the Subconscious —

From the Age of Presential Physical Reality towards Represential Screen-Based Reality.

Introduction

The human subconscious has evolved as a bridge between our physical body—governed by biological processes—and our mind, the seat of perception and cognition. For most of human history, our ancestors experienced the world as a seamless flow of sensory information, where every sight, sound, and touch corresponded to a real, tangible presence. However, the rise of modern technology has profoundly altered this relationship.

Today, screens allow us to engage with highly realistic images and sounds, creating the illusion of presence without the physical substance that naturally accompanies real-world encounters. This shift introduces a new phenomenon: sensory deprivation of the subconscious—a disruption in how our deeper awareness integrates external stimuli.

To explore this, we introduce two key concepts:

By comparing these two states, we can better understand how screen-based interactions alter our subconscious processing, leading to a reduction in the depth and richness of our sensory experience.

The Role of the Subconscious in Sensory Processing

In everyday life, the subconscious mind continuously processes an intricate web of sensory information—temperature, spatial awareness, breathing patterns, micro-expressions, the rhythm of speech, and even the unspoken energy of another person’s presence. These signals rarely rise to the level of conscious thought, yet they profoundly shape our emotions, instincts, and decisions.

Consider what happens when we meet a stranger in person. The experience is not limited to visual and auditory perception. We feel the warmth of their presence, the subtle shifts in our own body—our heartbeat may quicken, our breathing may change, and we might feel a certain “aura” around them, a field of personal energy influenced by body heat, micro-movements, and even subconscious pheromonal signals. Their emotions subtly influence ours in a bidirectional exchange—our subconscious reads their posture, their tone of voice, the tension in their muscles, and responds accordingly, shaping our own emotional state in return.

This is presential exposure, a state where both our body and mind engage with reality in a synchronized, multi-dimensional way.

The Shift to Screen-Based Interaction

In contrast, screen-based interactions introduce represential exposure—where we perceive an entity through representation, but our body remains disconnected from the encounter. When we see a person on a screen, we may recognize their voice, their facial expressions, and their gestures, but the deeper layers of interaction are missing. There is no true exchange of physical energy, no shared spatial presence, no subconscious alignment of breath and movement.

Unlike a real-world meeting, where our subconscious feels the presence of another person, a screen-based encounter is one-directional—we may emotionally respond to the image, but our body does not actively participate. This leads to a sensory imbalance: our mind is engaged, but our physical awareness remains passive.

The Consequences of Sensory Deprivation

This incomplete sensory experience can have profound effects over time:

  1. Reduced Emotional Sensitivity – Repeated engagement with representations instead of real encounters can dull our subconscious sensitivity to physical presence. A person accustomed to interacting primarily through screens may find real-life social interactions overwhelming or, conversely, underwhelming due to the lack of highly controlled, screen-based stimuli.
  2. Emotional Disconnect – Since represential exposure provides only partial emotional engagement, it can create a mismatch between emotions and reality. For example, someone may feel deeply moved by an image on a screen yet experience no real physiological response—no increased heartbeat, no change in breathing—resulting in a sense of emotional detachment.
  3. Altered Sensory Prioritization – The subconscious naturally prioritizes rich, multi-dimensional sensory input. However, as screens become the dominant medium of interaction, our perception may shift toward favoring highly visual and auditory stimuli while diminishing our awareness of touch, spatial depth, and even the subtle cues that make real-world interactions meaningful.

Defocus and Fragmented Attention

Another significant consequence of represential exposure is defocus, where attention becomes unstable due to a misalignment between physical and mental engagement. In real-world interactions, our subconscious is constantly alert, processing sensory cues to keep us engaged. In contrast, screen-based interactions allow for cognitive fragmentation—where our attention drifts between immersion and the awareness that we are merely observing an image on a screen.

For instance, watching an emotionally intense scene in a movie may trigger sadness or excitement, yet there is no corresponding physical interaction—no real exchange of energy, no true presence. Over time, this can lead to a sense of detachment from reality, where emotions become increasingly unanchored from actual lived experiences.

Conclusion

The transition from presential to represential exposure represents a profound shift in how we engage with reality. While technology offers powerful new ways to experience the world, it also introduces a form of subconscious sensory deprivation, where our deeper awareness is starved of the rich, multi-dimensional input it has evolved to process.

This does not mean that screen-based interactions are inherently harmful—on the contrary, they expand the boundaries of storytelling, education, and human connection. However, it is essential to recognize their limitations. By understanding the subconscious effects of screen immersion, we can make more conscious choices about how we engage with reality, ensuring that technology enhances rather than diminishes our ability to truly experience the world.