Sensation and Perception Chapter 3 Sensation and Perception

Sensation and Perception Chapter 3

Sensation and Perception • Detection and interpretation of stimuli so that we can understand adapt to the world • Essential to thinking, emotions, and behavior • Imagine if you had NO senses

SENSES • Detect and analyze stimuli through SENSORY RECEPTORS • These are specialized neurons that transform stimuli into neural responses • This is called transduction (see p. 90)

SENSORY THRESHOLDS • Absolute Threshold: Smallest strength of a stimulus you can detect 50% of the time • Examples: candle flame 30 miles away on a dark night, one drop of perfume in a 3 room apartment

SENSORY THRESHOLDS • Difference Threshold: smallest possible difference between 2 stimuli that can be noticed 50% of the time • AKA “Just noticeable difference” • Varies depending on the relation to original stimulus—it is in constant proportion to the size of the original stimulus • If the original stimulus was very intense, it will take more of a new stimulus to notice a difference

SENSORY ADAPTATION • Senses get used to a prolonged stimulus —they become less responsive to a constant stimulus • Experience of sensation is relative to the duration of the exposure • Sensory receptors are best at responding to new and different stimuli—so that we can quickly notice new or changing stimuli and react to it

PERCEPTION • Your interpretation and organization of the world: making sense of the sensations • Perception depends on sensations, but also on psychological activities like memories, expectations, familiarity, etc.

What do you see?

What do you see?

Who is tallest?

Can you see the faces?