1.6a Sensation: Basic Concept(AP Psych)

Prosopagnosia

face blindness - people can’t recognize faces

Sensation

he process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment

Sensory Receptors

sensory nerve endings that respond to stimuli 

Perception

the process by which our brain organizes and interprets sensory information, enabling us to recognize objects/events as meaningful.

Bottom-up processing

information processing that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain’s integration of sensory information

Literally what our senses detect

Top-down processing

information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations 

Interpruts what you senses detect

Transdcution

converting outside energy into a form our brain can use

Psychophyics

studies the relationship between the physical energy we detect and its effects on our psychological experiences

Absolute threshold

The minimum stimulus energy needs to detect a stimulus 50% of the time

Signal detection theory

predicting how and when we detect faint stimulus. assumes it is based partly on a person expectations, motivation and experience and not absolute threshold

Subliminal Stimuli

A stimulus that is below you absolute threshold and you cannot detect 50% of the time

Difference Threshold

the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time. Difference threshold is just present as notable difference

Weber’s Law

to be perceived as different stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than constant amount)

(a specified theory about difference thresholds)

Sensory Adaptation

diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation