Perception Psych AOS 2 Unit 2

Sensation

Sensory organs detect both external stimuli and internal stimuli and transmit that information to the brain.

Perception

The mental process of receiving, organising, integrating and interpreting sensory information to make it meaningful.

Attention

A concentration of mental activity that involves focusing on specific stimuli while ignoring andtehrefore excluding others. Can be focused interanlly or externally. 3 types.

Sustained attention

Maintaining a high level of attention on a specific stimulus or task for a prolonged, continuous period of time without being distracted.

Divided attention

The ability to distribute our attention and do two or more things simultaneously.

Selective attention

Choosing to focus on a specific salient stimuli to the exclusion of others.

Inluencing factors of selective attention

• Personally important

• Relevant to physiological state

• Motivation

• Stimulus changes or if a new/unusual stimulus is introduced