Sensation and Perception

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

sensory receptors- nerve endings that respond to stimuli

perception- process of organizing and interpreting sensory info, enabling recognition of meaningful objects and events

Bottom up processing is like determining characteristics of a flower

top-down processing interpret what senses detect

We cannot multitask, there is rapid toggling between activities

intentional blindness- failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere

change blindness- failing to notice changes in the environment; a form of inattettional blindness

Transduction is the process of converting one form of energy to another that our brain can use by receiving sensory simulation and transform that into neural impulses for the brain.

There is a threshold to detect light, sound, pressure, taste, and odor

Absolute thresholds are needed to allow us to detect sights, sounds, textures, taste, and smells

Signal Detection Theory predicts when we will detect weak signals; seeks to understand why the same person’s reactions vary as circumstances change

Sensory Adaptation the the diminished sensitivity b/c of constant stimulation

perceptual set- a set of mental tendencies and assumption that affects our senses

motivation can bias our interpretations of neutral stimuli

emotion can shove perceptions in various directions

perceptions can be perceive sad meaning in homophonic words; when angry, can perceive guns and neutral objects

There is a claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input such as telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition

Clairvoyance- the perceiving remote events

Parapsychology- study of paranormal phenomena including ESP and psychokinesis

light enters through the cornea, then passes pupil, hits lens, and focuses on retina

sensation- receiving stimuli

perception- processing stimuli

wavelength and amplitude of wavelength determines color and intensity

130 million receptor cells in back of eye

Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic Theory is that we have red, green, and blue color receptors, but we see other colors when a combination of all is present

the color we see is what the reflection of the wavelength

we perceive objects as distinct, and surroundings being the ground.

the brain organizes things into meaningful form (proximity, continuity, closure)

motion perception examples are seeing shrinking objects are retreating, and enlarging objects are approaching or bigger ojects moving slower when compared to smaller object going the same