Pscychology - Module 18

Module 18

bottom-up-processing

information processing that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brains integration of sensory information (allows us to detect lines, angles, and colors)

sensation (physical) - bottom up processing we allow stimulus to shape our perception without past experiences

the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system recieve and represent stimulus energies from our enviorment

sensory receptors

sensory nerve endings that respond to stimuli

sensory systems

1) our senses recieve sensory stimulation often using specialized receptor cells

2) transform that stimulation into neural impulses

3) deliver the neural information to the brain

transduction is the process of converting energy into a form our brain can use

perception (concious)

the top-down process by which your brain creates meaning by organizing and interpreting what your senses detect

our brain organizes and interprets sensory information, enabling us to recognize objects and events as meaningful

under normal circumstances sensation and perception blend together

as your brain absorbs info in

prospopagnosia

facial blindess, only a few thousand in north america have it

struggle with facial recognition

transduction

the processing of converting one form of energy into another that our brain can use

your sensory systems perform an amazing thing by converting outside energy into a form our brain can use

All our senses

recieve sensory stimulation, often using specialized receptor cells

transform that stimulation into neural impulses, and

deliver the neural information to our brain

Psychophysics

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

Absolute Threshold

the minimum stimulus energy needed to detect a paticular stimulus 50 percent of the time, to test awarness of these faint stimulus

German scientist and philosoper Gustav Fechner

Signal Detection Theory

predicts when we will detect weak signals, assumes there is no single absolute threshold and that detection depends partly on a persons experience, expectations, motivations, alertness

theorists seek to understand why people respond differently to the same stimuli

priming

a psychological technique that occurs when a stimulus influences how someone responds to a related stimulus that comes after it

Subliminal

stimulis you cannot consciously detect 50 percent of the time, below your absolute threshold

have no powerful enduring influence

WE CAN BE AFFECTED BY SUBLIMINAL SENSATIONS

Difference Threshold

the minimum stimulus difference a person can detect 50 percent of the time, just noticable difference in subject

Weber’s Law

Ernst Weber

for an average person to percieve a difference two stimulis must differ by a constant minimum percentage

ex - two objects mist differ in weight by 2 percent

Sensory Adaptation

diminished sensiticty as a consequence of constant stimulation ex - heavy smell of classmates perfume on bus

helps us focus on important changes in the enviorment

Perceptual Set

top down, we use our past experiences and expectations to interpret what we see

a mental predispotion to percieve one thing and not another

mind over mind

affects what we see, hear, smell