1. Bell Ringer 1. What is sensation? List 5 examples.
2. What is perception?

2. Sensation and Perception Intro
The Biological Basis of Behavior: Unit III

18. 5 changing illusions

19. 4.1 Sensation and Perception: The Basics
The stimulation of sensory receptors and the transmission of sensory info to the CNS.
Occurs anytime a stimulus activates one of the receptors in your sense organs

20. What if we could sense everything?
Life would hurt…
so we can only take in a window of what is out there.

21. Perception The process through which we interpret sensory stimulation.
Organizing and interpreting information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events
Two types
Preattentive – method of extracting information automatically when presented with stimuli.
Attentive – not automatic

22. Stroop effect – preattentive process as an interference
Don't read the words -just say the colors they're printed in, and do this aloud as fast as you can.

27. Perception (contd.)
Perception reflects learning, expectations, and attitudes.
Perception reflects your experiences.

28. 4 Concepts that affect sensation and perception
Absolute Threshold
Difference Threshold
Signal-detection theory
Sensory adaptation

29. 1. Absolute Threshold
The weakest amount of a stimulus that can be sensed.
Dogs vs. humans
mice vs. owls
Absolute threshold can differ from person to person.
Differences stem from psychological and biological factors.

31. 2. Difference Threshold
The minimum amount of difference that can be detected between two stimuli.
People’s individual difference thresholds vary slightly.
Is it midnight blue or black?

33. 3. Signal-Detection Theory
A method of distinguishing sensory stimuli that takes into account not only their strengths but also…
the setting
your physical state
your mood
and your attitudes
We focus on whatever we consider important
Considers motivations, expectations, and learning
Child’s performance at school/sport

36. 4. Sensory Adaptation
The process by which we become more sensitive to weak stimuli and less sensitive to unchanging stimuli.
Movie theater
The beach
Traffic vs. crickets
Smelly bathroom