1. Wade/Tavris, (c) 2006, Prentice Hall Sensation & Perception Processes

2. Wade/Tavris, (c) 2006, Prentice Hall Absolute Threshold The smallest quantity of physical energy that can be reliably detected by an observer.

3. Wade/Tavris, (c) 2006, Prentice Hall Absolute Sensory Thresholds Vision: A single candle flame from 30 miles on a dark, clear night Hearing: The tick of a watch from 20 feet in total quiet Smell: 1 drop of perfume in a 6-room apartment Touch: The wing of a bee on your cheek, dropped from 1 cm Taste: 1 tsp. Sugar in 2 gal. water

4. Wade/Tavris, (c) 2006, Prentice Hall Difference Threshold The smallest difference in stimulation that can be reliably detected by an observer when two stimuli are compared; Also called Just Noticeable Difference (JND).

5. Wade/Tavris, (c) 2006, Prentice Hall Sensory Adaptation and Deprivation Adaptation –The reduction or disappearance of sensory responsiveness when stimulation is unchanging or repetitious. –Prevents us from having to continuously respond to unimportant information. Deprivation –The absence of normal levels of sensory stimulation.

6. Wade/Tavris, (c) 2006, Prentice Hall Examples of Gestalt Principles Proximity: Things close to one another are grouped together. Closure: The brain tends to fill in gaps to perceive complete forms.

7. Wade/Tavris, (c) 2006, Prentice Hall Examples of Gestalt Principles Similarity –Things that are alike are perceived together. Continuity –Patterns and lines are perceived as continuing.

8. Wade/Tavris, (c) 2006, Prentice Hall Depth and Distance Perception Binocular Cues: –Visual cues to depth or distance that require the use of both eyes. –Convergence: Turning inward of the eyes, which occurs when they focus on a nearby object –Retinal Disparity: The slight difference in lateral separation between two objects as seen by the left eye and the right eye.

9. Wade/Tavris, (c) 2006, Prentice Hall Depth and Distance Perception Monocular Cues: –Visual cues to depth or distance that can be used by one eye alone.

10. Wade/Tavris, (c) 2006, Prentice Hall The Müller-Lyer Illusion

11. Wade/Tavris, (c) 2006, Prentice Hall Perceptual Powers: Origins and Influences Inborn abilities and perceptual lessons Psychological and cultural Influences on perception

12. Wade/Tavris, (c) 2006, Prentice Hall The Visual Cliff Glass surface, with checkerboard underneath at different heights –Visual illusion of a cliff –Baby can’t fall Mom stands across the gap Babies show increased attention over deep side at age 2 months, but aren’t afraid until about the age they can crawl (Gibson & Walk, 1960)