Sensation and Perception

An Invitation to Psychology
Second Edition

Carole Wade
Carole Tavris

Porterville College
Psychology 101 Online
Norris Edwards
1

Sensation and Perception

Measuring the Sensory Experience
Sensation
Perception
Extrasensory Perception

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Sensation & Perception Processes

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Thresholds
Absolute Threshold
The smallest amount of stimulation
that can be detected

Just Noticeable Difference

The smallest amount of change in a
stimulus that can be detected

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The Electromagnetic Spectrum

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The Electromagnetic Spectrum

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Structures of the Human Eye

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Visual Pathways

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The Retina

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Differences Between Rods and Cones

Cones

Rods
Are numerous and
found primarily in
the peripheral retina
Have a lower
threshold for
activation
Have lower acuity
Do not process color

Are concentrated
primarily in the fovea
Have a higher
threshold for
activation
Have higher acuity
Process color

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The Color Wheel

Spectral colors vary
from Violet-Blue to Red
470 to 700 nanometer
wavelength

Purple and red-purple

are non-spectral colors
Not found on the visible
electromagnetic
spectrum

Across the wheel, each

color has its
complement
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Test of Color Deficiency

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The Human Ear

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Auditory Localization
Sounds from
different directions
are not identical as
they arrive at left
and right ears
Loudness
Timing
Phase

The brain calculates a

sounds location by
using these
differences

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Olfactory System

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Taste Buds
Photograph of
tongue surface (top),
magnified 75 times
10,000 taste buds
line the tongue and
mouth
Taste receptors are
down inside the bud

Children have more

taste buds than
adults
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Sensitivity to Touch

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Depth Perception
The ability to perceive our world three
dimensionally. Two type of cues:
Binocular cues
Adjustments of the eye muscles
Binocular Disparity

Monocular cues
Superposition
Texture Gradient
Linear Perspective
Relative Brightness
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Perception of Movement
Theater marquees and electronic
billboards suggestion that the
words are moving across the sign.
But are they?
Apparent Motion
The illusion of movement in a
stationary object.
Movies, television, videocassette

Autokinetic effect
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Parapsychology

J. B. Rhine conducted many experiments on

ESP using stimuli such as these Zener Cards
Rhine believed that his evidence supported the
existence of ESP, but his findings were flawed
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Thinking Critically
About ESP
Psychics exploit
unquestioning
minds
Psychic Abscam
(1983)
A psychic is an
actor playing the
role of a psychic,
Daryl Bem (1984)

Layton and
Turnbull,
clairvoyance
experiment.
Daryl Bem and
Charles Honorton
(1994) The
Ganzfeld
Procedure

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