Chapter 4 Section 1

Sensation and Perception: The

Basics
Obj: Distinguish between
sensation and perception, and
explain how they contribute to an
understanding of our environment.
Sensation is the stimulation of
sensory receptors and the
transmission of sensory
information to the central
nervous system. Sensory
receptors are located in
sensory organs such as the
eyes and ears and elsewhere
in the body. The stimulation
of the senses is automatic. It
results from sources of
energy like light and sound or
from the presence of
chemicals, as in smell and
taste.
Perception is the
psychological process
through which we
interpret sensory
stimulation.
Stimulation of the senses
and the ways in which
people interpret that
stimulation are affected
by several concepts.
These concepts
include absolute
threshold, difference
threshold, signal-
detection theory, and
sensory adaptation.
 Absolute Threshold
Have you ever had your hearing
tested? When you hear the
beep, you have just
discovered your absolute
threshold for hearing that kind
of sound. Absolute threshold
is the weakest amount of a
stimulus that can be sensed.
Even before you heard the
beep, it was there. The first
one you heard was the
weakest one you were capable
of hearing.
Absolute thresholds for
humans have long been
determined for the
senses of vision,
hearing, smell, taste,
and touch. However,
the absolute threshold
for a particular stimulus
can differ from person
to person. Some people
are more sensitive to
certain sensory stimuli
than others are. These
differences stem from
psychological and
biological factors.
 Difference Threshold
For us to function well in the world, we need
absolute thresholds low enough to see, hear,
smell, taste, and feel what is going on around
us – but not so low that our senses are
overloaded with information we cannot use. We
also need to be able to detect small differences
between stimuli - what makes one stimulus
different from another stimulus. The minimum
amount of difference that can be detected
between two stimuli is known as the difference
threshold.
 Signal – Detection Theory
As you might imagine, it is
easier to hear a friend
talking in a quiet room than
in a room where other
people are laughing loudly.
And when your nose is
stuffy from a cold, your
dinner may seem to have
little flavor. In the first case,
the setting has made a
difference in your sensation
and perception. In the
second case, your physical
condition has made the
difference.
Signal-detection
theory is a method of
distinguishing sensory
stimuli that takes into
account not only their
strengths but also
such elements as the
setting, your physical
state, your mood, and
your attitudes.
Signal-detection theory also considers psychological
factors such as motivations, expectations, and
learning. For example, even if the place where
you are now reading is buzzing with distracting
signals such as a breeze against your face, the
shadow of passing clouds, or the voices of
passersby, you will be able to ignore those
influences as long as you are motivated to keep
reading. Similarly, people who smell perfumes for
a living have learned through years of experience
how to detect subtle differences others would not
be able to smell.
 Sensory Adaptation
Our sensory stems
adapt to a changing
environment.
Sensory adaptation
is the process by
which we become
more sensitive to
weak stimuli and less
sensitive to
unchanging stimuli.