Psychology Chapter 5: Sensation and Perception

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Questions and Answers

What is the difference between sensation and perception?

Sensation is a cognitive process, while perception is purely physiological.

Sensation involves the interpretation of sensory information, while perception is about the detection of stimuli.

Sensation refers to the conscious awareness of sensory information, whereas perception occurs subconsciously.

Sensation is the process of experiencing physical stimuli, while perception is the mental interpretation of those stimuli. (correct)

Which concept explains the minimum difference in stimulation that a person can detect 50% of the time?

Just noticeable difference (correct)

Signal-detection theory

Subliminal perception

Absolute threshold

Which theory of color vision emphasizes the role of three types of cones in the retina?

Retinal disparity theory

Opponent process theory

Trichromatic theory (correct)

Color constancy theory

What is the primary function of the human ear's cochlea?

To convert sound vibrations into neural signals Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes bottom-up perception?

Perception that starts with sensory input and builds up to a final interpretation Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'absolute threshold' refer to in sensory processing?

The smallest amount of stimulation needed to detect a stimulus half of the time Signup and view all the answers

What does the term 'just noticeable difference' (JND) imply?

The smallest difference between two stimuli needed to detect a change at least half of the time Signup and view all the answers

According to Weber's Law, what does the size of a just noticeable difference depend on?

The constant proportion of the size of the initial stimulus Signup and view all the answers

How is sensation defined in the context of sensory processing?

The detection of stimuli through sensory organs Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about perception is accurate?

Perception involves the organization and interpretation of sensory input Signup and view all the answers

Which example illustrates the concept of an absolute threshold?

Noticing a faint sound in a quiet room Signup and view all the answers

In the context of Weber's Law, what would be an appropriate scenario illustrating the JND?

Adding one marshmallow to a pile of 50 marshmallows making it imperceptible Signup and view all the answers

What does the trichromatic theory of colour vision propose?

There are three types of receptors sensitive to distinct light wavelengths. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of colour blindness involves the inability to distinguish between one of the primary colours?

Dichromacy Signup and view all the answers

What concept describes pairs of colours that produce grey tones when mixed?

Complementary colours Signup and view all the answers

What visual phenomenon occurs after staring at a colour stimulus and then looking away?

Afterimage Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes a type of drawing that can be interpreted in multiple ways?

Reversible figure Signup and view all the answers

What is meant by the term 'perceptual set'?

Readiness to perceive stimuli in a particular way. Signup and view all the answers

What do opponent process theories suggest about colour perception?

It involves antagonistic responses to three pairs of colours. Signup and view all the answers

Which phenomenon illustrates the subjectivity of perception?

Reversible figures Signup and view all the answers

What does signal-detection theory suggest about the detection of stimuli?

Detection includes both decision processes and sensory processes. Signup and view all the answers

What is subliminal perception?

The registration of sensory input without conscious awareness. Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of the lens in the human eye?

To focus light rays onto the retina. Signup and view all the answers

What is the role of cones in the human visual system?

To enable daylight vision and color perception. Signup and view all the answers

How does sensory adaptation affect perception?

It leads to a gradual decline in sensitivity due to stimuli. Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the retina has the highest density of cones?

The fovea. Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during dark adaptation in the human eye?

The eye adjusts to become more sensitive in low illumination. Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of the pupil constricting?

It sharpens the image but allows less light. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements about light adaptation is correct?

It occurs when entering a brightly lit environment. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sensation and Perception

Sensation is the detection of stimuli, a bottom-up process. It involves the stimulation of sense organs (e.g., eyes, ears) by energy (e.g., light, sound).
Perception is the translation of sensory information into meaningful experiences. It's a top-down process, involving the selection, organization, and interpretation of sensory input.

Key Concepts and Terms

Absolute Threshold: Smallest amount of stimulation needed to detect a stimulus half of the time; defines the limits of sensory abilities.
Just Noticeable Difference (JND): Smallest difference between two stimuli that can be detected half of the time. Weber's Law states the JND is a constant proportion (not a fixed amount) of the initial stimulus.
Signal Detection Theory: Stimulus detection depends on both sensory processes and decision processes (e.g., expectations, criteria).
Subliminal Perception: Sensory input below the threshold of conscious awareness.
Sensory Adaptation: Gradual decrease in sensitivity to a constant stimulus.
Vision: Processes include color mixing (additive and subtractive), theories (trichromatic and opponent process), and vision for perception/action. Structures of the eye (cornea, pupil, lens, retina, rods, cones, etc.) and processes involved in light/dark adaptation, and receptive fields are involved.
Hearing: Mechanisms include place theory and frequency theory, describing how sound waves are translated into neural signals. Structures include outer ear (pinna, auditory canal), middle ear (eardrum, hammer, anvil, stirrup), and inner ear (cochlea, basilar membrane).
Gustation (Taste) and Olfaction (Smell): Chemical substances trigger taste and smell, involving specific receptors and pathways to the brain.
Tactile (Touch): Receptors in the skin detect pressure, temperature, and pain, with various types present (Merkel cells, Meissner corpuscles, Ruffini endings, Pacinian corpuscles).

Gestalt Principles

Phi Phenomenon: Illusion of movement from rapidly presented stimuli.
Proximity: Grouping nearby objects together.
Similarity: Grouping similar objects together.
Closure: Filling in gaps to perceive complete shapes.
Continuity: Following continuous patterns.
Perceptual Hypothesis: Drawing inferences about distal stimuli based on proximal stimuli.
Monocular and Binocular Cues: Techniques used to judge distance and depth (monocular cues use one eye, binocular cues use both). Examples include linear perspective, texture gradient, and interposition.

Top-Down vs. Bottom-Up Processing

Bottom-up: Information processing that begins with sensory receptors and works up to higher levels of processing.
Top-down: Processing guided by your experiences and expectations that influences perception.

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Description

Explore the fundamental concepts of sensation and perception in psychology. This quiz covers key terms such as absolute threshold, just noticeable difference, and signal detection theory, helping you understand how we interpret sensory information. Test your knowledge to enhance your grasp of these essential psychological processes.