Questions and Answers
What is the difference between sensations and perception?
Sensation involves bringing in information through the five senses. Perception is how our brains make sense of this information.
What is bottom-up processing?
Bottom-up processing is when receptors register information about the external environment and send it up to the brain for analysis and interpretation.
What real-life example is bottom-up processing good for?
Situations where thinking first would be dangerous, inefficient, or difficult to do.
Where does bottom-up processing begin?
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Bottom-up processing is generally a slow process which explains why it seldom occurs.
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What is top-down processing?
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Which of the following is an example of bottom-up processing? (Select all that apply)
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Top-down processing is associated with which area of psychology?
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An example of top-down processing is:
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The phrase top-down refers to what?
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What three steps make up the process of sensation?
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What is absolute threshold?
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What is difference threshold?
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What is Weber's Law?
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What is perceptual set?
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How does light pass through the eye?
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Why does a blind spot occur?
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What does Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic (Three-Color) Theory state?
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What is perceptual adaptation?
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________________ refers to more intense sound vibrations.
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Study Notes
Sensation and Perception
- Sensation involves gathering information through the five senses, while perception is the brain's interpretation of that information.
- Bottom-up processing begins with sensory receptors registering external stimuli, sending data up to the brain for analysis.
- Top-down processing utilizes pre-existing knowledge and cognition to interpret sensory information received from the environment.
Bottom-Up Processing
- Effective in situations where immediate reaction is necessary, such as ducking from an object to avoid danger.
- Starts with body sensations, leading to emotional responses before cognitive processing occurs in the brain.
- It is a rapid process, occurring often and frequently outside of conscious awareness.
Top-Down Processing
- Involves higher-level cognitive functions, with the brain using previously acquired sensory information to inform interpretation.
- Associated with the fields of sensation and perception in psychology.
- An example is reciting a favorite poem mentally rather than reading it.
Sensation Process
- Comprises three steps:
- Reception: Activation of sensory receptors by energy (e.g., sound, light).
- Transduction: Conversion of this energy into neural impulses.
- Transmission: Sending these neural signals to the brain for processing.
Thresholds
- Absolute threshold: The minimum intensity of a stimulus that can be detected 50% of the time.
- Difference threshold: The smallest detectable difference between stimuli, also known as just noticeable difference (JND).
Weber's Law
- Principle providing that perceived differences in stimuli correlate to minimum percentage differences:
- Weight: 2%
- Light intensity: 8%
- Sound frequency: 0.3%
Perception Concepts
- Perceptual set: Expectations that influence perception and interpretation of sensory information; an example of top-down processing.
- Blind spot: Area where the optic nerve exits the eye, lacking receptor cells, resulting in a gap in visual perception.
Vision and Light Processing
- Light enters through the cornea and pupil, is focused by the lens, and then reaches the retina, where it undergoes transduction into neural impulses.
- The lens can change shape to focus on objects at varying distances, a process known as accommodation.
Color Vision
- Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic Theory posits three types of cones for color vision: red, green, blue, with all colors stemming from their combinations.
Sensory Adaptation
- Perceptual adaptation allows individuals to adjust to distorted sensory input, such as new glasses or delayed audio, facilitating functioning despite initial disorientation.
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Description
Test your knowledge on sensation and perception with this quiz covering Chapter 6. It includes key concepts like bottom-up processing and the distinction between sensation and perception. Perfect for reinforcing your understanding of these foundational psychological principles.