1-Introduction-3.pdf

PS222: Perception  About this course Me (Prof. Melissa Kibbe, she/her): Office hours Thursdays 1-2 PM and by appointment. Frederik Baumgardt (he/him): Office hours Wednesdays 2-3 PM and by appointment Strongly recommended textbook: Sensation & Perception by Steven Yantis...

PS222: Perception  About this course Me (Prof. Melissa Kibbe, she/her): Office hours Thursdays 1-2 PM and by appointment. Frederik Baumgardt (he/him): Office hours Wednesdays 2-3 PM and by appointment Strongly recommended textbook: Sensation & Perception by Steven Yantis Learn.bu.edu (Blackboard site)  Class format and grading Instructional format – Lectures – Please ask questions in class! – I will record lectures for people who have to miss class or who just want to hear something again Assessment – You have the power to achieve the grade you want to achieve! We are happy to help you achieve your goals – 4 Mid-term Exams (30 points each) Multiple choice – Participation/attendance (26 points) in Discussion – Extra credit options…  Contest! Real world illusions Best illusion wins 4 points on final grade PLUS FAME & GLORY  About this course Accessibility – Health & safety – Maintaining focus – Mental and physical health – Disabilities accommodations Academic Integrity Schedule – Discussion sections start next Wednesday 9/11/2024 How do we know that we are standing in a field of flowers? What information in the world do we use to arrive at that representation of the world? ? Is there a difference between what is in the world and what we perceive?  In the world: Light Sound Chemicals Pressure/heat Everything else is PERCEPTION  Perception is dependent upon sense organs and brain. It’s important to make the distinction between what is there and what we perceive Honey bee Planarian (flatworm): invertebrate that can distinguish light direction with photosensitive skin patches What might the planarian’s representation of the world look like?  Bats use echolocation Extremely sensitive hearing What might the bat’s representation of the world look like?  Perception is a product of evolution Why do different creatures perceive the world differently? Depends on whatever gives them a selective advantage. Video available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SXHMm5I-68 So: Light Sound Chemicals Pressure Sensing: Sense organs Heat Eyes Ears Nose Mouth Skin Perceiving: Brain Seeing We can only Hearing “know” the states Smelling of our neurons! Tasting Feeling (touch/ temp/ pain/ position in space) In this class, we are going solve the problem of how we make “sense” of the world! …And learn how our perceptions can be tricked!