Stimuli in Sensation and Perception in Psychology

COURSE : INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY (PSY 150) CREDIT HOURS : 3 CREDITS SEMESTER/SESSION : 2st SEMESTER, 2021/2022 SESSION PREPARED BY : ROBIN ARKIN LECTURE NOTES Perceptual Perception A term used in psychology that refers to the initial process of receiving and processing sensory information from the environment. This is the first step in the process of perception, which involves interpreting and understanding sensory information to create a meaningful perceptual experience. Perceptual sensation involves the activation of sensory receptors in response to environmental stimuli such as light, sound, touch, taste, and smell. Sensory information is then transmitted to the brain, where it is processed and converted into a perceptual experience. For example, when you see a red apple, your eyes detect the wavelength of light reflecting off the apple and send this information to the brain. The brain processes and interprets this information as the red color, the shape of the apple, and other sensory information that allows the object to be recognized as an apple. Perceptual perception can be influenced by a number of factors, including the intensity and duration of sensory stimuli, the context in which the stimuli are presented, and the individual's past experiences and expectations. For example, a loud sound may be perceived as more intense when presented in a quiet environment, and a familiar object may be perceived differently depending on the context in which it is presented. The perceptual sense is an important part of perception because it provides the gross sensory information needed to understand the world around us. Understanding how perceptual perception works can help psychologists and other researchers better understand how it works and how it can be affected by different factors. Conditions of Perceptual Perception In psychology, feeling and perception are two closely related processes that work together to help us understand and interact with the world around us. While perception refers to the initial process of receiving and identifying sensory information from the environment, perception refers to the process of interpreting and understanding that information. Here are some important terms related to feeling and perception in psychology: 1. Sensory Receptors Specialized cells in the body that detect sensory information from the environment, such as light, sound, touch, taste, and smell. 2. Transduction The process by which sensory information is converted into nerve signals that can be transmitted to the brain. 3. Threshold The minimum amount of sensory stimulation required to perceive a certain sensory stimulus. Thresholds can vary depending on the type of stimulus and individual factors such as age, health, and attention. 4. Sensory Adaptation The process by which sensory receptors become less responsive to a particular stimulus over time, resulting in a reduction in the perceived intensity of that stimulus. 5. Gestalt Principles A set of principles that describe how we organize and interpret sensory information to create meaningful perceptions. Examples include the principles of equality, continuity, and closure. 6. Depth Perception The ability to understand the spatial relationships between objects in three-dimensional space. Depth perception relies on cues such as binocular disparity, motion parallax, and linear perspective. 7. Perceptual Constancy The ability to see things as stable and unchanging despite changes in sensory input. Examples include size consistency, shape consistency, and color consistency. 8. Attention The process of selectively focusing on certain aspects of the sensory environment and ignoring others. Attention plays an important role in perception because it helps us filter out irrelevant information and focus on the most important. Understanding these concepts can help us better understand how feelings and perceptions work and how they affect our experience of the world around us.