CH 6: Sensation and Perception

Question 1

Sensation

Answer 1

The process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receives and represent stimulus energies from our environment.

Question 2

Perception

Answer 2

The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects.

Question 3

What is Bottom-up Processing?

Answer 3

Analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain’s integration of sensory information.

Question 4

What is Top-Down Processing?

Answer 4

Information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing our experience and expectations.

Question 5

Absolute Threshold

Answer 5

The minimum stimulus energy needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time.

Question 6

Signal Detection Theory

Answer 6

A theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus (signal) amid background stimulation (noise). Assumes there is no single absolute threshold and that detection depends partly on a person’s experience, expectation, motivation, and alertness.