Unit 1C Sec 1- Sensation Fundamentals Flashcards
Sensation
The process by which our sensory receptors & nervous system receive + represent stimulus energies from our environment
Vision (sight)
Perception of light and color through eyes
Hearing
Perception of sound waves through ears
Smell (olfaction)
Perception of odors through the nose
Taste (gustation)
Perception of flavors through the tongue
Touch (tactile)
Perception of pressure, temperature, and texture through skin
Perception
The process of organizing and interpreting sensory info to make sense of the world around us
- Involves brain’s interpretation of sensory inputs; can be influenced by past experiences, expectations, and context
Transduction
The conversion of sensory stimuli into neural impulses that can be understood by the brain
- Transformation of physical energy into electrochemical signals; enables the brain to interpret & perceive sensory info
Vision (sight) location
Located in: Retina
( in the photoreceptor cells called rods & cones)
Hearing
Located in: Cochlea
( in the hair cells of the Organ of Corti)
Smell (olfaction)
Located in: Olfactory epithelium
(in the nasal cavity)
Taste (gustation)
Located in: Taste buds
(On the tongue; roof of mouth +throat)
Touch (Tactile)
Located in: Various receptors in the skin
(Ex: Merkel cells, Messiner’s corpuscles, Pacinian corpuscles)
Absolute Threshold
The minimum amount of stimulation required for a stimulus to be detected by a sensory system
- Represents the point at which a stimulus becomes noticeable to an individual at least 50% of the time
Vision
Absolute threshold limit: A candle flame seen at 30 miles on a clear, dark night
Hearing
Absolute threshold limit: The tick of a watch from 20 feet away in a quiet room
Smell
Absolute threshold limit: One drop of perfume diffused throughout a three-room apartment
Taste
Absolute threshold limit: One teaspoon of sugar in two gallons of water
Touch (pressure)
A bee’s wing falling on your cheek from a height of 1 centimeter
Just-Noticeable Difference (JND)
The smallest change in a stimulus that can be detected by an individual
- Minimal difference needed for a person to perceive that a change has occurred
Weber’s law
The perceived difference in a stimulus must be proportional to the original intensity of the stimulus
- The bigger something is, the more you need to change it to notice a difference
Sensory Adaption
The process by which sensory receptors become less responsive to constant stimuli over time
Synesthesia
A condition in which stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in another sensory pathway
