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Sensation and perception
- 2. Slide adapted from Slideshare
- 3. Slide adapted from Slideshare
- 5. Concepts to Master Some of the terms in this lesson are difficult to apply to real life examples. Let's “talk” through these concepts by 1st discussing the thresholds. They are the point above which a stimulus is perceived or below which it is not perceived. It determines when we first become aware of a stimulus.
- 6. Difference Threshold or Just Noticeable Difference The difference threshold is the smallest change in stimulus that we can detect. Another way to say it, it is the amount of change necessary to recognize that a change has occurred between two stimuli. The key here is the difference between 2 stimuli. For example: an artist might detect the difference between two very similar colors. Image public domain
- 7. Absolute Threshold The absolute threshold is the smallest amount of stimulus that can be detected. Or you can explain it this way, it is the lowest level that a person can sense a stimulus (sensation). For example, the softest sound or the slightest touch. ❖ When a stimulus has more energy than the absolute threshold, we can detect its presence. ❖ When a stimulus has less energy than the absolute threshold, we can not detect its presence. **Everyone's absolute threshold is different. It is based on how well you can hear, see, smell, etc...
- 8. Sensory Adaptation & Weber’s Law Sensory adaptation - repeated of constant stimulation decreases the number of sensory messages sent to the brain, which causes decreased sensation. Or, it is a reduced sensitivity to a stimulation after repeated exposure to that stimulus. For example - when you first jump into a pool the water seems cold, but the longer you stay in you no longer feel the cold. Weber's Law is related to the difference threshold/just noticeable difference, but states that to really perceive a difference, the stimuli must differ by a constant proportion, not a constant amount. For example, if you hold a pebble in your hand and then add a pebble of similar size you will probably notice an increase in weight. If you hold a very heavy rock in your hand and add a pebble you will probably not notice an increase in weight.