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Chapter 5 Notes

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23 views6 pages

Chapter 5 Notes

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milan.thiara
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We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Chapter 5 notes

Monday, October 14, 2024 9:12 PM

Chapter 5: Sensation & Perception

Important Points

Stimulus Detection Visual System ! Auditory System ! Other Sensory Systems ! Gestalt
Rules ! Depth Perception ! Subliminal Perception

Chapter 5 continues the biological approach to psychology as we examine how the sensory
systems work. One common question that students have in this section revolves around how
much detail is necessary. Do you really need to know the fine structure of the retina? Should I
know the material on smell in the same amount of detail? Why is it important to study this
stuff? I can’t give you an easy answer to these questions, but I will remind you that function is
more important than fact. You should get an idea of how the systems work rather than the
minute details of the components. As we go through each of the major sections, I’ll try to
highlight what I think is really essential.

1. Stimulus Detection
This section really involves a consideration of psychophysics— how we detect and compare
stimuli. There are two important theories to focus on. Signal Detection Theory outlines some of
the factors that influence our ability to detect stimuli, e.g., how much noise is in the
background? How motivated is the individual? Note the distinction between two types of error
a miss and a false alarm, and the fact that it is important to both identify a signal when it is
present and to correctly reject it when no signal is there. 1 One of the first theories in this area
was Weber’s Law. This law states that the change in stimulus intensity necessary to report a Jus
Noticeable Difference (JND) is constant at any level of a test stimulus. For example, if I am tryin
to determine your ability to detect differences in the intensity of sound, I might present you
with a test tone at a particular level (e.g., 50 decibels). As I turn up the volume, you have to tell
me when you notice that the sound has indeed increased—you have to report a JND. Let’s say
that you do so at 55 decibels. The change in stimulus intensity was 55-50 = 5 decibels. Knowing
this I can calculate what a JND will be at any other value for the test stimulus. For example, wha
will a JND be if I increase the test stimulus to 100 decibels? The calculation is shown below. 5/5
f

r:

st
ng

g
at
50
to determine your ability to detect differences in the intensity of sound, I might present you
with a test tone at a particular level (e.g., 50 decibels). As I turn up the volume, you have to tell
me when you notice that the sound has indeed increased—you have to report a JND. Let’s say
that you do so at 55 decibels. The change in stimulus intensity was 55-50 = 5 decibels. Knowing
this I can calculate what a JND will be at any other value for the test stimulus. For example, wha
will a JND be if I increase the test stimulus to 100 decibels? The calculation is shown below. 5/5
= x/100 Solving the equation, we find that x=10. A JND would be reported at 100 + 10 decibels
OR 100 – 10 decibels—i.e., a JND will be found at either 110 or 90 decibels. Note that the value
of the JND is not constant…the relative difference is. If I double the value of the test stimulus,
then I must double the value of a JND. You should be familiar also with the concept of sensory
adaptation.

2. The Visual System


It has been said the vision is the single most important sensory mechanism for humans. This
certainly holds for the focus of Chapter 4. You should know the visual system very well.
Anatomically, it is most important for you to know the structure of the retina. Once light passes
through the lens, the image is focused on the retina. But the light sensitive receptors (rods and
cones) are at the very back of the eye. Light must pass through two other cell layers before it
even reaches the receptors. “Connected” to the receptors are the bipolar cells. They take
information from the receptor cells and pass it to the outermost layer, the ganglion cells. The
ganglion cells represent the output stage of the retina. In fact, the axons from the ganglion cells
form the optic nerve. You should be familiar with how the rods and cones work (essentially by a
breakdown of light sensitive chemicals), and the different functions that they serve (e.g., cones
give you colour vision). The section on colour vision is also important. Know the distinction
between the trichromatic theory and the opponent process theory. What evidence is available
to support either of these theories? Also be familiar with the material on colour blindness.

3. The Auditory System


After vision, hearing is the next most “important” sense. Know the structure of the inner ear in
particular and how sound waves are translated into a signal. Perhaps the most important part o
this section deals with the perception of pitch. Know the 2 distinction between place theory an
frequency theory. Which theory better explains low frequency sounds? Why?

4. Other Sensory Systems


Together, the remaining sensory systems are referred to as the “minor” senses. Humans do not
rely on these systems as much and they are not as sensitive as vision and hearing. For touch,
smell and taste, you should know in general how the system works. How is that light pressure o
the skin is translated into the psychological perception of touch? Are we more sensitive to one
kind of smell or taste.
low frequency sounds? Why?

4. Other Sensory Systems


Together, the remaining sensory systems are referred to as the “minor” senses.
Humans do not rely on these systems as much and they are not as sensitive as vision
and hearing. For touch, smell and taste, you should know in general how the system
works. How is that light pressure on the skin is translated into the psychological
perception of touch? Are we more sensitive to one kind of smell or taste.

5. Perception: Gestalt Rules


The latter part of the chapter switches to a discussion of perception rather than
sensation. In many ways this is the more fascinating aspect of our sensory systems—
how do we actually put of this together in our mind? The first thing to examine is the
rules of form perception. These Gestalt (pronounced “guess stalt”) rules have been
around for many years and give us some insight to our perception of pattern and
form. You should know each of the rules (e.g., proximity, similarity) and how that rule
explains perception. The way we organize information can generate some interesting
illusions. The perceptual constancies are also important.

6. Depth Perception
How do we locate a target in space? Essentially, we use a number of cues to depth
available in the environment. Binocular cues require two eyes (they also require the
eyes to be on the front of the head and not too far apart or close together). The most
important binocular cue is retinal or binocular disparity. This cue results from the fact
that a target in space will present a slightly different view to the left eye as compared
to the right. The brain can use this disparate information to “calculate” the distance.
But we can see depth even with one eye. Here we have to rely on the monocular cues
such as linear perspective, relative size, and so on. These monocular cues are learned
and will require some experience with the world. The next section describes several
illusions that are generated by monocular cues and inappropriate size constancy
scaling. At the end of the chapter, we discuss some issues of perceptual development.
Be familiar with the concept of a critical period.

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