Sensation & Perception Sensation: stimulation of sensory receptors. Transmission of sensory information to brain. Perception: Process by which sensations are organized and interpreted, forming an inner representation of the world. Fechner’s Psychophysics (1860)

Internet Listening & General Fun: Radio Lab ( n Season Two: “Musical Language”, “Where Am I?” Learning Objectives: VisionTaction AuditionVestibular OlfactionKinesthesis Gustation Sensation & Perception

Psychophysics n Gustav Fechner n “Elements of Psychophysics” 1860 n Considered by many as the true birth of Psychology as a science. n Psychophysics: gap between the physical and psychological worlds.

Sensation & Perception n Sensation: u stimulation of sensory receptors. u transmission of sensory information to the brain. n Perception: u Process by which sensations are organized and interpreted, forming an inner representation of the world.

Overview of the Senses Physical Energy Senses Vision / Audition / Taction Chemical Senses Gustation / Olfaction Motion-Gravity Senses

Vision Sensing and perceiving light waves Lightwaves vary in length and amplitude Wave length = affects color perception Wave amplitude = affects brightness Light is the source of all color. Additive (light) vs. Subtractive (pigment)

Vision Y (L) ROY G BIV (S) So what colors are missing?

Structures of the Eye n Cornea: allows light in n Iris: muscle n Pupil: controls amount of light n Lens: focuses light n Retina: receives information about light

Retina n Inner membrane of eye, receives information about light using rods & cones. n Functions much like the spinal cord: acts as an “information superhighway”.

Rods n 125 million, rod shaped receptors n sensitive only to intensity of light n important for night (very sensitive), and peripheral vision (many are located on periphery of retina).

Cones n 6.5 million, cone shaped receptors. n transmits sensation of colors. n mostly located around the center of the eye (fovea). n Important in daylight and color vision. n Don’t work well in dim light.

Fovea n Located near the center of the retina. n most dense with cones and some rods. n Vision is most acute, n where you bring images into focus. n Fovea means “pit”

Optic Nerve n Transmits sensory information from eye to brain (Occipital lobe of cerebral cortex). n Converting physical energy into meaningful information for the brain. n Critical Thinking Challenge

Theories of Color Vision n Trichromatic Theory u Afterimage (a problem) n Opponent-Process Theory n Trichromat (normal color vision) n Color Blindness u Dichromat, Monochromat

Visual Perception n Gestalt Psychologists u Wertheimer, Kohler, Koffka n Gestalt rules n Top-Down Processing n Bottom-Up Processing

Perception of Movement n Illusions (misperceptions) n Autokinetic Effect n Stroboscopic Motion n Phi-Phenomenon

Some Fun Phenomenon n Attention: Cocktail Party Effect n Stroop Effect GREEN / RED

3 PARTS OF THE EAR PART FUNCTIONSTRUCTURE(S) OUTER FUNNELS sound waves Pinnas or Auricles MIDDLE AMPLIFIES sound waves Eardrum, hammer, anvil, & stirrup INNER TRANSLATES information for brain Cochlea, Basilar Membrane, Organ of Corti, AUDITORY NERVE

Hearing Problems n Conductive Deafness u Loss of conduction u Middle ear n Sensorineural Deafness u Damage to hair cells u inner ear

Chemical Senses n Olfaction n Sampling odor molecules n Crucial contribution to gustation n Gustation n 4 Primary taste qualities n 10,000 taste buds

Taction n Touch and Pressure n Temperature n Pain u Prostaglandins, Bradykinnin, Substance P n Gate Theory

n Kinesthesis: motion n (kinesis= motion, aisthesis=perception) n Vestibular Sense: inner ear u Position relative to gravity. u Sense of equilibrium. n ESP: Is it sensory info? u File-Drawer Problem u Déjà vu & Jamias vu