Thursday, October 14 Page 19

Terminology  Sensation: stimulation of sensory receptors & transmission of information to the brain The Five Senses ○ Vision: aka sight, body part - eyes ○ Audition: aka hearing, body part - ears ○ Olfaction: aka smell, body part - nose ○ Gustation: aka taste, body part - tounge ○ Tactition: aka touch, body part - skin

Threshold  Absolute (Detection) The weakest amount of stimulation that can be sensed Audition: 0 decibels = 20 Hertz  Difference (Discrimination) Minimum difference that can be detected btwn stimuli Vision: Lowes Color Samples JND – Just Noticeble Difference Weber’s Law: the greater the magnitude of the stimulus, the larger the difference

Theory  Signal Detection Theory Method of discriminating sensory stimuli that takes into account the strength of the stimulus along with the setting, physical state, mood, & attitude of the individual Question: what is the individual “focusing” on?

Gustation: aka Taste  Four characteristics Sweet v. Sour Salty v. Bitter  Process 10,000 taste receptors Tongue, roof of mouth, throat, etc Code for characteristic  Lifespan Sweet tooth Cultural bias (evolution) Loss of JND over time

Olfaction: aka Smell  Estimated 5 million smell receptors 350+ receptors code for individual odors Est – 10,000 odors  Sense peaks in 20s  Parts Nostril Nasal Cavity Olfactory Bulb Adenoid

Tactition: aka touch  Essential to development Baby weight gain Adolescent attachment Adult affection  Process Pressure: firm v. brushing ○ Parethesia - RLS Warmth v. Cold ○ Thermoception Pain – Gate Control  Gate Control Theory SC blocks or passes pain to the brain Acupuncture: train SC to block pain messages