1. Chapter 4 Sensation and Perception

2. Sensation and Perception: The basics Sensation: the stimulation of sensory receptors & transmission of information to the central nervous system. Sensation: the stimulation of sensory receptors & transmission of information to the central nervous system. Perception: psychological process through which we interpret sensory stimulation Perception: psychological process through which we interpret sensory stimulation

3. Thresholds Absolute Threshold: the weakest amount of stimulus that can be sensed. Absolute Threshold: the weakest amount of stimulus that can be sensed. Difference Threshold: the minimum amount of difference that can be detected between two stimuli. Difference Threshold: the minimum amount of difference that can be detected between two stimuli.

4. Detection and Adaptation Signal–Detection Theory: your environment, physical state, mood, and your attitude can affect sensitivity to stimuli. Signal–Detection Theory: your environment, physical state, mood, and your attitude can affect sensitivity to stimuli. Sensory Adaptation: process by which we become more sensitive to weak stimuli and less sensitive to unchanging stimuli. Sensory Adaptation: process by which we become more sensitive to weak stimuli and less sensitive to unchanging stimuli.

5. Vision: Light: is electromagnetic energy Light: is electromagnetic energy We only see ROY G BIV, this is only a fraction of all the possible colors in the electromagnetic spectrum. (infrared & ultraviolet light) We only see ROY G BIV, this is only a fraction of all the possible colors in the electromagnetic spectrum. (infrared & ultraviolet light) Afterimages: the color’s complementary color Afterimages: the color’s complementary color Color Blindness: only seeing light and dark, no color. (rare) Color Blindness: only seeing light and dark, no color. (rare)

6. The Eye The Eye: The Eye: The Pupil: lets in light (like a camera) The Pupil: lets in light (like a camera) Pupil size is sensitive to light & emotions. Pupil size is sensitive to light & emotions. Allows dark & light adaptation for up to 45 minutes Allows dark & light adaptation for up to 45 minutes

7. Eye continued… Lens: adjusts to the distance of objects by changing its thickness. Lens: adjusts to the distance of objects by changing its thickness. (when people squint, they are adjusting the thickness of the lenses in their eyes) (when people squint, they are adjusting the thickness of the lenses in their eyes)

8. Eye continued… Retina: sensitive surface- acts like the film of the camera Retina: sensitive surface- acts like the film of the camera Photoreceptors make it possible for the optic nerve to carry the message to the brain Photoreceptors make it possible for the optic nerve to carry the message to the brain

9. Eye continued… Blind Spot: spot where optic nerve leaves the eye Blind Spot: spot where optic nerve leaves the eye this is how the information gets to the brain. this is how the information gets to the brain. Rods & Cones: Located in the retina Rods & Cones: Located in the retina Rods= black & white, Cones= color Rods= black & white, Cones= color

10. Hearing: Pitch: how high or low a sound is. Pitch: how high or low a sound is. Human ear can hear sound waves from 20 to 20,000 cycles per second. Human ear can hear sound waves from 20 to 20,000 cycles per second. Loudness: determined by amplitude=sound waves Loudness: determined by amplitude=sound waves Loudness measured by decibels Loudness measured by decibels (0 dB is the lowest we can hear) (0 dB is the lowest we can hear)

11. Ear: shaped to capture sound. shaped to capture sound. Made up of outer, middle, and inner ear. Made up of outer, middle, and inner ear. Eardrum: gateway for outer to middle ear Eardrum: gateway for outer to middle ear As it vibrates it sends it to 3 small bones: hammer, anvil, & stirrup As it vibrates it sends it to 3 small bones: hammer, anvil, & stirrup The bones then vibrate sending the sound to the inner ear The bones then vibrate sending the sound to the inner ear Inner ear-cochlea: fluid filled bony tube=sends to the auditory nerve. Inner ear-cochlea: fluid filled bony tube=sends to the auditory nerve.

12. Deafness: Conductive deafness: damage to middle ear. Conductive deafness: damage to middle ear. Usually older people (can be helped with hearing aids) Usually older people (can be helped with hearing aids) Sensorineural deafness: damage to inner ear Sensorineural deafness: damage to inner ear Usually caused by damage to the auditory nerve through disease or prolonged exposure to very loud noises. Usually caused by damage to the auditory nerve through disease or prolonged exposure to very loud noises.

13. Nose Smell: Olfactory nerve, connection to the brain. Smell: Olfactory nerve, connection to the brain. Adaptive: we lose awareness of smells around us. Adaptive: we lose awareness of smells around us. If we could not smell then we could not taste. If we could not smell then we could not taste.

14. Tongue Taste: Sweet, Sour, Salt, & Bitter. Taste: Sweet, Sour, Salt, & Bitter. Taste is sensed through receptor neurons located on taste buds. Taste is sensed through receptor neurons located on taste buds. Scraping your tongue or burning it kills taste buds. Scraping your tongue or burning it kills taste buds. Taste buds can renew themselves in a week. Taste buds can renew themselves in a week.

16. Touch Touch: pressure, temperature, pain Touch: pressure, temperature, pain Pressure: receptors around your hair roots detect pressure Pressure: receptors around your hair roots detect pressure Different parts of the body are more sensitive than others. Different parts of the body are more sensitive than others. Temperature: sensors help you to adapt to temp changes Temperature: sensors help you to adapt to temp changes Pain: point of contact-spinal cord-thalamus-cerebral cortex = prostaglandins (chemicals that tell the brain of pain) Pain: point of contact-spinal cord-thalamus-cerebral cortex = prostaglandins (chemicals that tell the brain of pain) Gate theory- rub or scratch the area to help pain go away= flooding the neurons Gate theory- rub or scratch the area to help pain go away= flooding the neurons

17. Body Senses: Body Senses: Vestibular sense: tells you whether you are physically upright or upside down. Vestibular sense: tells you whether you are physically upright or upside down. Sensory organs located in the ear monitor body’s motion, balance, tells you whether you’re upside down, falling, etc… Sensory organs located in the ear monitor body’s motion, balance, tells you whether you’re upside down, falling, etc… Kinesthesis: “to move” & “perception” Kinesthesis: “to move” & “perception” Info is fed to the brain from sensory organs in the joints, tendons, & muscles. Info is fed to the brain from sensory organs in the joints, tendons, & muscles.

18. Perception Gestalt: “whole” Gestalt: “whole”

19. Closure: tendency to perceive a complete or whole figure even when there are gaps in what your senses tell you

20. Similarity: people think of similar objects as belonging together.

21. Depth Perception

22. Movement

23. Proximity: if something is close together we perceive it as grouped together

24. Connectedness

25. Illusions

26. Ponzo Illusion

27. Chapter 5 Levels of Consciousness

28. Selective attention: focusing on a particular stimulus. Selective attention: focusing on a particular stimulus. Usually involves our 5 senses Usually involves our 5 senses Direct Inner Awareness: thoughts, images, emotions, or memories. Direct Inner Awareness: thoughts, images, emotions, or memories. Examples: being angry, remembering a friend, concepts like fairness or love. Examples: being angry, remembering a friend, concepts like fairness or love.

29. Levels of Awareness: Consciousness: Aware of inner and exterior stimuli Consciousness: Aware of inner and exterior stimuli Preconscious: not aware right now but could recall them if needed. Preconscious: not aware right now but could recall them if needed. Unconscious/Subconscious: unavailable to awareness. Unconscious/Subconscious: unavailable to awareness.

30. Altered States of Consciousness: Examples include: sleeping, under the influence of drugs/alcohol, meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis, etc. Examples include: sleeping, under the influence of drugs/alcohol, meditation, biofeedback, hypnosis, etc.

31. Sleep & Dreams Circadian Rhythms: Cycle occurring in people, animals, & plants. (every 24 hrs) Circadian Rhythms: Cycle occurring in people, animals, & plants. (every 24 hrs) Examples: body temp, blood pressure, sleepiness, & wakefulness. Examples: body temp, blood pressure, sleepiness, & wakefulness.

32. Stages of Sleep: Stage 1: lightest sleep, if awakened we feel like we haven’t been to sleep yet. Stage 1: lightest sleep, if awakened we feel like we haven’t been to sleep yet. Lasts about 30-40 minutes, we then move to stages 2,3, & 4 Lasts about 30-40 minutes, we then move to stages 2,3, & 4 Stage 2, 3, & 4: Moving deeper and deeper into sleep. Stage 2, 3, & 4: Moving deeper and deeper into sleep. After about 30 mins of stage 4 we move back to stage 3, then 2, then 1 (takes about 90 min) After about 30 mins of stage 4 we move back to stage 3, then 2, then 1 (takes about 90 min) Stage 5: REM- breathe more irregularly, blood pressure rises, heart beats faster. Stage 5: REM- breathe more irregularly, blood pressure rises, heart beats faster.

33. Why do we need sleep? Rand Gardner experiment: no sleep for 11 days= irritable, could not focus eyes, speech difficulties, & memory lapses. Rand Gardner experiment: no sleep for 11 days= irritable, could not focus eyes, speech difficulties, & memory lapses. REM deprived: makes people & animals learn more slowly & forget quickly REM deprived: makes people & animals learn more slowly & forget quickly

34. Sleep problems Insomnia: inability to sleep Insomnia: inability to sleep *Racing minds & worrying can cause this *Racing minds & worrying can cause this *Coping: relaxing when trying to sleep (good) & sleeping pills (not good!) *Coping: relaxing when trying to sleep (good) & sleeping pills (not good!)

35. Nightmares: anxiety can cause nightmares to occur more often Nightmares: anxiety can cause nightmares to occur more often *Occurs during REM sleep & usually in the morning *Occurs during REM sleep & usually in the morning

36. Night Terrors: severe nightmares with a racing heart & gasping for air. Night Terrors: severe nightmares with a racing heart & gasping for air. *most people don’t remember exactly what happens *most people don’t remember exactly what happens *Occur during 3 rd & 4 th stage of sleep *Occur during 3 rd & 4 th stage of sleep *Most common in children *Most common in children

37. Sleep Walking: Sleep Walking: *usually children, usually don’t remember the next day, & usually grow out of it. *usually children, usually don’t remember the next day, & usually grow out of it.

38. Sleep Apnea: breathing interruption Sleep Apnea: breathing interruption *Occurs when air passages are blocked *Occurs when air passages are blocked *Usually caused by obesity & snoring *Usually caused by obesity & snoring *People may feel tired during the day *People may feel tired during the day

39. Narcolepsy: suddenly fall asleep no matter what time it is or where they are. Narcolepsy: suddenly fall asleep no matter what time it is or where they are. *Believed to be a genetic functioning problem *Believed to be a genetic functioning problem

40. Meditation, Biofeedback, & Hypnosis Meditation: narrowing consciousness to relieve stress of the outside world. Meditation: narrowing consciousness to relieve stress of the outside world. Biofeedback: controlling certain bodily functions, such as heart rate. Biofeedback: controlling certain bodily functions, such as heart rate. * Treats things like tension headaches & high blood pressure * Treats things like tension headaches & high blood pressure

41. Hypnosis: altered state of consciousness during which people respond to suggestions & behave as though they are in a trance. Hypnosis: altered state of consciousness during which people respond to suggestions & behave as though they are in a trance. *Has been used in trials, for pain prevention, & quitting bad habits *Has been used in trials, for pain prevention, & quitting bad habits

42. Addiction Physical addiction: your body craves it after a while. Physical addiction: your body craves it after a while.

43. Depressants Depressants: slows the activity of the nervous system Depressants: slows the activity of the nervous system * gives people a sense of relaxation * gives people a sense of relaxation Alcohol: low doses= relaxation, high doses= sleep or worse Alcohol: low doses= relaxation, high doses= sleep or worse Intoxication: another word for drunkenness, root being the word toxic Intoxication: another word for drunkenness, root being the word toxic

44. Effects of drinking: Effects of drinking: 1) slurred speech, blurred vision, clumsy 1) slurred speech, blurred vision, clumsy 2) affects judgment 2) affects judgment 3) lowers inhibitions 3) lowers inhibitions * cause of more than half of all fatal car accidents in the U.S. * cause of more than half of all fatal car accidents in the U.S.

45. Narcotics: relieves pain & induce sleep Narcotics: relieves pain & induce sleep Examples: morphine, heroin, and codeine (derived from the poppy plant) Examples: morphine, heroin, and codeine (derived from the poppy plant)

46. Effects: Effects: 1) Morphine: very addictive (the soldier’s disease) 1) Morphine: very addictive (the soldier’s disease) 2) Heroin: gives feelings of pleasure, also depression, impairs judgment, memory, AIDS, death. 2) Heroin: gives feelings of pleasure, also depression, impairs judgment, memory, AIDS, death.

47. Stimulants Stimulants: increase activity of the nervous system Stimulants: increase activity of the nervous system Effects: Effects: speeds up the heart & breathing speeds up the heart & breathing includes nicotine, amphetamines, & cocaine includes nicotine, amphetamines, & cocaine

48. Effects 1) Nicotine: causes release of adrenaline 1) Nicotine: causes release of adrenaline * causes alertness, reduces appetite * causes alertness, reduces appetite * as addictive as heroine * as addictive as heroine * 400,000 people a year die from smoke related illnesses * 400,000 people a year die from smoke related illnesses

49. 2) Amphetamines: helps to stay awake & reduces appetite 2) Amphetamines: helps to stay awake & reduces appetite * 1st used in WWII * 1st used in WWII * produces feelings of pleasure * produces feelings of pleasure * causes hallucinations & delusions * causes hallucinations & delusions 3) Cocaine: causes feelings of pleasure, reduces hunger, deadens pain, and boosts self-confidence 3) Cocaine: causes feelings of pleasure, reduces hunger, deadens pain, and boosts self-confidence Overdose symptoms include restlessness, Insomnia, trembling, headaches, nausea, etc… Overdose symptoms include restlessness, Insomnia, trembling, headaches, nausea, etc…

50. Hallucinogens: Hallucinogen: causes hallucinations, relaxation, pleasure, or feelings of panic Hallucinogen: causes hallucinations, relaxation, pleasure, or feelings of panic Effects: Effects: 1) Marijuana: impairs perceptions, coordination, memory, & learning 1) Marijuana: impairs perceptions, coordination, memory, & learning * can cause anxiety & confusion * can cause anxiety & confusion 2) LSD: (acid) produces hallucinations 2) LSD: (acid) produces hallucinations * most injure themselves in a panic * most injure themselves in a panic

51. Treatment Detoxification: removal of a harmful substance from the body Detoxification: removal of a harmful substance from the body 1) Maintenance Programs: given controlled doses 1) Maintenance Programs: given controlled doses 2) Counseling: treats stimulant & depressant abuse 2) Counseling: treats stimulant & depressant abuse 3) Support Groups: people help because they know what you’re going through 3) Support Groups: people help because they know what you’re going through