1. Creating our Psychological Reality
If a tree fell in the forest, and no one was around, would it make a sound?

2. Sensation & Perception
Video 5:31 – 8:26

3. Sensation Sensation: data coming from the senses
Transduction
info from senses changed to neural impulses
Sensory reduction
Filter – not all information is sent to brain
Sensory adaptation: sending less of a signal from the senses that is continuous
Example: clothes on skin

4. Vision

5. The Eye Cornea: protective cover, focuses light
Iris: muscle dilate/constrict to control amount of light
Pupil: opening inside of iris
Lens: adjusts to focus on objects at a distance, focuses light

6. The Eye Retina: inner surface w/sight receptors
rods (receptors for dark) & cones (receptors for light and color)
dark adaptation (cones -> rods)
light adaptation (rods -> cones)
Optic nerve: neural signals to brain
Blind spot: no vision receptors

7. Perception
Video 14:57-17:42
Selection / selective attention: we can’t pay attention to everything – we will notice things that are new, changing
Perceptual set: we notice things that we expect to see and interpret things in ways we expect it to happen

8. Perception
Habituation: less attention in response to same stimulus (e.g., teacher talking in monotone voice)
Video 1:24-3:09
Sensory adaptation vs. Habituation
Change in sensing vs. change in responding
Not consciously controllable vs. controllable
Change in strength won’t vs. will recover response

9. Form Perception
Figure-Ground
Similarity
Continuity
Closure
Proximity

10. Constancies
Size
Brightness
Shape
Demo

11. Perceptual Experiences
Synesthesia: info from one sense is interpreted by a different sense
Ex. Hearing music but seeing colors
Illusions: misinterpreting what you are seeing
Video 20:22-25:56

12. Discussion
Thinking about all of the topics from this semester, where/how will expectations influence our psychological reality?