1. Perception and Sensation Thanks to: Allpsych101.com

2. Sitting in a crowded room. What are some of the things you would notice around you?

3. Sensation You might notice… brightness of lights. temperature. conversations going on around you. the smell of perfume. You will not notice… radio waves. x-rays. microscopic parasites crawling on your skin. WHY?

4. Absolute Threshold This is the point where something becomes noticeable to our sense. What can we hear? Changes in threshold- signal detection theory/analysis.

5. Galanter Candle flame from 30 miles- sight Tick of a watch at 20 feet- hearing 1 teaspoon of sugar in 2 gallons of water- taste 1 drop of perfume in 3 rooms- smell A bee’s wing on our cheek from 1 cm- touch

6. Experiment Time!!! Close your eyes. I am going to play a series of sounds from the sound test board. Raise your hand when you believe you have heard a sound.

7. Difference Threshold How do we notice changes in stimuli? The difference threshold is the amount of change needed for us to recognize that a change has occurred. This is relative to what we are doing. Just noticeable difference- Weber’s Law. Example: 1 lbs added to 5 v. 1 lbs added to 50.

8. Subliminal Stimulation Messages below our absolute threshold for conscious awareness but still have a momentary effect on our thinking. Attempted in advertising. Studies show little to no long term effect on sales.

9. Sensory Adaptation Once we adapt to a stimuli (such as the sound of a clock or the smell of perfume) we stop recognizing it. Classical music in class We then pay attention to stimuli that is changing. Selective Attention.