Sensation and
Perception…
WE WILL…EXAMINE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SENSATION AND PERCEPTION.
I WILL…BE ABLE TO IDENTIFY HOW EACH OF THE 5 MAJOR SENSES PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN OUR ABILITY TO INTERPRET OUR SURROUNDINGS.
10/13/17
We will…examine the differences between sensation and perception.
I will…be able to identify how each of the 5 major senses plays a major role in
our ability to interpret our surroundings.
How many senses do humans
have?
Think: On a sheet of paper, name as many senses as you can.
Pair: look at someone next to you…
Share: share what you wrote and see if they have anything different
than you.
People have only 5 senses…
WRONG!
There are also body senses and skin senses
Pressure, temperature, pain, vestibular sense, & kinestetics
We will…examine the differences between sensation and perception.
I will…be able to identify how each of the 5 major senses plays a major role in
our ability to interpret our surroundings.
Which of the 5 major senses could
you (personally) live without?
Hearing
Vision
Taste
Smell
Touch
Write a couple sentences as to which you chose and why you chose to lose that particular sense.
Think, Pair, Share when you finished writing
We will…examine the differences between sensation and perception.
I will…be able to identify how each of the 5 major senses plays a major role in
our ability to interpret our surroundings.
Sensation vs. Perception
Sensation is the stimulation of sensory receptors and the transmission
of sensory information to the central nervous system
(the brain and the spinal cord)
The stimulation of the senses is automatic!
Perception is the psychological process through which we interpret
sensory stimulation.
We will…examine the differences between sensation and perception.
I will…be able to identify how each of the 5 major senses plays a major role in
our ability to interpret our surroundings.
Absolute threshold and difference
threshold.
AT: the weakest amount of a stimulus that can be sensed.
DT: the minimum amount of difference that can be detected
between two stimuli.
Weber’s Law
The law states that the change in a stimulus that will be just noticeable is
a constant ratio of the original stimulus. It has been shown not to hold for
extremes of stimulation.
We will…examine the differences between sensation and perception.
I will…be able to identify how each of the 5 major senses plays a major role in
our ability to interpret our surroundings.
Let's give it a try with Music!
For example…Sense Stimulus Receptors Absolute Threshold
Vision Electromagnetic energy Rods and cones in the
retina
A candle flame viewed
from a distance of about
30 miles on a dark night.
Hearing Sound Waves Hair Cells on the inner
ear
The ticking of a watch
from about 20 feet away
in a quiet room.
Smell Chemical substances in
the air
Receptor cells in the
nose
About one drop of
perfume diffused
throughout a small
house.
Taste Chemical substances in
saliva
Taste buds on the
tongue
About 1 teaspoon of
sugar dissolved in 2
gallons of water.
Touch Pressure on the skin Nerve endings in the skin The wing of a fly falling
on a cheek from a
distance of less than half
an inch.
We will…examine the differences between sensation and perception.
I will…be able to identify how each of the 5 major senses plays a major role in
our ability to interpret our surroundings.
Sensory Adaptation
This is the process by which we become more
sensitive to weak stimuli and less sensitive to
unchanging stimuli.
(pain not a part of this)
We will…examine the differences between sensation and perception.
I will…be able to identify how each of the 5 major senses plays a major role in
our ability to interpret our surroundings.
Top-Down Processing
Top-down processing is defined as the development of pattern
recognition through the use of contextual information. For instance,
you are presented with a paragraph written with difficult
handwriting. It is easier to understand what the writer wants to
convey if you read the whole paragraph rather than reading the
words in separate terms. The brain may be able to perceive and
understand the gist of the paragraph due to the context supplied
by the surrounding words.
We will…examine the differences between sensation and perception.
I will…be able to identify how each of the 5 major senses plays a major role in
our ability to interpret our surroundings.
Bottom-Up Processing
In the bottom-up processing approach, perception starts at the
sensory input, the stimulus. Thus, perception can be described as
data-driven. For example, there is a flower at the center of a
person's field. The sight of the flower and all the information about the stimulus are carried from the retina to the visual cortex in the
brain. The signal travels in one direction.
We will…examine the differences between sensation and perception.
I will…be able to identify how each of the 5 major senses plays a major role in
our ability to interpret our surroundings.
Signal-Detection Theory Theory which suggests how individuals are able to detect a minimal
stimulus (signal) among other background stimuli (noise). This may influence how individuals make a decision in a specific situation.
Takes into account your setting, physical state, mood and attitudes
(motivation, expectations, learning).
We will…examine the differences between sensation and perception.
I will…be able to identify how each of the 5 major senses plays a major role in
our ability to interpret our surroundings.
Crash Course Video
Exit Slip…
What is the difference between sensation and
perception?
Is sensation a top-down or bottom-up process?
Is perception a top-down or bottom-up process?
We will…examine the differences between sensation and perception.
I will…be able to identify how each of the 5 major senses plays a major role in
our ability to interpret our surroundings.
10/16/17
Agenda
Read the Article on Animal Senses and answer the questions.
Watch the National Geographic Episode on Perception.
What do you know about Perception?
Fill out the Chart COMPLETELY while watching the movie (these WILL be taken for a grade).
We will…examine the differences between sensation and perception.
I will…be able to identify how each of the 5 major senses plays a major role in our ability to interpret our surroundings.
National Geographic - Perception
Article Questions 10/16/17
Answer on the back of the article paper.
1. What was the natural event that the animals detected?
2. People have reported that animals have a sixth sense? What is
that sixth sense good for?
3. Define infrasound?
4. In what ways do animals’ senses differ from those of humans?
5. Do you believe what this article states or do you think it is a hoax
(fake)? Why?
We will…examine the differences between sensation and perception.
I will…be able to identify how each of the 5 major senses plays a major role in
our ability to interpret our surroundings.