LearningCurve 6a. Basic Concepts of Sensation and Perception

Sean just discovered that his roommate's girlfriend broke up with him. Later on, Sean sees his roommate studying in the library and assumes that he looks depressed. This assumption is an example of perception being influenced by:

A context effect

A person can detect a single drop of perfume diffused in an area the size of a one-bedroom apartment. This is a(n) _____ threshold.

Absolute

Human sensory systems are designed to detect changes in stimulation rather than to detect constancies. This is demonstrated by the process of sensory _____.

Adaptation

When Sanjay recognizes line segments and areas of light and dark as his friend's face at an airport gate, he is demonstrating:

Perception

The process by which receptor cells detect stimuli is called

Sensation

Carlos was just touched on his cheek, which is a(n) _____. In order for Carlos to know if he were kissed or slapped, Carlos needs a(n) _____.

Sensation; perception

Two Transportation Security Administration officers are scanning bags at the airport. One of the officers lets a bag go through, but the other officer yells, "Wait, didn't you see that?" Why one officer saw a weapon and the other did not is BEST explained by:

Signal detection theory

Dennis, a nurse, notes that some parents of asthmatic children respond to very small changes in their children's breathing and seek care accordingly. However, other parents do not notice the same small changes. This type of difference in reaction to stimuli is BEST explained by:

The signal detection theory

The fact that perceptions involve more than the sum of sensations BEST illustrates the importance of _____ processing.

Top-down

Malik glances at his doctor's scrawl on a handwritten prescription. He draws on his knowledge of common medications to distinguish among a's, o's, and u's. Malik's experience BEST illustrates:

Top-down processing

In an experiment described in the textbook, bar patrons preferred the taste of vinegar-laced beer in a glass labeled "MIT brew" to the taste of identical beer served in an unlabeled glass. The type of glass is a(n) _____ variable in this study.

independent

Both _____ and _____ indicate how experiences help to construct perception

perceptual set; context