Module 17: Basic Concepts of Sensation & Perception
Experiencing sudden pain is to _____ as recognizing that you are suffering a heart attack is to _____.
sensation; perception
Why do our sensory systems adapt after prolonged exposure to a constant stimulus?
so that we detect potentially important changes in what's going on
Sensory adaptation helps people:
concentrate on more important things.
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 perception involves more than the sum of sensations BEST illustrates the importance of _____ processing.
top-down
Which statement is true?
There is no clear boundary between the processes of sensation and perception as we experience them.
_____ refers to the conversion of one form of energy into another.
Transduction
Human sensory systems are designed to detect changes in stimulation rather than to detect constancies. This is demonstrated by the process of sensory _____.
adaptation
The minute Beth walks into her mother-in-law's house to visit, she is struck by the strong smell of her mother-in-law's perfume. However, after about 10 minutes, Beth no longer notices the smell. This is probably the result of:
sensory adaptation.
_____ processing starts at the very basic level of sensory receptors and works toward more complex levels of processing.
Bottom-up
A neutral facial expression may be perceived as sadder at a funeral than at a circus. This BEST illustrates:
a context effect.
The minute Mark walks into his mother-in-law's house to visit, he is struck by the strong smell of his mother-in-law's perfume. However, after about 10 minutes, Mark no longer notices the smell. This is probably the result of sensory _____.
adaptation
Sensory adaptation can be defined as:
diminished sensitivity as a result of repeated stimulation.
Signal detection theory predicts that a person's ability to detect weak signals is partly dependent on the person's:
experience, expectations, motivation, and alertness.
In an experiment described in the textbook, preschool children preferred the taste of french fries served in a McDonald's bag to the taste of identical fries served in a plain white bag. The type of bag is a(n) _____ variable in this study.
independent
Experiencing sudden pain is to _____ as recognizing that one is suffering a heart attack is to _____.
sensation; 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 was kissed or slapped, Carlos needs a(n) _____.
sensation; perception
When Juan puts on a hat in the morning, he notices it is there. As the day goes on, he forgets that he is wearing it. This demonstrates the process of:
sensory adaptation.
