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Principles of Sensation

William Hill

William Hill

8 min read

Next Topic - Principles of Perception

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Study Guide Overview

This study guide covers sensation and perception, including the difference between bottom-up and top-down processing. It explores sensory adaptation, habituation, and the types of senses (energy, chemical, and body position). Gestalt principles of organization (proximity, continuity, closure, figure-ground) are discussed. The guide also explains sensory transduction, absolute and difference thresholds, Weber's Law, and signal detection theory. Finally, it provides practice questions and exam tips.

#AP Psychology: Sensation & Perception - Your Ultimate Study Guide 🚀

Hey there, future AP Psych master! This guide is designed to help you ace the Sensation and Perception unit. Let's dive in and make sure you're feeling confident and ready! 💪

#Introduction to Sensation and Perception

#Sensation vs. Perception: What's the Difference? 🤔

  • Sensation: The process where your sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from your environment. Think of it as your body's raw data collection. 👁️👂👃👅✋

    • Bottom-Up Processing: Starts with sensory receptors and works up to the brain. It's all about the raw input from your senses. Example: Seeing lines, angles, and colors to recognize a flower. 🌼

  • Perception: The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events. This is where your brain makes sense of the data. 🧠

    • Top-Down Processing: Constructs perception from sensory input by drawing on experiences and expectations. Example: Recognizing a flower based on past experiences and memories.
Memory Aid

Bottom-Up: Think Basic input from Body. Top-Down: Think Thinking and Translating the input.

#Sensory Adaptation and Habituation

  • Sensory Adaptation: Decreasing responsiveness to a stimulus due to constant stimulation. Example: Not feeling your socks after wearing them for a while. 🧦
  • Sensory Habituation: Perception of sensation depends on how much you focus on it. Example: You might not notice the ticking of a clock until you actively pay attention to it. ⏰
Key Concept

Sensation is about the physical senses, while perception is about how we interpret those senses. They work together to help us understand the world around us.

#Types of Senses

Our senses are divided into three main categories:

  1. Energy Senses: Vision, hearing, and touch. These senses respond to physical energy like light waves, sound waves, and pressure. ⚡
  2. Chemical Senses: Taste and smell. These senses respond to chemical substances. 🧪
  3. Body Position Senses: Vestibular and kinesthetic senses. These senses help us understand our body's position and movement. 🤸‍♂️🙋‍♀️
Sense CategorySenseReceptors
Energy SensesVision 👀Rods, cones (retina) ...
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Previous Topic - Sensation and PerceptionNext Topic - Principles of Perception

Question 1 of 18

Which of the following describes the process where your sensory receptors receive and represent stimulus energies from your environment? 🤔

Perception

Sensation

Transduction

Habituation