Chapter 8: Sensation & Perception

Mr. McCormick Psychology

Do-Now: (Discussion)  If you had to

sacrifice

senses

: one of your

five

     Sight Hearing Touch Smell Taste 

Which one would it be? Why?

“Fraser’s Spiral”

“Fraser’s Spiral” 

Why does this image

appear

to be a

spiral

?

Sensation vs. Perception 

Sensation:

 What occurs when a stimulus (change in environment, to which an organism responds) activates a receptor 

Perception:

 The organization of sensory information into meaningful experiences

“Fraser’s Spiral” 

In viewing “Fraser’s Spiral:”

 What are we

sensing

?

 What are we

perceiving

?

 How do we use

sensation perception

and together to

understand

world?

our

“The Disappearing Circle”

“The Disappearing Circle” 

When focusing on the black dot, why does the outer grey circle

appear

to

fade away

?

Sensory Adaptation 

Sensory Adaptation:

 Senses tuned to change; adaptable  Responsive to increases and decreases of stimuli  E.g.:   Eyes adjust to darkness in a movie theatre Skin adapts to coldness of ocean water

Sensory Adaptation 

Can you think of other examples of how our senses adapt to changes in external stimuli?



What would happen if we did not have “sensory adaptation?”

Without Sensory Adaptation..

 Without sensory adaptation, the human body would be overloaded with stimuli.  For example, right now we would be feeling the constant pressure of the clothing we are wearing, the chairs on which we are seated, etc.

“The Stroop Effect” (Part A.)

“The Stroop Effect” (Part B.)

“The Stroop Effect” (Part C.)

“The Stroop Effect”  Why is it more

difficult

colors

in

“Part C.?”

to name the 

The “Stroop Effect” illustrates how difficult it is to ignore some kinds of stimuli



You were receiving two stimuli – the color and the word – which compete and slow you down when you try to name the color

Review  What is the

difference

between

sensation

and

perception

?

 What is

sensory adaptation

?

Why

do humans adapt to stimuli?

Homework

 Read Chapter 8.1 “Sensation” 

Pgs. 206-213

 Complete Section 1 Assessment 

Pg. 213



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