Unit 4:Unit 4:Sensation and Sensation and

PerceptionPerceptionMr. McCormickMr. McCormick

A.P. PsychologyA.P. Psychology

Essential QuestionEssential Question

How do people How do people useuse the the

77 known senses known senses

to to understandunderstand the the

world world around them?around them?

Unit 4(A):Unit 4(A):Sensation, Perception, Sensation, Perception,

and Attentionand AttentionMr. McCormickMr. McCormick

A.P. PsychologyA.P. Psychology

Do-NowDo-Now(Discussion)(Discussion)

Open your textbooks to Pg. 229:Open your textbooks to Pg. 229: “Sensation and Perception”“Sensation and Perception”

What is What is ProsopagnosiaProsopagnosia??

How does this How does this conditioncondition illustrate the illustrate the difference difference between between sensationsensation and and perceptionperception??

Sensation and PerceptionSensation and Perception

Sensation:Sensation: The process by which our sensory receptors and The process by which our sensory receptors and

nervous system receive and represent stimulus nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environmentenergies from our environment

““Bottom-Up”Bottom-Up”

Perception:Perception: The process or organizing and interpreting sensory The process or organizing and interpreting sensory

information, enabling us to recognize meaningful information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and eventsobjects and events

““Bottom-Up” and “Top-Down”Bottom-Up” and “Top-Down”

Sensation and Perception:Sensation and Perception:“Bottom-Up” Vs. “Top-Down”“Bottom-Up” Vs. “Top-Down”

““Bottom-Up” Processing:Bottom-Up” Processing:

““Top-Down” Processing:Top-Down” Processing:

T E C TT E C T

““The Forest Has Eyes”The Forest Has Eyes”Bev DoolittleBev Doolittle

Sensation and Perception:Sensation and Perception:“Bottom-Up” Vs. “Top-Down”“Bottom-Up” Vs. “Top-Down”

Look at the images on Look at the images on Hand-Out 6-12Hand-Out 6-12::

What does each image What does each image representrepresent

Which process is Which process is “Bottom-Up?”“Bottom-Up?”

Why?Why?

Which process is Which process is “Top-Down?”“Top-Down?”

Why?Why?

Sensation and PerceptionSensation and Perception

OrganismsOrganisms are are equippedequipped with with sensorysensory and and perceptualperceptual abilitiesabilities based upon their individual based upon their individual needsneeds::

A A frogfrog, which feeds on flying insects, has eyes with receptor cells that fire , which feeds on flying insects, has eyes with receptor cells that fire only in response to small, dark, moving objects. A frog could starve to death only in response to small, dark, moving objects. A frog could starve to death knee-deep in motionless flies. But let one zoom by and the frog’s “bug knee-deep in motionless flies. But let one zoom by and the frog’s “bug detector” cells snap awake.detector” cells snap awake.

A A male silkworm moth male silkworm moth has receptors so sensitive to the female sex-has receptors so sensitive to the female sex-attractant odor that a single female need release only a billionth of an ounce attractant odor that a single female need release only a billionth of an ounce per second to attract every male silkworm moth within a mile. That is why per second to attract every male silkworm moth within a mile. That is why there continue to be silkworms.there continue to be silkworms.

HumansHumans are similarly equipped to detect the important features of our are similarly equipped to detect the important features of our environment. Our ears are more sensitive to sound frequencies that include environment. Our ears are more sensitive to sound frequencies that include human voice consonants and a baby’s cry.human voice consonants and a baby’s cry.

Perception and Perception and Selective AttentionSelective Attention

Selective Attention:Selective Attention: The focusing of conscious awareness on a The focusing of conscious awareness on a

particular stimulusparticular stimulus

The five senses take in The five senses take in 11,000,00011,000,000 bits of bits of information per second; however, people information per second; however, people consciouslyconsciously process process 4040 bits.bits.

Perception and Perception and Selective AttentionSelective Attention

Inattentional Blindness:Inattentional Blindness: Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed

elsewhereelsewhere Simons and Chabris: Simons and Chabris:

““Gorilla Study” (1999)Gorilla Study” (1999) 50% of participants failed to consciously perceive gorilla50% of participants failed to consciously perceive gorilla

Change Blindness:Change Blindness: Failure to notice changes in the environmentFailure to notice changes in the environment Simons and Levin:Simons and Levin:

““Door Study” (1998)Door Study” (1998) 50% of participants failed to consciously perceive change of actor50% of participants failed to consciously perceive change of actor

ReviewReview

What is the What is the difference difference between between sensationsensation and and perceptionperception??

How do How do sensationsensation and and perceptionperception help us help us understandunderstand the the worldworld around us? around us?

What is What is selective attentionselective attention??

DifferentiateDifferentiate between between inattentional inattentional blindnessblindness and and change blindnesschange blindness..

HomeworkHomework

Chapter 6 Outline:Chapter 6 Outline: “Sensation and Perception”“Sensation and Perception”

Unit 4 Key PeopleUnit 4 Key People

Research Study Response #5: Research Study Response #5: “Take a Long “Take a Long Look” (Pgs. 36-42)Look” (Pgs. 36-42)

Unit 4 Quiz:Unit 4 Quiz: “Sensation and Perception“Sensation and Perception