PSYC 1 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Detection Theory, Sensory Neuron, Electromagnetic Spectrum

• School: Irvine Valley College
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 1
• Professor: tucker

Document Summary

Sensation - the process by which senses detect visual, auditory, and other sensory stimuli and then transmit stimuli to brain. Perception - the process by which sensory information is actively organized and interpreted by brain. Difference between not being able to perceive stimulus and just barely able to perceive it. Minimum amount of sensory stimulation detected 50% of time. Just like doorway threshold is dividing point between being inside and outside of a room. Measure smallest increase/decrease in physical stimulus required to produce jnd. Smallest change in physical stimulus required to produce smallest change in sensation detected 50% of time. Ernst weber established weber"s law more than 150 years ago. Jnd for our senses depends on percentage change in stimulus instead of fixed amount of change. There is significant variation in individuals" sensory sensitivities. Some people are unaware of minor changes in sound or temperature where others notice these changes very easily. Detection theory helps us to understand these variations.