PSYC 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4.1: Sensory Neuron, Sensory System, Psychophysics

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 100
• Professor: Jordan Poppenk

Document Summary

Explain the processes by which physical energy is interpreted by the brain. Describe how physical characteristics correspond to psychological characteristics. Sensation: process by which our sensory systems gather information about the environment. Process turning chemical, mechanical, sound, and light into electrical signals. Perception: selection, organization, and interpretation of sensations as meaningful objects and events. Processes that analyze and interpret electrical signals; knowledge and understanding) Transduction: conversion of physical energy into electrical potentials. Occurs in sensory receptor cells (specialized neurons) Seeing if sensing light and its reflection off of surfaces. Perception of objects in 3-d, at varying distances with many colours and textures. Sensing vibrations in air with the ears. Includes taste and smell; both work through chemical compounds binding to specialized receptors in the body. There are more than just the five senses, including: proprioception: sense of position and movement of limbs, trunk, and head in space, vestibular senses: balance and acceleration.