PSYCH101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: Sensory Neuron, Sensory System, Illusory Contours
2 May 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Topic 4: Sensation and Perception
Sensation and Perception - the whole is greater the sum of the parts
Our senses are the conduits linking the brain to the world
-Sensory evolved to guide behaviour
- approach vs. world
-not a full objective account of physical properties
-specific info for survival and reproduction
The basics
Sensation
-Basic processes by which sensory organs and the NS respond to stimuli and the elementary
psychological experiences that result
-the sourness of a taste
Perception
The more complex organizing of sensory info within the brain ant the meaningful interpretations
from it
- Tightly tied to thought and memory
Sensory Psychologists study the lawful relationships between physical stimulus, physiological
response and sensory experience
-physical stimulus: the matter or energy in the world
physiological response
Five major senses
Aristotle defined 5
-We actually have many more than this depending on how you count
-e.g skin is sensitive to touch but also temp. and pain
-Also have senses related to body position and body’s internal environment
Every sensory system has distinct receptors and neural pathways
-Sensory receptors: specialized structures that respond to stimuli that initiate neural impulses
to sensory neurons
-some senses, all in one location, others are everywhere
-The pathways to the CNS are unique to that sense
-They send messages to many parts of the brain, including specific sensory areas of the
cortex
13
PSYCH101 Full Course Notes
Verified Note
13 documents
Document Summary
Sensation and perception - the whole is greater the sum of the parts. Our senses are the conduits linking the brain to the world. Not a full objective account of physical properties. Basic processes by which sensory organs and the ns respond to stimuli and the elementary psychological experiences that result. The more complex organizing of sensory info within the brain ant the meaningful interpretations from it. Sensory psychologists study the lawful relationships between physical stimulus, physiological response and sensory experience. Physical stimulus: the matter or energy in the world physiological response. We actually have many more than this depending on how you count. E. g skin is sensitive to touch but also temp. and pain. Also have senses related to body position and body"s internal environment. Every sensory system has distinct receptors and neural pathways. Sensory receptors: specialized structures that respond to stimuli that initiate neural impulses to sensory neurons. Some senses, all in one location, others are everywhere.
