Objectives Chapter 6 Sensation and Perception NOTE Our coverage of this chapter will be limited to pages 229 250 263 279 Define and contrast sensation and perception and explain the difference between bottom up and top down processing Sensation Basic Processes by which sensory receptors and the nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment Taste Smell Vision Hearing Perception Use of previous knowledge to gather and interpret stimuli registered by the senses Involves integration of the outside world and one s own inner world Closely tied to thought and memory An alarm ringing and thinking oh that s my alarm Bottom up Sensory detection and encoding Lines angles shapes colors etc items events that grab our attention analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brains integration of sensory information Top down Organization and interpretation of that info Experiences and expectations Items events to which we deliberately direct our attention to Distinguish between absolute and difference thresholds and discuss whether subliminal stimuli have any influence Absolute Minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 of the time Difference Minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 of the time Subliminal stimuli below ones absolute threshold for conscious awareness Subliminal messages does not have a powerful enduring affect Define sensory adaptation and explain why it occurs Sensory adaptation Diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation After constant exposure to a stimulus our nerve cells fire less frequently Allows us to focus on informative changes in our environment ex you smell something as you walk into a room and as time goes by you no longer smell You are now immune to it Define parallel processing and as one important application discuss its role in visual information processing Parallel Processing Simultaneous concurrent processing of information by the brain The brain engages in multiple subtasks at the same time We notice the shape form depth and motion of a bird as it is flying Know what blindsight is and what its existence tells us about the visual system there will be an in class video on this topic Blindsight The point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye creating a blind spot because no receptor cells are located there clos one eye and you won t see a black hole on your TV screen however Without seeking your approval your brain fills it in Describe how we pinpoint sounds 2 ears are better than 1 The ear that is closer to the sound will receive input that is 1 More intense 2 perceived slightly sooner From section on Perceptual Organization Describe Gestalt psychology s contribution to our understanding of perception Form gestalten to fashion or shape Our brain does more than register information about the world i e bottom up processing State the basic assumptions behind our perceptions of motion and explain how those perceptions can be deceiving Expanding shrinking objects are approaching retreating not really changing in size Continuous movement is occurring when we observe a rapid series of slightly varying images This is the trick behind animation Explain how perceptual constancies help us to organize our sensations into meaningful perceptions Perceptual constancies Perceiving objects as unchanging having consistent shape size lightness and color even as illumination and retinal images change A vital top down process Allows us to flexibly navigate our world and rely on object recognition at the same time Explain why illusions are helpful in understanding perception They demonstrate the powerful workings of our normally effective perceptual processes They reveal that perceptions are governed by comparisons Define perceptual set and explain why the same stimulus can evoke different perceptions in different contexts Perceptual set Mental predisposition to perceive one thing and no the other Context effects a given stimulus may trigger different perceptions based on context Objectives Chapter 7 Learning pages 291 325 Define learning and identify two forms of learning Relatively permanent change in knowledge or behavior that results from experience In other words NOT reflex driven behavior Classical Pavlovian Conditioning Operant Conditioning Operational Learning Social Learning Define classical conditioning and describe its four basic components Classical conditioning Associate stimuli that are paired together Hear bell receive food Response Salivation Unconditioned stimulus food triggers Unconditioned response salivating Conditioned stimulus bell triggers a Conditioned response salivating Summarize the processes of acquisition extinction spontaneous recovery generalization and discrimination Acquisition The initial learning of an association between a neutral stimulus and an unconditioned stimulus so that the neutral stimulus begins triggering the conditioned response Extinction Repeated presentations of CS without US will eventually eliminate Response to CS ringing the bell without presenting food will stop the dog from drooling when the bell is ringing Spontaneous Recovery Happens when CS briefly regains its power to elicit the response In other words the reappearance after a pause of extinguished conditioned response Generalization Tendency to respond to stimuli that are similar to the CS Bell a triangle bell Discrimination Ability to distinguish between the CS and other stimuli Bell and drum No similarity Although underestimated in Pavlov s research discuss the importance of cognitive processes and biological predispositions in classical conditioning Cognitive processes matter Predictability of association affects strength of conditioned responses Identify the critical role of behavior in distinguishing classical conditioning from operant conditioning Biological Constraints matter Associative Learning is adaptive Links may extend over several hours Some links are more likely to form than others Describe the process of operant conditioning including the shaping procedure Classical conditioning the emphasis on automatic reflexive responses to stimuli as a result of associative learning Operant conditioning the emphasis is on controlled deliberate behavior enacted by an organism to influence its environment Define and contrast punishment and negative reinforcement Positive Punishment Something unpleasant is introduced Negative Punishment Something pleasant is
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