PSY 1101 Lecture Notes - Lecture 9: Stimulus Modality, Absolute Threshold, Amplitude Modulation

• School: University of Ottawa
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSY 1101
• Professor: Kenneth Campbell

Document Summary

We all seem to have the same sensory receptors. Transduction: receptor translate (transduces) the physical energy. What modality is it (light, audition, touch?) Duration- how long does the stimulus occur. Detection of min. energy requires to stimulate receptor. Min amount of energy requires to detect the stimulus on 50% of trials. The magnitude that a stimulus has to be increased (or decreased) in order for a change to be detected is a constant proportion (note not a constant addition) The absolute threshold may vary for reasons that have nothing to do with sensitivity". Subjects might be more or less willing to indicate that they have detected a low intensity stimulus. Thus, on some trials, a no-stimulus catch" trial is included. If the subject answers yes", to this stimulus it is a false alarm. Limitations of neuron"s all or none law. How do we experience different qualities within the same modality mullers specificity. Middle ear; ear drum, hammer, anvil, stirrup.