PSY2012 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Detection Theory, Absolute Threshold, Crossmodal
Document Summary
Note: our coverage of this chapter will be limited to: Discuss how our perceptions are directed and limited by selective attention. Selective attention allows your cognitive processes to take in selective aspects of your world. Sensation is the detection of energy by sense organs which send information to the brain; perception is the interpretation of raw sensory inputs. Explain the difference between bottom-up and top-down processing. Bottom-up processing: sensory detection and encoding; construction of whole from parts; taking details. Top-down processing: using knowledge from experiences and events to interpret information. Distinguish between an absolute threshold and a just noticeable difference threshold. Absolute threshold: lowest level of a stimulus needed for the nervous system to detect a change 50% of the time. Just noticeable difference: the smallest change in the intensity of a stimulus that we can detect ex. Adding 1 lbs. vs. 50 lbs. to a 200 lbs. ball.
