PSYC 1 Chapter Notes - Chapter 18: Detection Theory, Absolute Threshold, Psychophysics
Document Summary
Psyc 1 textbook notes module 18: basic concepts of sensation and perception. Sensation: process by which sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from environment. Perception: process of organizing and interpreting sensory information; recognize meaningful objects and events. Bottom-up processing: starts at sensory receptors, works to higher levels. Top-down processing: construct perceptions drawing on experience and expectations. Specialized receptor cells: transform stimulation into neural impulses, deliver neural information to brain. Transduction: conversion of one form of energy to another. Psychophysics: relationships between physical characteristics/stimuli and psychological experience of them. Absolute thresholds: minimum stimulus energy needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time. Signal detection theory: how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus amid background noise. Subliminal: below absolute threshold for conscious awareness: do not notice 50% of the time. Priming: activation of certain associations: unconscious, predisposing perception/memory/response.
