PSY 100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Absolute Threshold, Optic Nerve, Psychophysics
Document Summary
The result of the physical interaction between the world and the human body. Works up to higher levels of processing. Perception based on knowledge, experience and/or expectations. Visual transduction(conversion of one form of energy into another): Conversion of light energy into neural signals: Pigments in receipts absorbs a photon of light. Science of defining quantitative relationships between physical and psychological (subjective) events. Minimum intensity of a physical stimulus that can be detected by observer. Quantifies the response of an observer to the presentation of a signal in the presence of noise: Can influence subsequent perception, memory or responses. As stimulus level changes the magnitude of change must increase proportionately (by a minimum percentage) to remain noticeable. Getting used to a strong smell or loud, continuous sound. After constant exposure, nerve cells fire less frequently. Allows persons to focus on informative information over background simulation. Mental predisposition to perceive one thing over another.