Sensation and Perception

1. Sensation - detection of environmental energy by

sensory receptors

2. Perception – process of interpreting and assigning

meaning to sensory information
Consider that light travels in waves…
Range of light wavelengths (electromagnetic spectrum)

Human can only sense from 400-700nm light wavelengths

Range of Audible Sound Frequencies (cycles per
second)

Low Limit High Limit

Elephant 17 10,000
Human 20 20,000
Cattle 23 35,000
Dog 60 45,000
Monkey 110 45,000
Mouse 1000 90,000
Bat 3000 120,000
 Why is this so complicated?

Because perception is the brain’s best attempt to

“reconstruct” the world in the mind

Illusions - disagreements between perception

and reality
Consider the perception of depth…
Vision
Light is the environmental energy responsible
for vision
Humans are sensitive to light wavelengths
from 400nm to 700nm
Light wavelengths perceptually
experienced as different colors
 The Eye
The Eye
The Eye

1. Cornea - clear membrane on surface of eye that

focuses light onto retina

2. Iris - colored muscle that dilates and constricts and

thereby regulates amount of light entering eye

Whytt’s reflex – immediate constriction of the pupil

in response to light stimulation
The Eye
3. Lens – flexible structure that focuses light on the retina
Accommodation - changing shape of lens to focus
light
Nearsightedness - inability to see distant
objects clearly
Farsightedness - inability to see close
objects clearly
The Eye

4. Retina - layer of receptor cells lining back of

eye; responsible for transduction
The Eye
4. Retina - layer of receptor cells lining back of
eye; responsible for transduction
Transduction - conversion of environmental energy to
neural energy
Fovea - region of retina containing only cones;
in line of sight

Cones Rods
Concentrated in fovea Only outside fovea
Color vision Black and white vision
Best in bright light Best in dim light
Blind Spot – where optic nerve exits eye; no receptors
Hearing
Sound is the environmental energy responsible for hearing

Sound is a form of energy consisting of pressure

changes in some medium, typically air

Humans can sense sound waves from 20-20,000Hz

Sound waves perceptually experienced as different pitch

 Pure Tone - sound wave of constant frequency
and amplitude

pure tone http://www.smackmypitchup.com/smpu/?sec=content&id=78&topid=123

Most sounds are complex
Range of Audible Sound Frequencies (in Hz)

Low Limit High Limit

Elephant 17 10,000
Human 20 20,000
Cattle 23 35,000
Dog 60 45,000
Monkey 110 45,000
Mouse 1000 90,000
Bat 3000 120,000
The Ear

1. Pinna – wrinkled flap extending from head

2. Ear Drum – membrane that vibrates in response to sound

3. Ossicles – bones in middle ear that transmit vibrations

The Ear

1. Pinna – wrinkled flap extending from head

2. Ear Drum – membrane that vibrates in response to sound

3. Ossicles – bones that transmit vibrations

4. Cochlea – fluid-filled structure that contains hair

cell receptors
Perception

Consider that what you perceive is not determined only

by the stimulation of sensory receptors...
1. Bottom-up processing – stimulation of receptors
2. Top-down processing – effects of knowledge and
expectations on perception
Bottom-up Processing Top-down Processing

Knowledge of dogs

Perception
 Perception of Shape
Gestalt Psychology – studied how the perceptual system
organizes elements of a scene into forms and shapes
 Perception of Shape
Gestalt Psychology – studied how the perceptual system
groups elements of a scene into forms and shapes

Principles of perceptual grouping

1. Proximity – elements near each other are grouped

 Perception of Shape
Gestalt Psychology – studied how the perceptual system
groups elements of a scene into forms and shapes

Principles of perceptual grouping

1. Proximity – elements near each other are grouped
2. Closure – elements grouped to create closure
Fig. 4-26b, p. 139
 Perception of Shape
Gestalt Psychology – studied how the perceptual system
groups elements of a scene into forms and shapes

Principles of perceptual grouping

1. Proximity – elements near each other are grouped
2. Closure – elements grouped to create closure
3. Similarity – similar elements grouped together
 Perception of Shape
Gestalt Psychology – studied how the perceptual system
groups elements of a scene into forms and shapes

Principles of perceptual grouping

1. Proximity – elements near each other are grouped
2. Closure – elements grouped to create closure
3. Similarity – similar elements grouped together
4. Pragnanz – elements grouped to form good figures
Depth Perception

Monocular Depth Cues

1. Relative Height – objects higher in visual

field perceived as greater distance
Depth Perception
Monocular Depth Cues
1. Relative Height – objects higher in visual
field perceived as greater distance
2. Overlap - far objects occluded by near objects
Depth Perception
Monocular Depth Cues

1. Relative Height – objects higher in visual

field perceived as greater distance
2. Overlap - far objects occluded by near
objects
3. Texture Gradient – elements comprising
surface become denser with distance
Depth Perception
Monocular Depth Cues

1. Relative Height – objects higher in visual

field perceived as greater distance
2. Overlap - far objects occluded by near
objects
3. Texture Gradient – elements comprising
surface become denser with distance
4. Linear Perspective – parallel lines meet in distance
Depth Perception
Binocular Depth Cues
1. Binocular Disparity – each eye receives different image