Sensation

1. Definition
Sensations have been defined by many scholars some of the universally accepted definitions
are given below.
a) The sensation is the process of receiving, translating, and transmitting messages from
the outside world to the brain
b) Sensation is a conscious or mental process generated by stimulus to a sensory organ,
sensory nerve, or sensory region in the brain.
c) It is the physical process by which our sense organs, namely the eyes, ears, nose,
tongue, and skin, react to external stimuli.
d) Sensation Is a Conscious OR Mental Process Generated by Stimulating a Sense Organ,
Sensory Nerve, Or Sensory Region in The Brain.
2. Explanation

Sensation in a natural phenomenon present in every living organism in distinct forms. In the
process of sensation, the sensory organs catch the external stimulus, this stimulus is always in the
form that mind cannot understand directly therefore the sensory organ change the stimulus into
neural impulse, which can be understood by mind. In case of image, eyes catch the external stimulus
and change into waves these waves are then transferred to the sensory region of brain. The auditory
sensation works in the same way as visionary sensation.

3. Example

The best example of sensation is heat sensation by our skin.

Characteristics of sensation
following are the main characteristics of sensation;
1. Stimulus
A sensation cannot be generated by itself rather it need a stimulus to be activated. Each
sensory organ is sensitive to particular stimulus i.e. eye is sensitive to light.
2. Intensity
Every organ he the limited ability to catch the minimum amount of stimulus. This
minimum is called absolute threshold. On the other hand, organs have the limited ability to
sense a change in the two stimulus, which is called the differential threshold.
i. Absolute threshold
Absolute threshold for every stimulus that we can detect is 50% of the certain
stimulus. The minimum amount of sound we can here is the sound in calm room
While the minimum amount of light we can see the in the dark room.
ii. Differential threshold
Differential threshold is explained by weber’s law given by weber frincher. The
law states that the change in a stimulus that will be just noticeable is a constant
ratio of the original stimulus.
 3. Adoption
A stimulus can be detected and can be differentiated on bases of intensity. But when a
stimulus is received constantly for some time the the receptors may not notice the
intensity of the stimulus or the receptor may generate fewer impulse as before. For
instance, a person in when dive into a swimming pool may sense the water as cold in
the beginning but after some time the receptor may decrease the intensity of impulses.
4. After image
An after image may remain in mind even when the stimulus has stop. The feel of this
sensation may remain in consciousness. For instance, after hearing a song there may be
some sensatory image left in our brain.

Functions of different sensations

Introduction

There are different types of sensory organs in every organism which are obligated to detect the
specific kind of stimulus. In human there are 5 sensory organs, these organs together make the sensory
system. Every sensory organ has its own function. Some of the major functions of different sensory
organs are given below.

1. Eyes or Ophthalmoceptors
Opthalmoceptors are the visual sensory organs to detect the waves of lights.
Opthamlmoceptors have different parts and every part has its own function, together
they make visual sensory organ.
i. Iris
The iris in the eye is the colored part. It the amount of light entering the eyes.
Iris transmits light to the very back of the eyeball, where the retina is found.
ii. Retina
This retina contains photoreceptors, which detect light. There are two types of
cells present that perform functions distinct from each other. These are Rod and
Cones.
iii. Rods
Rods functions in low light and are found at the edges of the retina.
iv. Cones
cones are type of retinal cells, they work in bright light, detecting fine details
and color. There are three types of cones for detecting three primary colors of
light, namely red, blue and green (RGB). Typically, color blindness occurs when
any one of these types of cones are not present
2. Ears or Audioceptors
Audioceptors sensory organs of our body. They help us to sense sounds. Our auditory
system detects vibrations in the air and this is how we hear sounds. The ears are divided
into three sections, namely, the outer ear, the inner ear, and the middle ear. All sounds
are basically vibrations, so the outer ear transfers these vibrations into the ear canal,
where these vibrations are transformed by the brain into meaningful sound. Apart from
hearing, this sense is also important for balancing our body or equilibrium.
3. Tongue or Gustaoceptors
The tongue helps in perceiving various tastes and flavors. The taste buds are present
between the papillae on the tongue—these help in sensing different tastes.

The senses of smell and taste tend to work together. If one could not smell something,
they could not taste it either. The sense of taste is also known as gustaoception.

Taste buds on the tongue contain chemoreceptors that work similarly to the
chemoreceptors in the nasal cavity.

However, the chemoreceptors in the nose would detect any kind of smell, whereas
there are four different types of taste buds and each one can detect different types of
tastes like sweetness, sourness, bitterness and saltiness.
4. Nose Olfalcoceptor
The nose is an olfactory organ. Our olfactory system helps us to perceive different
smells. This sense of organ also aids our sense of taste.

The olfactory cells tend to line the top of the nasal cavity. On one end, olfactory cells
have cilia that project into the nasal cavity and on the other end of the cell, are the
olfactory nerve fibers.

As one breathes in, the air enters into the nasal cavity. The olfactory cells have protein
receptors that can detect differences in air. The smell containing chemicals bind to the
cilia, which conducts a nerve impulse that is carried to the brain. The brain then
translates these impulses into a meaningful smell. During a cold, the body produces
mucus which blocks the sense of smell; this is the reason why the food which we eat
tastes bland.
5. Skin or Tactioceptor
skin is the largest organ of our body. It is related to the sense of touch. The sense of
touch is also referred to as tactioception.

The skin contains general receptors which can detect touch, pain, pressure and
temperature. They are present throughout the skin. Skin receptors generate an impulse,
and when activated, is carried to the spinal cord and then to the brain.
6. Extra sensory perception
Extrasensory perception or ESP, also called sixth sense, it is paranormal ability to recognize a
stimulus not gained through the recognized physical senses, but sensed with the mind. The term
was adopted by Duke University botanist
 7. Proprioceptive senses
Proprioception, otherwise known as kinesthesia, is our body’s ability to sense movement,
action, and location. It’s present in every muscle movement you have.
Without proprioception, we wouldn’t be able to move without thinking about our next step.
Proprioception allows us to walk without consciously thinking about where to place your foot
next. It lets us touch your knee with your eyes closed.
 Proprioception
Proprioception results from sensory receptors in your nervous system and body. Most of these
receptors are located in our muscles, joints, and tendons.
When we move, the receptors send detailed messages to your brain about your positions and
actions. our brain processes these messages and works with our vision, nervous system, and
vestibular system to create our perception of where your body is and how you’re moving.

Psychophysics
Definition

Psychophysics is study of quantitative relations between psychological events and

physical events or, more specifically, between sensations and the stimuli that
produce them.
1. Signal detection theory
a) introduction
SDT was first used in the field of psychology to study human performance in
psychophysical tasks (Green & Swets, 1966). One goal of traditional psychophysical
methods was to determine the absolute threshold
b) definition
Signal Detection Theory (SDT) is a framework used to analyze and quantify the
ability to differentiate between informative signals and random noise in the presence of
uncertainty.
c) explanation
Signal detection theory explains how one response to stimuli. If one were
exposed to stimuli or a signal, they would either be aware or not aware of the signal. If
aware of the signal, they choose to either act on the signal or ignore the signal. For
example, a person is walking across the street, and a car honks, and the walker stops
abruptly and looks at the car that is honked. Here, the car honk is a signal, and a
person's response is stimuli. These theory proposes that the mistake in signal detection
occurs because of the noise.
Noise; noise is anything that interfere in detection of any stimulus, here noise in not
only concerned with hearing but every stimulus.
 d) Four possible outcomes of this theory
signal outcome table

Present Absent

Yes hit False alarm

No miss Correct rejection

there are possible outcome of SDT, these are given blew

i. HIT; hit signifies that subject detected the signal accurately
ii. FALSE ALARM; fast alarm signifies that subject detected the signal when it was
absent
iii. MISS; miss signifies that subject failed to detect a signal when it was present
iv. CORRECT REJECTION; correct rejection signifies that subject correctly detected
is signal is absent.

v. Example
in case of a sound signal let’s hold a person a subject, the subject shall rise hand in case
he detects a sound;
 Sound present; hand raised (hit)
 Sound present; hand down (miss)
 Sound absent; hand raised (false alarm)
 Sound absent; hand down (correctly rejected)
2. Weber’s law
a) Introduction
Weber's Law, also known as the Weber-Fechner Law, is a principle in psychology and
psychophysics that describes the relationship between the magnitude of a physical stimulus and
the perceived intensity of that stimulus. The law is named after German physiologist Ernst
Heinrich Weber and psychologist Gustav Theodor Fechner.
b) definition
Weber's Law states that the just noticeable difference (JND) between two stimuli is
proportional to the magnitude of the stimuli. In other words, the change in a stimulus that is
required for a person to perceive a difference is a constant fraction of the original stimulus.
c) Mathematically, Weber's Law is often expressed as:

∆Ỉ / Ỉ =k

Where:
- Delta ∆ is the just noticeable difference (change in stimulus intensity),
- Ỉ is the original stimulus intensity,
- k is a constant representing the Weber fraction.

d) Explanation
The Weber fraction is unique to each sensory modality and can vary depending on the type of
stimulus. For example, in vision, the Weber fraction might be different for brightness perception
compared to color discrimination.

Weber's Law is particularly relevant in understanding how humans perceive differences in

sensory stimuli, such as changes in weight, brightness, or loudness. The principle suggests that
our ability to detect changes is relative to the intensity of the stimuli, and larger changes are
needed to notice differences in more intense stimuli.