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Basic Principles of Sensation

Basic Principles of Sensation. Sensory Adaptation Sensory Deprivation Sensory Overload Selective Attention. VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE. SENSORY ADAPTATION.

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Basic Principles of Sensation

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  1. Basic Principles of Sensation Sensory Adaptation Sensory Deprivation Sensory Overload Selective Attention

  2. VARIETY IS THE SPICE OF LIFE SENSORY ADAPTATION • ________________________: The reduction or disappearance of sensory responsiveness that occurs when stimulation is unchanging or repetitious. • Receptors (nerve cells) higher up in the sensory system get “tired” and fire less frequently.

  3. SENSORY ADAPTATION • SENSORY ADAPTATION can be very useful! • It spares us from responding to unimportant information • EXAMPLE1: Most of the time you do not need to feel your watch resting on your wrist • EXAMPLE 2: Swimming in a cold pool or lake

  4. Sensory Adaptation Diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation. Put a band aid on your arm and after awhile you don’t sense it.

  5. SENSORY ADAPTATION • SENSORY ADAPTATION may also be harmful • We may no longer respond to urgent or dangerous stimuli • EXAMPLE: You might no longer smell a gas leak that you noticed upon first entering the kitchen.

  6. SENSORY ADAPTATION • Do we completely adapt to extremely intense stimuli? _______. • EXAMPLES: A terrible toothache or the sun’s heat on a very hot, summer day • In fact, we rarely adapt to visual stimuli • Because of the constant movements (voluntary and involuntary) of the eye, visual receptors don’t have a chance to “fatigue” NO!

  7. Now you see, now you don’t

  8. What if…? • What do you think might happen if we lived in a world without stimuli? • ________________________: The absence of normal levels of sensory stimulation. SENSORY DEPRIVATION

  9. STUDIES IN SENSORY DEPRIVATION • MALE VOLUNTEERS • Isolated from all patterned sight and sound • Vision was restricted by a translucent visor • Hearing was restricted by a U-shaped pillow and by background noise from an A/C unit or fan • Touch was restricted by cotton gloves and cardboard cuffs • Given brief restroom eating breaks BUT… Spent their entire day laying in bed, doing nothing.

  10. RESULTS • Within a few hours, many felt edgy • Some were so disoriented, they quit the first day! • Those who remained became confused, restless, and grouchy • Many reported bizarre visions • Example: Squadron of marching squirrels or a procession of marching eyeglasses • Very few men were willing to remain in the study for more than 2 or 3 days

  11. Sensory Deprivation Kittens raised without exposure to horizontal lines later had difficulty perceiving horizontal bars. Blakemore & Cooper (1970)

  12. CAN THE OPPOSITE BE TRUE? SENSORY OVERLOAD • ____________________ occurs when there is excess stimulation • It may lead to fatigue and mental confusion • EXAMPLE: During finals week, you may have so many things to do that you end up feeling so stressed you don’t even know where to begin.

  13. SENSORY OVERLOAD • We naturally cope with this situation by blocking out unimportant sights and sounds and focusing only on those we find interesting and useful. • Unimportant sounds are not processed by the brain • AKA _____________________________ • Imagine yourself listening intently to ONE conversation in a room full of people chatting COCKTAIL PARTY EFFECT

  14. SENSORY OVERLOAD • Another name for the “Cocktail Party Effect” is ______________________ • The focusing of attention on selected aspects of the environment and the blocking out of others • Protects our brain from becoming overwhelmed • EXAMPLE: Our BRAINS CELLS (generals) can choose which SENSORY NEURONS (field officers) get past the command center’s gates • Unimportant field officers are turned back. SELECTIVE ATTENTION

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