Sensation and Perception

the process of organizing and interpreting sensory into., enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events

analysis that begins with sensory receptors and works up to the brain's integration of sensory info.

info. processing guided by higher-level mental processes as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations

study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli, such as their intensity, and our psychological experience of them

the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time

theory predicting how & when we detect a faint stimulus amid background stimulation

below one's absolute threshold for conscious awareness

the activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations; predisposes one's perception, memory, or response

in priming, interrupts the brain's processing before conscious perception

minimum diff. between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time

principle that, to be perceived as diff., two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage

diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation