Chapter 3: Sensation and PerceptionDirections:Use your notes and textbook to complete the fill in the blanks for this assignment. Use the vocabularythroughout the chapter to complete the fill in the blanks. Once you finish, submit it back to Edmodo.1.Sensationsis the activation of receptors in the various sense organs.2.Just Noticeable Differenceis the smallest difference between two stimuli that is detectable 50 percent of thetime.3.The smallest amount of energy needed for a person to consciously detect a stimulus 50 percent of the timeit is present is calledAbsolute Threshold.4.The process by why subliminal stimuli act upon the unconscious mind, influencing behavior is calledSubliminal Perception.5.Habituationis the tendency of the brain to stop attending to constant, unchanging information.6.The tendency of sensory receptor cells to become less responsive to a stimulus that is unchangingSensoryAdaptation. Show
Imagine that you just walked into your favorite Italian restaurant. The delicious smell of garlic and tomatoes is almost overwhelming when you first walk through the door. You sit down to wait for a table, and after a few minutes, the scents dissipate until you barely notice them. This is an example of sensory adaptation. This article discusses what sensory adaptation is and how it works. It also explores examples of sensory adaptation and how it differs from habituation. What Is Sensory Adaptation?Sensory adaptation is a reduction in sensitivity to a stimulus after constant exposure to it. While sensory adaptation reduces our awareness of a stimulus, it helps free up our attention and resources to attend to other stimuli in our environment. All five senses
can experience sensory adaptation. Our senses are constantly adjusting to what's around us, as well as to us individually and what we are experiencing, such as aging or disease. It is important to note that sensory adaptation does not occur with pain perception. Causes of Sensory AdaptationSensory adaptation, also known as neural adaptation, occurs due to changes in the neural receptor cells that receive and process sensory information. Research suggests that sensory adaptation occurs in multiple stages of perceptual processing. This change can occur slowly or quickly. Fast adaptation happens very quickly, in the span of milliseconds. Slow sensory adaptation can occur over minutes, hours, or even days. Some evidence suggests that repeated exposure to stimuli may allow people to "learn" how to adapt faster to
the change. Sensory adaptation serves an important function by helping people tune out distractions and focus on the most relevant or important stimuli around them. Imagine what it would be like if you didn't experience sensory adaptation. You might find yourself overwhelmed by the pungent smell of onions coming from the kitchen or the blare of the television in the living room. Since constant exposure to a sensory stimulus reduces our sensitivity, we can shift our attention to other things in our environment rather than focusing on one overwhelming stimulus. Examples of Sensory AdaptationHere are some more examples of the types of sensory adaptation that happen in real life and affect different senses.
Even hand-eye coordination adjusts when necessary. For instance, if you put on goggles that make everything appear to be a little off and try to throw a ball at an object, your sensory adaptation will eventually take over, and you'll adjust enough to hit the target. Sensory Adaptation vs. HabituationSensory adaptation and habituation both involve reduced attention to a stimulus, but the two concepts have important differences. Sensory adaptation is an automatic, involuntary process that involves becoming less sensitive to sensory stimulation. Habituation is a behavioral phenomenon involving a decreased response to something that occurs over time. While it may occur without much thought, it
does have an element of conscious control. For example, if you order the same dish every time you eat at a restaurant, you might find yourself enjoying it less after you become accustomed to it. Sensory Adaptation
Habituation
A Word From VerywellIf you've heard the term "nose blind," you've heard of sensory adaption; it's the same thing. (But it's different from anosmia, or the inability to smell.) You also might notice that when you're away from a smell or a sound for a while, such as when you go on vacation and then return to your home, you notice it again. It will probably not take much time for you to adapt to the sensory inputs of your environment and go "blind" to them once again. Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
By Kendra Cherry
Thanks for your feedback! What is the tendency of the perception of a sensation to decrease when the stimulus is actually unchanging?Sensory adaptation is a reduction in sensitivity to a stimulus after constant exposure to it. 1 While sensory adaptation reduces our awareness of a stimulus, it helps free up our attention and resources to attend to other stimuli in our environment.
Is the tendency of sensory receptor cells?The tendency of sensory receptor cells to become less responsive to a stimulus that is unchanging. The constant movement of the eyes, tiny little vibrations called that people do not notice consciously; prevents sensory adaptation to visual stimuli.
What is activation of the receptors by stimuli called?Sensation is the activation of sensory receptors at the level of the stimulus. Perception is the central processing of sensory stimuli into a meaningful pattern involving awareness. Perception is dependent on sensation, but not all sensations are perceived.
When sensory information is received by a sensory receptor What is the has occurred?Sensory receptors are specialized neurons that respond to specific types of stimuli. When sensory information is detected by a sensory receptor, sensation has occurred. For example, light that enters the eye causes chemical changes in cells that line the back of the eye.
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