Psychology

1. Meaning Sensation
and Characteristics of
Sense Receptors

2.  SENSATION- Is the simple experience that
arises from the stimulation of the sense organs.
It is the process of accepting the stimulus by the
sense. The giving of the interpretation or
meaning to the stimulus by the brain to respond
appropriately is referred to as perception.
 STIMULUS- is any form of energy that can cause
awareness or change to the consciousness (light
waves, sound waves, temperature, chemical state-
liquid, solid, gaseous, etc.). This stimuli are then
modified and accepted by the accessory
structures (eyes, ears, nose, tongue, skin, etc.).
from the accessory structures, transduction
occurs at the receptors.

3.  RECEPTORS- this are specialized cells responsible for
detecting of energy as a result of transduction.
 TRANSDUCTION- is the process of changing the
stimulus sense into energy for neural activity.
 PSYCHOPHYSICS- Is the relationship bet. The
physical and psychological environment.It connects the
external and the internal world of an individual this
aims to examine the sensitivity of an individual to
various stimuli. Then it determines the psychological
perception of the stimulus. The process assess the
presence and intensity of the stimulus.

4.  ABSOLUTE THRESHOLD
- This is the least quality and quantity of a
stimulus that can be sensed and perceived
consequently.
 DIFFERENCE THRESHOLD
- This is the minimum difference in intensity
between two small stimuli when caused by a
smallest change. It does not only determine the
presence or absence of stimulus but also detect
whether the two small tstimuli different or the
same.

5. ACQUIRING SENSORY
AWARENESS/ THE
SENSORY SYSTEM

6. ACQUIRING SENSORY AWARENESS
The stimulation of a receptor is the first
essential condition to have a sensory experience.
This means that a stimulus is applied to a receptor
organ. The stimulus that comes from the
environment may be in the form of physical energy
like heat, light, sound, and pressure; it may be in
chemical form like a substance that you can smell
or taste. The energy must be strong enough to
produce a response. The receptors in our body are
commonly called sense organs. They are the
doorways of our body.

7.  RECEPTOR ORGAN- receptor organs are highly
specialized part of the body and is selectively sensitive to
a definite stimulus.
The second condition is the presence of a receptor
cells in the process of sensation, receptor cells in the sense
organ detect stimuli from the environment and transmit
information to the appropriate areas of the brain. The third
essential condition that you need to experience a sensation
is that the stimulus must be transformed into a code of
electrochemical impulse which travels to the brain. This
stimulus must be transduce, that is, the physical energy is
converted into activity in the nervous system. The
specialized cells transform the physical energy into
electrical voltage, this voltage are called receptor and
generator potential. This works on the receptor cells to
produce nerve impulses which travel to the brain and the
sensation is produce.

8.  When is stimulus detected?
The stimulus is to be detected must be strong
enough and to produce sensation, it should be at least in
the absolute threshold. This threshold is in the lower
limit of sensitivity. There will be no sensation of the
stimulus does not reach or go beyond the threshold.
When there is no sense awareness and that they escape
unnoticed, the stimuli are said to be subliminal threshold.
When they reach an increased intensity, they produce
pain in the individual being stimulated and make him
uncomfortable. When the stimulus at this point produces
pain, which is not a normal response, the stimulus is said
to be in the terminal threshold.

9.  When does a change in stimulation become noticeable?
The sense organ possesses a certain sensitivity that
enables it to notice changes in stimulation. The smallest
amount of stimulus that can be detected is called
differential threshold this is also known as
discriminationthreshold or the just noticeable difference
(JND). This is not constant over the range of stimulus
intensity. The value of the differential threshold depends
upon the overall intensity of the stimulus to which more
energy is added. The JND varies widely depending upon the
nature of the stimulus and the state of organism. There are
times when one is prepared to see a difference, but there is
nothing to be noticed because there is no differential
threshold that can be reached in the change.

10. SENSORY ADAPTATION
- is any reduction in sensitivity to stimulus as stimulation
persists through time. Sense organ has the capacity to
adapt to stimulus when such stimulus persists for a
quite a time. It is the ability to adjust to a particular
stimulus.
THE SENSE ORGANS
This are the different sense organs situated at
different places in our body. Some receptors, called
distal senses, are sensitive to stimuli coming from a
distance in the outside environment. The proximal senses
bring information only when we come in direct contact
with the object that stimulates them.