Download Psychology: Sensation, Perception, and Cognition - Lecture Notes on Sensation - Prof. Stev and more Study notes Psychology of Human Development in PDF only on Docsity! Listen to the audio lecture while viewing these slides 1 Psychology 372 Physiological Psychology Steven E. Meier, Ph.D. Sensation 2 Psyc 372 – Physiological Psychology Sensation, Perception, and Cognition • All sensory systems operate the same, they only use different mechanisms. • Have a physical stimulus (e.g., weight, heat, cold, light) • The stimulus emits some sort of energy. • Energy activates some sort of receptor system. 3 Psyc 372 – Physiological Psychology Sensation • The receptor system is designed to convert (transduce) the energy to action potentials. • You then organize the physical energy to neural energy by electrical/chemical reactions. 4 Psyc 372 – Physiological Psychology Perception • You then organize and filter the energy as the information progresses through the different systems. • Ultimately, you develop patterns and process the material. 5 Psyc 372 – Physiological Psychology Cognition • Allows you to determine what the pattern means. • Uses different brain systems depending on the stimulus. 6 Psyc 372 – Physiological Psychology Summary • Sensation is involved with detecting the stimulus and converting the information to action potentials. • Perception is involved with organizing the action potentials. • Cognition is involved with giving the organization some meaning that we can understand. 7 Psyc 372 – Physiological Psychology Somatosenses • Provides information relating to events on the skin and to events occurring within the body. • Two groups • Cutaneous Senses • receive various signals from the skin that form the sense of touch • Pressure • Vibration • Heating/cooling • Stimuli that damage tissue (and produce pain) • Kinesthesia • Provides information about body position and movement • Are action potentials from receptors located within the joints, tendons, and muscles. 8 Psyc 372 – Physiological Psychology Touch • Lots of Receptors • Three main Groups • Nociceptors • Cutaneous and Subcutaneous Mechanoreceptors • Muscle and Skeletal Mechanoreceptors 9 Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologyThe Skin Dermis Epidermis Hair Receptor Merkels Receptor Free Nerve Ending 10 Psyc 372 – Physiological Psychology Nociceptors • Are receptors for detecting pain. • Have free nerve endings within the skin that respond to stimuli • Also respond to heat, acids, and capsaicin • Four main types • Mechanical Sharp, pricking pain • Thermal and Mechano-thermal Sharp, prickling pain • Thermal and Mechano-thermal Slow, burning pain • Polymodal Slow, burning 11 Psyc 372 – Physiological PsychologyThe Skin Dermis Epidermis Hair Receptor Merkels Receptor Free Nerve Ending 12 Psyc 372 – Physiological Psychology Cutaneous and Subcutaneous Mechanoreceptors • Are responsible for Touch Sensations • Have several types of receptors. • Meissner’s Corpuscle Flutter • Pacinian Corpuscle Vibration • Ruffini Corpuscle Steady Skin Indentation • Merkel Receptor Steady Skin Indentation • Hair-guard Flutter • Others
