Sensation

1. The study of how physical sources of stimulation ( light,sound, etc.) relate to our experience in the form of sensation is called psychophysics.

2. Common characteristics that relate to functioning of our sensory systems are: thresholds, signal detection, and sensory adaptation.

2.1. Absolute threshold is the smallest amount of stimulus a person can reliably detect. Difference threshold or just noticeable difference is the minimal difference between two stimuli that a person can reliably detect.

2.1.1. Weber's Law states that the amount of change in a stimulus needed to detect a difference is given by a constant ratio or fraction called a constant, of the original stimulus.

2.2. Signal detection theory is the belief that the detection of a stimulus depends on the intensity of the stimulus, level of background stimulation, and biological and psychological characteristics of the perceiver

2.3. Sensory adaptation- sensory systems become less sensitive to constant or unchanging stimuli.

3. Stimuli is detected by specialized cells called sensory receptors

3.1. Sensory receptors are found throughout the body(eyes, ears, nose, mouth etc.)

4. Sensation is the process by which we receive, transform, and process stimuli.