Helen Keller: Sensation and Learning
Helen Keller: Sensation and Learning
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Sensation and Perception
Definition:
1. Absolute Threshold
● Sensation — process where information
from the environment is detected by the Definition:
senses and transmitted to the brain. The minimum intensity of a stimulus that can just
barely be detected.
● Perception — interpretation and
organization of these sensations into Sense Example
meaningful experiences.
Sight Candle flame seen from 30
miles away on a clear night
A. The Physical Stage of Hearing Ticking of a clock heard from
20 feet away
Sensation
Taste One teaspoon of sugar in two
gallons of water
This stage involves the interaction between a
physical stimulus and a sense organ. Smell One drop of perfume in a
3-room apartment
Key Concept: Touch A bee’s wing falling 1 cm onto
Each sense has a specific stimulus (light → eyes, the cheek
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Sensation and Perception
● Sound so loud that hearing turns into pain ● When lights go out, it seems pitch dark —
instead of sound. If a person can hear but after a few minutes, your eyes adjust.
sound up to 20,000 Hz, then 20,000 Hz is
their terminal threshold for hearing, as
sounds above that frequency are no longer
Purpose:
sensed.
Prevents sensory overload and helps focus on new
stimuli.
Definition:
The smallest detectable change between two
B. The Physiological Stage of
stimuli. Sensation
Example:
This stage covers how the body and brain
When increasing the volume slightly, the change
process sensory input.
may be too small to notice.
The greater the initial stimulus, the larger the 1. Stimulus activates receptors.
change needed to notice a difference (Weber’s 2. Receptors convert input into neural
Law). impulses.
3. Impulses travel to the brain, particularly the
4. Sensory (Neural) Adaptation cerebral cortex.
4. The brain interprets the data — this
Definition:
becomes perception.
A decrease in sensitivity to a constant stimulus or
an increase in sensitivity after lack of stimulation.
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Sensation and Perception
Duration How long it lasts Touch felt briefly C. The Psychological Stage of
or continuously
Definition:
[Link] MODALITY of a sensation
Refers to the categories of a sensation making, for Perception is a constructive process
instance a visual (colors) where we go beyond the stimuli and
sensation is different from an auditory (sound) form a meaningful understanding.
sensation.
Information Processing:
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Sensation and Perception
THE (MORE THAN) THE VISUAL SENSE
FIVE SENSES (VISION)
Overview Overview
We are often taught that there are only five senses: Vision gives us the most information about our
sight, sound, taste, smell, and touch. environment—shapes, colors, distances, and
However, this is an oversimplification. Human movements.
sensory abilities extend far beyond these five.(A We often rely on our sight for truth, hence the
dozen extra senses) saying, “seeing is believing.”
Green 500
Yellow 600
Red 800
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Sensation and Perception
The visible spectrum ranges from 400 to 800 ○ Dim light → pupil dilates
millimicrons:
3. Iris – Colored part of the eye; adjusts pupil
● Below 400 → ultraviolet, X-rays, gamma
size.
rays (invisible)
4. Lens – Bends light to focus the image onto
● Above 800 → infrared, radar, radio waves
the retina.
(invisible)
5. Retina – Thin layer of nerve cells that
converts light into electrical signals.
● Visible spectrum: 400–800 millimicrons
○ Contains rods (dim light, night
● Colors correspond to specific
vision)
wavelengths
○ Contains cones (color and detail)
● The human eye cannot detect infrared or
6. Fovea – Central part of retina with the
ultraviolet light.
highest concentration of cones; responsible
for sharp vision.
7. Optic nerve – Carries visual signals to the
occipital lobe, the brain’s visual center.
Light enters the eye, is focused, and then Rods and Cones
converted into neural signals that the brain
Feature Rods Cones
interprets.
Shape Long, cylindrical Short, thick
Sequence of Visual Processing
Function Night and Color and
peripheral vision detail
1. Cornea – Transparent layer that protects
Location Peripheral retina Fovea
and focuses incoming light. (center of
2. Pupil – Circular opening that controls the vision)
amount of light entering the eye. Active in Dim light Bright light
○ Bright light → pupil constricts
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Sensation and Perception
The brain organizes visual information into Objects that are close together are perceived as
a. Closure
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Sensation and Perception
THE PERCEPTION OF
FIGURE AND
BACKGROUND
d. Simplicity (Prägnanz)
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Sensation and Perception
Our perception of depth (the third dimension) arises Cue Description Example /
from both physiological and psychological cues. Effect
It allows us to judge how far away objects are and Linear Parallel lines Roads or
Perspective appear to railways
understand spatial relationships.
1 converge at a meeting at the
distance. horizon.
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Sensation and Perception
THE PERCEPTION OF
COLOR
Definition
1
Color perception depends on the wavelength of
light reflected from an object.
Different wavelengths correspond to different hues.
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Sensation and Perception
Overview
Monochromat Only light-dark Totally colorblind Legal As per National 20/200 or ≤20°
dimension Blindness Council on side vision in
(PH Disability better eye
Definition) Affairs (NCDA)
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Sensation and Perception
○ Animals can hear beyond this range. 2. Eardrum (Tympanic Membrane) – vibrates
○ ↓ Low frequency → bass tones when sound waves hit.
○ ↑ High frequency → treble tones
3. Middle Ear – contains three tiny bones:
○ Hammer (Malleus)
○ Anvil (Incus)
○ Stirrup (Stapes)
These amplify and transmit
vibrations to the oval window.
2. Amplitude – strength of vibration
(measured in decibels). 4. Inner Ear (Cochlea) – converts vibrations
into neural signals.
○ 0 dB = threshold of hearing
○ 120 dB and above = painful and ○ Basilar membrane has hair cells
damaging that send signals to the temporal
lobe.
○ High decibel sounds can damage
hair cells, causing hearing loss.
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Sensation and Perception
○ Fast vibrations = high pitch Definition (WHO, 2020): Difficulty hearing as well
as normal (0–20 dB) thresholds.
amplitude
Types of Hearing Impairment:
○ Example: Hearing your phone ring From an evolutionary perspective, the sense of
when anticipating a call. smell is one of the most primitive and essential
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Sensation and Perception
senses.
It is also regarded as the most intimate, directly
linked to memory and emotion. Stage 2: The Physiological Stage
● Smell has the most direct neural pathway ● Olfactory Cells are the smell receptors..
to the brain among all senses. ● Located in the Olfactory Epithelium, high
● The olfactory system is less complex and in the nasal cavity.
more primitive compared to other sensory ● Contain hair-like cilia that detect airborne
systems. molecules.
● Signals are sent via the olfactory nerve to
Species Function of Example the brain.
Smell
● Condition: Anosmia – loss of smell due to
Animals Hunting, Mice detect cats; damaged cilia.
protection, foxes smell other
communication, dogs; bees ● Humans: olfactory center = 1/20 of cortex
reproduction identify rank by ● Dogs: olfactory center = 1/3 of cortex
odor
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Sensation and Perception
● Visual cues can modify olfactory perception the tongue, with some on the roof of the
Gustation is the special sense associated with the Fungiform Front and tip of tongue
tongue. Taste helps us identify nutrients and avoid
harmful substances. It interacts closely with
smell, texture, and temperature to create flavor.
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Sensation and Perception
3. Psychological Stage
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Sensation and Perception
something sharp
or too hot)
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Sensation and Perception
— KINESTHESIS
Without it, movement becomes clumsy and
uncontrolled.
Overview
Overview
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Sensation and Perception
The vestibular sense, or sense of equilibrium, ● Ferris wheel or roller coaster rides
provides feedback about: (continuous rotation).
● Sea sickness / motion sickness: results
● The position of the head and body in space.
from constant, conflicting motion signals.
● Movements such as rotation, acceleration,
● Facing the direction of movement (like
and gravity changes.
watching the road in a car) can help restore
balance.
Location of Receptors
Scientific Controversy
Disturbances of Equilibrium
● Some psychologists accept limited forms of
When this system is overstimulated or confused: ESP, while others reject it for lack of
empirical proof.
● Disequilibrium occurs, leading to dizziness
● Many reported ESP experiences are
or nausea.
products of imagination, fantasy, or
deception.
● If proven valid, ESP would reshape
modern science, including psychology and
Examples of Disequilibrium:
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Sensation and Perception
physics.
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Sensation and Perception
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