Sensation
Definition
Sensation is the process by which our sensory receptors receive stimuli from our environment.
Analogy
Imagine sensation like a camera lens capturing everything in its view without any bias or interpretation. It simply records what it sees without making sense of it - that's left for the 'director' (perception).
Related terms
Absolute Threshold: This is the minimum level of stimulus intensity needed for a stimulus to be detected.
Difference Threshold (Just Noticeable Difference): The smallest difference in stimulation that can be reliably detected by an observer when two stimuli are compared.
Sensory Adaptation: This refers to the decrease in sensitivity to a constant level of stimulation.
"Sensation" appears in:
Study guides (1)
Practice Questions (11)
What is the difference between sensation and perception?
How does turning up the volume on your headphones until you can hear the music demonstrate a principle of sensation?
What did the philosopher Aristotle believe about sensation?
In terms of sensation, what do phantom limb pain phenomena demonstrate?
What would be an unconventional perspective on the principle of Weber's Law in sensation?
How does spicy food trigger a sensation of heat or pain rather than a basic taste?
Which chemical substance is responsible for the sensation of taste?
Which of the following is most closely related to our sensation of taste?
What is an ethical concern related to the use of fMRI scans for research on sensation and perception?
In terms of sensation and perception, what does top-down processing refer to?
Which psychological disorder often involves the sensation of being outside one's body and losing control over reality?
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