Sensation & Sensory Processing

🧠 Sensation & Sensory Processing

Part 1 of 7 — Introduction to Sensation

1. Sensation

detecting stimuli

2. Perception

interpreting stimuli

3. Transduction

converting physical energy to neural signals

4. Bottom-up vs top-down processing

Bottom-up vs top-down processing

Concept Check 🎯

### Key Points

• Sensation: detecting stimuli
• Perception: interpreting stimuli
• Transduction: converting physical energy to neural signals
• Bottom-up vs top-down processing

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## Vision

Part 2 of 7 — Vision

1. Light enters eye

cornea → pupil → lens → retina

2. Rods

dim light, peripheral vision

3. Cones

color, detail, fovea (3 types: RGB)

4. Trichromatic theory (Young-Helmholtz) vs opponent-process theory

Trichromatic theory (Young-Helmholtz) vs opponent-process theory

Concept Check 🎯

### Key Points

• Light enters eye: cornea → pupil → lens → retina
• Rods: dim light, peripheral vision
• Cones: color, detail, fovea (3 types: RGB)
• Trichromatic theory (Young-Helmholtz) vs opponent-process theory

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## Hearing

Part 3 of 7 — Hearing

1. Sound waves → outer ear → eardrum → ossicles → cochlea → hair cells

Sound waves → outer ear → eardrum → ossicles → cochlea → hair cells

2. Frequency = pitch; amplitude = loudness

Frequency = pitch; amplitude = loudness

3. Place theory

high-pitched sounds

4. Frequency theory

low-pitched sounds

Concept Check 🎯

### Key Points

• Sound waves → outer ear → eardrum → ossicles → cochlea → hair cells
• Frequency = pitch; amplitude = loudness
• Place theory: high-pitched sounds
• Frequency theory: low-pitched sounds

Concept Check 🎯

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## Chemical & Body Senses

Part 4 of 7 — Chemical & Body Senses

1. Taste

sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami

2. Smell

olfactory receptors → olfactory bulb → limbic system

3. Touch

pressure, temperature, pain (gate-control theory)

4. Kinesthesia

body position; Vestibular: balance

Concept Check 🎯

### Key Points

• Taste: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami
• Smell: olfactory receptors → olfactory bulb → limbic system
• Touch: pressure, temperature, pain (gate-control theory)
• Kinesthesia: body position; Vestibular: balance

Concept Check 🎯

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## Sensory Thresholds

Part 5 of 7 — Sensory Thresholds

1. Absolute threshold

minimum stimulus detected 50% of the time

2. Difference threshold (JND)

smallest detectable difference

3. Weber's Law

JND is proportional to stimulus magnitude

4. Signal detection theory

detection depends on sensitivity AND decision criteria

Concept Check 🎯

### Key Points

• Absolute threshold: minimum stimulus detected 50% of the time
• Difference threshold (JND): smallest detectable difference
• Weber's Law: JND is proportional to stimulus magnitude
• Signal detection theory: detection depends on sensitivity AND decision criteria

Concept Check 🎯

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## Problem-Solving Workshop

Part 6 of 7 — Problem-Solving Workshop

1. Applying Weber's Law to problems

Applying Weber's Law to problems

2. Identifying sensory structures

Identifying sensory structures

3. Analyzing signal detection scenarios

Analyzing signal detection scenarios

4. Connecting sensation disorders to mechanisms

Connecting sensation disorders to mechanisms

Concept Check 🎯

### Key Points

• Applying Weber's Law to problems
• Identifying sensory structures
• Analyzing signal detection scenarios
• Connecting sensation disorders to mechanisms

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## Synthesis & AP Review

Part 7 of 7 — Synthesis & AP Review

1. Sensation vs perception distinction

Sensation vs perception distinction

2. Sensory adaptation

decreased sensitivity over time

3. Synesthesia and sensory processing

Synesthesia and sensory processing

4. AP exam

sensory pathways and theories

Concept Check 🎯

### Key Points

• Sensation vs perception distinction
• Sensory adaptation: decreased sensitivity over time
• Synesthesia and sensory processing
• AP exam: sensory pathways and theories

Concept Check 🎯

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