Chapter 17, Problem 1MM

Summary Introduction

Concept introduction: The sensory organs are stimulated by different stimuli. These stimuli are then converted into sensations by sense organs. These sensations are transmitted to the concerned parts of the brain. At last, the brain will interpret these sensations. The sensation is the ability of the body to detect both internal and external stimulation. The process of interpreting and recognizing sensory stimuli is called perception.

Answer to Problem 1MM

Correct answer: Sensation is to bottom-up processing as perception is to top-down processing.

Therefore, option b. is correct.

Explanation of Solution

Reasons for the correct statement:

The two main processes involved in the sensation and perception are bottom-up processing and top-down processing. The bottom-up processing refers to the processing of the sensory information and top-down processing refers to the perception from the sensory input by drawing the expectations and experience. It is driven by the cognition.

Option b. is given as “bottom-up processing; top-down processing”.

Bottom-up processing starts at the sensory receptors for processing and top-down processing make the perception from the sensory input by drawing the expectations and experience.

Therefore, option b. is correct.

Reasons for the incorrect statements:

Option a. is given as “absolute threshold; difference threshold”.

A lowest level of strength that is essential for the detection is called absolute threshold and difference threshold is the minimum difference between the stimulation that is necessary for a person to detect 50 percent of the time.

Therefore, option a. is incorrect.

Option c. is given as “interpretation; detection”.

The process by which we represent and understand stimuli is called interpretation and detection is a weak signal or stimulus which depends upon the psychological state and strength.

Therefore, option c. is incorrect.

Option d. is given as “grouping; priming”.

The tendency of the humans to organize stimuli into some coherent groups is termed as grouping and priming is the implicit memory effect in which the exposure to a stimulus influences the response to a later stimulus.

Therefore, option d. is incorrect.

Hence, options a., c., and d. are incorrect.

Conclusion

The two major processes involved in the sensation and perception are bottom-up processing and top-down processing.