Sensation and perception go together. Our senses input data about our environment. All we know of the world comes through our senses. Vision is not our only sense but it is very well researched.
Perception is what we do with the raw data of sensation. We collect and interpret what we sense, build mental structures to explain it, and use our analyses to inform our decisions.
As a low-vision person, my sensory input differs from most people. I don’t see that they see. My color vision is good but my focus and clarity are off. Yet my perceptual system works fine. I have trouble getting good data input but process well what I see.
Our reliance on our senses is why perceptions is a central component of psychology. Psychology’s earliest research was on perception. Wundt’s laboratory was dedicated to discovering more about how we perceive the world. Perception is about how we interact with our environment.
Perceptions is variously labeled sensation, perception, sensation perception, and introduction to cognitive science. Sensation is the collection of information. Perception is the processing of that information. And cognitive science is the study of what goes on inside the head.
Here is a catalog style description of the course:
Survey of the structures and processes underlying the acquisition of sensory information. How perception of world is mentally represented. All perceptual systems will be examined, with particular attention given to visual information processing.
Here is what it really means:
This course is all about vision. Other senses may be mentioned in passing.
Vision is the easiest sense to research, so it has been studied the most. It’s fascinating stuff. There is target detection, photoreceptors, ganglion nerves. Color vision, color blindness and diseases of the eye.
The problem with smell and touch is that we adjust so quickly. And tastebuds regenerate every couple of weeks. Hearing is pretty well studied. But most research is on vision.
Let’s start with the primary focus of perception: vision:.
What Is Perception
Want to jump ahead?
- What Is Perception?
- Perceptual Efficiency
- Vision
- Taste
- Smell
- Touch, Temperature, Pain & Itch
- Hearing
- Vestibular
- Visceral
- Proprioception
- Time
Bonus
Credit: Photo by James Kemp on Unsplash
