Psychology 110,

Neil Lutsky, Carleton College:
November 11, 2002

Class Outline: Sensation and Perception

I. Introduction.

  1. Sensation, knowledge, and intelligence.
  2. Using psychology for the general good: Human factors research.

II. Sensation.

  1. Introduction to issues in sensation.
  2. Psychophysics.
    1. Fechner and Weber.
    2. C = DI/I
    3. Sensory modality variation.
    4. Species variation.
    5. Fechner's Law: S = k log I.
  3. Sensation and aging.
    1. Hearing.
    2. Taste and smell.
    3. Vision.

III. Perception.

  1. General themes.
    1. Going beyond the information given.
    2. The active character of perception.
    3. Nature vs. nurture (nativist vs. empiricist positions).
  2. Illustrative problems: Perception through a trash can.
    1. The perception of form : Gestalt grouping laws.
      1. Proximity.
      2. Similarity
      3. Good continuation.
      4. Closure.
      5. Others.
    2. Height and width contrasts.
    3. Depth perception cues.
      1. Binocular cues.
      2. Monocular cues.