PSYC 450: Sensation and Perception Exam
1 2026/2027 Latest Update – Complete
Study Guide, Practice Questions & Exam
Review
sensation - correct answer-the sense organs' detection of external stimuli, their
responses to the stimuli, and the transmission of these responses to the brain
perception - correct answer-brain's organization and interpretation of sensations;
giving meaning to those sensations and having a conscious experience of the
environment
Basic order of processes of perception (7 items) - correct answer-1. Distal
stimulus
2. proximal stimulus
3. receptor processes - transduction of one form of energy into another
4. neural processing - info from sensory receptors goes to brain; neurons in brain
interacting with each other
5. perception
6. recognition
7. action
distal stimulus - correct answer-the first process of perception - environmental
stimuli, the attended stimulus
,proximal stimulus - correct answer-second process of perception
-it is the stimulus our sensory receptors receive about the object.
bottom-up processing - correct answer-analysis that begins with the data in the
environment and working up to recognizing features and the concept of the data,
and ultimately making a decision about that data
top-down processing - correct answer-processing that begins with the recognition
and decision about the environment and then considering the features and
concept that led to the initial decision
Gustav Fechner - correct answer-early German psychologist credited with
founding psychophysics, an approach to explaining perceptual processes
Psychophysics - correct answer-- originally referred to quantitative methods to
measure relationships between stimuli and perception
-3 approaches (psychophysical, physiological 1, physiological 2)
absolute threshold - correct answer-the smallest amount of stimulus energy
required so we can detect a stimulus
-when this is lower, our sensitivity to stimuli is higher
method of limits method
of adjustment
method of constant stimuli - correct answer-three methods for measuring
absolute thresholds (psychophysics)
, difference threshold - correct answer-the smallest detectable difference between
two stimuli
Ernst Weber - correct answer-perception; identified just-noticeable-difference
(difference threshold) that eventually becomes Weber's law - difference threshold
is a constant fraction of the size of the standard stimulus
Weber's law (difference threshold) - correct answer-DL/S = K
DL is difference threshold
S is Standard stimulus
K is a constant
Magnitude estimation - correct answer-another technique for measuring
perception: if we double the intensity of a tone, does it sound twice as loud?
includes S.S Stevens' Power law
Stevens's power law (magnitude estimation) - correct answer-P = KS^n
P = perceived magnitude
K = constant
S = stimulus intensity raised to a power n
recognition, reaction time, description, physical tasks/judgments - correct
answer-4 additional technique for measuring perception (not psychophysics or
magnitude estimation)
1 2026/2027 Latest Update – Complete
Study Guide, Practice Questions & Exam
Review
sensation - correct answer-the sense organs' detection of external stimuli, their
responses to the stimuli, and the transmission of these responses to the brain
perception - correct answer-brain's organization and interpretation of sensations;
giving meaning to those sensations and having a conscious experience of the
environment
Basic order of processes of perception (7 items) - correct answer-1. Distal
stimulus
2. proximal stimulus
3. receptor processes - transduction of one form of energy into another
4. neural processing - info from sensory receptors goes to brain; neurons in brain
interacting with each other
5. perception
6. recognition
7. action
distal stimulus - correct answer-the first process of perception - environmental
stimuli, the attended stimulus
,proximal stimulus - correct answer-second process of perception
-it is the stimulus our sensory receptors receive about the object.
bottom-up processing - correct answer-analysis that begins with the data in the
environment and working up to recognizing features and the concept of the data,
and ultimately making a decision about that data
top-down processing - correct answer-processing that begins with the recognition
and decision about the environment and then considering the features and
concept that led to the initial decision
Gustav Fechner - correct answer-early German psychologist credited with
founding psychophysics, an approach to explaining perceptual processes
Psychophysics - correct answer-- originally referred to quantitative methods to
measure relationships between stimuli and perception
-3 approaches (psychophysical, physiological 1, physiological 2)
absolute threshold - correct answer-the smallest amount of stimulus energy
required so we can detect a stimulus
-when this is lower, our sensitivity to stimuli is higher
method of limits method
of adjustment
method of constant stimuli - correct answer-three methods for measuring
absolute thresholds (psychophysics)
, difference threshold - correct answer-the smallest detectable difference between
two stimuli
Ernst Weber - correct answer-perception; identified just-noticeable-difference
(difference threshold) that eventually becomes Weber's law - difference threshold
is a constant fraction of the size of the standard stimulus
Weber's law (difference threshold) - correct answer-DL/S = K
DL is difference threshold
S is Standard stimulus
K is a constant
Magnitude estimation - correct answer-another technique for measuring
perception: if we double the intensity of a tone, does it sound twice as loud?
includes S.S Stevens' Power law
Stevens's power law (magnitude estimation) - correct answer-P = KS^n
P = perceived magnitude
K = constant
S = stimulus intensity raised to a power n
recognition, reaction time, description, physical tasks/judgments - correct
answer-4 additional technique for measuring perception (not psychophysics or
magnitude estimation)
