This tutorial corresponds with Module B Lesson 2 and should be used by students in my online Psyc 300 class at American River College.

1. Sensation
A Module B Lesson 2 Tutorial
Created by: Professor Hokerson
American River College
Last Updated: Fall 2015

2. Using this Tutorial
 Use the navigation buttons to advance through the
slides.
 Complete each slide as instructed.
 Click on hyperlinks when prompted.
 Have fun and learn!

3. Table of Contents (TOC)
 Objectives
 Module B Objectives # 17, 18, 21, and 23
 Action Items
 Sensation and Perception
 Detecting sensory information
 Sensory Organs and Functions
 Summary of Sensory Processes
 Conclusions

4. Module B Objectives
After completing this tutorial you will be able to…
# 17– Differentiate between sensation and perception.
#18 – Identify the functions and structures that produce vision.
#21– Identify the functions and structures that produce hearing.
#23– Explain how “chemical senses” produce smell and taste.

5. Action items

6. Objective 17
Differentiate between sensation and perception

7. What do you see?
 Do you see an old woman?
 Do you see a young
woman?
 Chances are that by now
you see both! That’s
because your eyes are
picking up sensory
information and sending it
to your brain to interpret!

8. What’s the difference?
SENSATION PERCEPTION
 Sensory information
 Sound waves (ears)
 Light wavelength (eyes)
 Pressure (skin)
 Chemicals (nose and tongue)
 olfaction and gustation
 Sensory organs encodes
environmental stimuli into
“brain language” as it is
relayed to the brain!
 Information relayed from
sensory organs is
interpreted in the brain
 This process is an active
(and subjective)
interpretation of neural
impulses
 Integrated
 Organized
 Interpreted

9. Example
Red appleLight waves in
eyes
Apple Crunchsound waves in
ears
dissolvable chemicals in
nose
Apple Aroma
Apple TasteDissolvable chemicals in
mouth Smooth apple skinPressure in
hand

10. Detecting Sensory Information
The minimum amount of environmental stimulus necessary
(half the time) to detect the presence of these apples.
The minimum amount of environmental stimulus necessary
(half the time) to detect the colors of these apples.

11. Fact or Fiction
 Question: With all of the sensory information that
our bodies pick up at a time, is it possible to pay
attention to all of it?
 Watch! Click here to watch a short video that tests
your perception.
 Watch! Not convinced? Click here to try another
perception test!
 Just think of all of the important details that we miss!

12. Objective 18
Identify the functions and structures that produce vision

13. How We See (Vision)
 Review: Chapter 3 (pages 90 – 94)

14. Objective 21
Identify the functions and structures that produce hearing

15. How We Hear (Audition)
 Review: Chapter 3 (pages 98– 102)

16. More About Audition
 Watch! Click here to go to this interactive tutorial
which takes you through the process of audition.
This website requires Adobe Shockwave and make
sure your volume is turned on!
 Question: Why do people suffer from hearing loss?
Click here to find out what are its causes.

17. Objective 23
Explain how the “chemical senses” produce smell and taste.

18. How We Smell (Olfaction)
 Watch: Here is a fun
TedDEd video lesson
about our olfactory
sense!
 Did you know? Have
you ever wondered why
pee smells after you eat
asparagus? Or maybe
you’ve never noticed?
Here is an interesting
article that helps to
explain why or why not
this happens!

19. Olfactory Pathways in the Brain
 Review: Chapter 3 (pages 103 – 105)

20. How We Taste (Gustation)
 Review: Chapter 3 (pages 105 – 106)
 Watch! Click here to go to this interactive tutorial
which takes you through the process of audition.
This website requires Adobe Shockwave and make
sure your volume is turned on!
 Fun facts! Here are some more fun facts about the
chemical senses!

21. Summary of Sensory Processes

22. Conclusions
 Sensation and perception are dual processes.
 Our sensory organs react to the environment.
 Our brain interprets sensory information.
 Perception is dependent upon sensation.
 Both are essential for us to successfully navigate
through our daily experiences.

23. Module B Objectives
After completing this tutorial you should be able to…
# 17– Differentiate between sensation and perception.
#18 – Identify the functions and structures that produce vision.
#21– Identify the functions and structures that produce hearing.
#23– Explain how “chemical senses” produce smell and taste.