LESSON REVIEW (5 minutes)

PSY 079 (Introduction to Psychology) BS

STUDENT ACTIVITY PSYCHOLOGY / SECOND YEAR Session # 7
SHEET
Materials:
LESSON TITLE: SENSATION AND PERCEPTION PART Textbook, pen and notebook, index card/class list
2 LEARNING OUTCOMES:
Upon successful completion of this lesson, the psychology
student can: Textbook Reference:

1. Discuss the physics of sound and psychophysics of Feist, G. J., & Rosenberg, E. L. (2019). Psychology:
hearing; Perspectives and connections. McGraw Hill Education.
2. Identify the parts of the ear involved in the sensation and Plotnik, R., & Kouyoumdjian, H. (2010). Introduction to
perceptions processes; psychology. Cengage Learning.
3. Learn the different bodily senses; and
4. Explain the chemical senses on both olfaction and
gustation.

As a review of the previous discussion, answer the following questions:

1. Differentiate sensation from perception.
2. Explain the function of the optic nerve.
3. What is color blindness?

MAIN LESSON (60 minutes)

We could clearly make the case that sight is the most important sense for humans. So much of our lives revolves
around what we see. The science of vision is much more developed than the science of any other sense, but people
who are both blind and deaf beg to differ. Just as vision starts when we sense light waves, hearing begins when we
sense sound waves. Sound waves must travel through a medium, or we cannot hear them. Sound waves can move
through fluid or air, but most of the time we hear sound waves that travel through air. Sound waves travel much more
slowly than light waves, which is why you hear thunder after you have seen lightning.

THE PHYSICS OF SOUND AND THE PSYCHOPHYSICS OF HEARING

Hearing is affected by three physical properties of the sound wave: its amplitude, frequency, and purity.

▪ Amplitude – or the height of the sound wave determines what we perceive as loudness. The taller the wave is,
the louder the sound. The scale for a sound’s loudness is decibels (dB), starting with 0, which is the threshold
for normal human hearing.

▪ Frequency – or how many waves occur in a given period of time, is what we perceived as sound’s pitch. It is
measured in units called hertz (Hz), which is how many times the wave cycles per second. The higher the
frequency, the higher the pitch.

▪ Purity – it is the complexity of the wave. Some sound waves are pretty simple, made of only one frequency. Most
waves are complex; that is, they contain a mixture of frequencies. A sound’s unique purity or unique tonal
quality, which we perceive as timbre (the quality of ‘color’ of a particular sound and is a result of the sound’s
complexity or number of sound frequencies) is determined by how many frequencies are present in the wave.

THE EAR

As the structures on the sides of our head, our ears have very little to do with hearing itself. These external structures,
called pinnae, collect and funnel sounds into the passage called auditory canal.

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▪ Once inside this canal, sound
vibrations
travel to the eardrum, or the tympanic
membrane.

▪ The sound waves on the tympanic

membrane set into motion the bones of
the middle ear: the hammer, anvil, and
stirrup. The bones do more than just
vibrate, however: they amplify the waves,
so that they have more than 20 times the
energy they had entering the ear. The
hammer hits the anvil, and the anvil
moves the stirrup. The vibration of the
stirrup in turn sets into motion a series of
important changes in the inner ear.

▪ The inner ear includes the cochlea and

semicircular canals. The semicircular
canals play a key role in maintaining a
sense of balance.

As the stirrup vibrates, it moves a membrane that covers the inner ear, called the oval window. The vibrations on the
oval window send movement through the fluid-filled cavity of the cochlea, a bony tube, curled like a snail’s shell and
filled with fluid. The basilar membrane runs through the cochlea. Within the basilar membrane of the cochlea are hair
cells, which are the sensory receptors of sound, just as the photoreceptors are for vision. As the vibration move
through the cochlear fluid, the basilar membrane vibrates, making the hair cells bend. As they bend, they transduce the
sound vibrations into electrical impulses, which may generate an action potential in the auditory nerve – a nerve that
receives action potentials from the hair cells and transmits auditory information to the brain.

HEARING IN THE BRAIN

After the sound energy is changed to neural energy in the cochlea, the hair cells synapse with the auditory neurons
that transmit the sound impulses to the thalamus in the brain. From there, the neural impulses are relayed to various
parts of the brain, including the brain stem and the temporal lobes, home of the auditory cortex. The auditory pathways
go from the cochlea to the inferior colliculus in the brain stem and from there to the medial geniculate nucleus (MGN) of
the thalamus. Lastly, due to the brain’s neuroplasticity, it is true that people who are born deaf partly make up for lack
of hearing with heightened sensitivity of other senses, especially touch but even sight (Karns et al., 2012). The brain is
plastic and does not waste the auditory cortex. Instead, it simply takes on new sensory functions.

You may also watch the YouTube link below to have an audiovisual learning about the journey of sound to the

brain. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQEaiZ2j9oc

THE BODILY SENSES

We feel things on our skin and in our organs. The largest contact surface area any sensory input has with our
bodies is the skin, and it is carefully mapped in the somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobe of the brain (Blakeslee &
Blakeslee, 2007). The senses based in the skin, body, or any membrane surfaces are known as the bodily senses,
which include knowing where our body parts are. We also sense things inside our bodies – organ pain, levels of heart
rate, depth of breathing, to name a few. There are at least six distinct bodily or somatic senses: touch, temperature,
pain, position/motion, balance, and enteroception (perception of bodily sensations). For this discussion, we will focus
on touch and pain.

TOUCH
 The top layers of the skin have receptor cells that are sensitive to different tactile qualities – some to shape, some
to grooves, some to vibrations and movements. These receptor cells are called mechanoreceptors.

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Mechanoreceptors – these are the receptor cells in the skin that are sensitive to different tactile qualities. There
are four kinds of mechanoreceptors; each kind has a unique profile of sensitivity. Some of the mechanoreceptors are
slow to change, and others are fast with variations in tactile stimulation. Some are sensitive to fine details,
whereas others are not. Like photoreceptors in the eye and hair cells in the ear, mechanoreceptors mark only the
beginning of the journey from sensation to perception.

Due to neuroplasticity, repeated sensory and motor tactile experience changes the amount of cortex involved in
processing a particular sensation or movement. The general location in the somatosensory cortex stays the same, but
the areas of the cortex devoted to that experience or function grow (Jenkins et al., 1990; Ostry et al., 2010).

PAIN

It is a complex emotional and sensory experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage (Merskey &
Bogdul, 1994). It is usually very unpleasant, but people vary widely in their experiences of pain, what they think is
painful, and whether they might even enjoy pain (Schwerdtfeger, 2007).

▪ Phantom Limb Pain: when people who have lost a limb feel pain in the missing arm or leg. Such cases
dramatically show how pain is not just a direct result of tissue damage, but an experience in the brain as well.
Pain also is enhanced by one’s reaction to the injury. Often the emotional reaction to pain created as much
suffering as the actual tissue damage.

Pain Perception

Nociceptive pain: it refers to a pain from skin

and/or tissue damage or injury. The skin has pain
receptors that are sensitive to heat, cold,
chemical irritation, and pressure, all these pain
receptors are kinds of nociceptors (Basbaum &
Jessell,
2000).

Explaining
Pain

Gate control theory of pain (Melzack, 1965;

Wall, 1988) proposes that the spinal cord
regulates the experience of pain by “gating” the
transmission of pain information at the level of
the
spinal cord. The gate is a competition between
signals coming from different-sized axons or
nerve fibers. More specifically, pain signals are
sent via smaller nerve fibers than non-pain
signals. Experienced pain is all about the balance
and imbalance between signals from the pain
fibers (small) relative to non-pain fibers (large).

What’s interesting about the gate control theory of pain is the idea that inhibitory channels can come from the brain
as well as the body. Messages sent by the brain itself can close off the fibers in the spinal cord that are involved in pain
sensations. Thoughts, feelings, and beliefs can affect pain sensations, which is one reason people vary so much in their
perception of pain. Different people experiencing the same level of pain may have completely different experiences of
their pain.

Controlling Pain
 ▪ Endorphins: these are the body’s natural pain killers (endogenous morphine). When we are hurt, our bodies
respond by releasing these substances (Fields, 2009). It works simply by stimulating the release of
neurotransmitters that interfere with pain messages in the spinal cord and brain. An endorphin release may
explain why some people, such as soldiers and automobile accident victims, report no immediate sensations of
pain after a horrible injury (Warga, 1987).

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THE CHEMICAL SENSES: SMELL AND TASTE

Smell and taste are chemical senses because they respond to contact with molecules from different objects we
encounter in the world. These two are very important survival-related sense, for they govern our choices about what we
take into our bodies. As such, these senses are very sensitive, are heightened during pregnancy, and can trigger
emotional reactions (Profet, 1992; Rolls, 2004).

Smell (Olfaction)

Olfactory sensory neurons – these can be found in a small area high in the lining of nasal cavity which are the
receptors of smell. These neurons contain hair like projections called cilia, which are similar to the hair cells in the inner
ear. The cilia convert the chemical information in odor molecules into neural impulses.

Olfactory bulb – once the chemicals come in contact with the cilia, transduction occurs and the olfactory message
travels to this bulb located in the forebrain. This bulb sends information either directly to the smell-processing areas in
the cortex or indirectly to the cortex by way of the thalamus (Buck, 2000). The primary olfactory cortex resides in the
temporal lobe; the secondary olfactory cortex is in the frontal lobe near the eyes.

Most mammals have hundreds of different types of olfactory sensory neuros; these account for their highly
discriminating sense of smell (Fleischer et al., 2009). Greater concentrations of odors stimulate a greater number of
sensory neurons; as a result, we perceive the same odor presented at different concentrations as entirely different
smells. People differ considerably in their ability to sense smell with
infection or injury, but usually this is short-term.

Taste (Gustation)

Papillae: these are the textured structures that contain about 10,000
taste buds.

Taste buds: are the structures inside the papillae of the tongue that
contain the taste receptor cells.

Taste receptor cells: sensory receptor for taste that reside inside the
taste buds.

There are five basic taste qualities which include: bitter, sweet, salty,
sour, and savory. There is an increasing evidence that a sixth taste
quality, fattiness – may exist as well, but further research is needed
(Garcia-Bailo et al., 2009).

This image above shows the five sensory cortices in the brain.

Gustatory Cortex – it is the cortical region of the brain located in the insula area of the frontal lobe where
taste sensations are processed and interpreted.

Both smell and taste are involved in the experience of flavor (Goldstein, 2007). The experience of flavor
showcases the brain’s ability to combine sensory information to produce a unique sensory experience. In some
people, sensory experiences sometimes combine in even more unusual ways.

You may also watch the YouTube link below to have an audiovisual learning about the perception and sensation

processing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLHlfPTRekA
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CHECK FOR UNDERSTANDING (20 minutes)
You will answer and rationalize this by yourself. This will be recorded as your quiz. One (1) point will be given to correct
answer and another one (1) point for the correct rationalization. Superimpositions or erasures in you
answer/rationalization is not allowed. You are given 20 minutes for this activity.

Multiple Choice

1. This structure is responsible for the transduction of sound vibrations into action
potentials. a. Cochlea
b. Tympanic membrane
c. Hair cells
d. Auditory nerve
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:________________________________________________________________________________________
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2. When a calculus professor discussed logarithmic functions, his voice almost reached the lecture room beside his. We
can say that his voice is loud enough for the students in his class to hear what he said during the lecture. This
condition is demonstrated by which property of sound wave?
a. Frequency
b. Amplitude
c. Purity
d. Clarity
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:________________________________________________________________________________________
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3. Photoreceptors are to eyes as hair cells are to ears as ________________ are to skin.
a. thermoreceptors
b. nociceptors
c. dermis
d. mechanoreceptors
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:________________________________________________________________________________________
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4. A farmer is using his tractor in the farm one sunny afternoon. An hour later, he noticed that the mud in the area he’s
working on is off in terms of color – seems like a blood mixed with the mud. He didn’t mind it and continued working.
Another hour after, he fixed his things, and washed off his feet and he noticed that he sliced off his left foot deep
and might potentially be amputated. He felt no pain while he was working until, he cleaned himself. Which of the
following would best explain this picture?
a. The farmer is taking morphine that’s why he did not feel the pain caused by his tractor.
b. Endorphins are activated thus interfered with the pain messages in the spinal cord and the
brain. c. Analgesics will be prescribed to the farmer to eliminate the pain that he feels.
d. None of the explanations given are correct because it was an accident.
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:________________________________________________________________________________________
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5. In which of the following lobes do the primary olfactory cortex resides in?
a. Temporal
b. Frontal
c. Parietal
d. Occipital
ANSWER: ________

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RATIO:________________________________________________________________________________________
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6. Humans have taste receptor cells for what flavors?

a. sweet, sour, salty, sharp
b. sweet, sour, bitter, salty, savory
c. sweet, sour, bitter, salty, sharp
d. sweet, sour, salty, sharp, savory
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:________________________________________________________________________________________
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7. Which of the given structures below is vital when a clown is crossing the rope hanging 25 meters from starting point
to finish?
a. Basilar membrane
b. Tympanic membrane
c. Auditory canal
d. Semicircular canals
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:________________________________________________________________________________________
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8. It is a complex emotional and sensory experience associated with actual or potential tissue
damage. a. Pain
b. Gustation
c. Olfaction
d. All of the above
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:________________________________________________________________________________________
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9. Which of the following projections convert the chemical information in odor molecules to neural
impulses? a. Olfactory bulb
b. Olfactory sensory neurons
c. Cilia
d. Primary olfactory cortex
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:________________________________________________________________________________________
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10. You visited a newly opened coffee shop and ordered a slice of dulce de leche graham cake. When you taste it, it
melts in your mouth and commended the place for a delicious cake. Which of the following structure is responsible
for the knowing how the cake tastes?
a. Papillae
b. Taste receptor cells
c. Gustatory cortex
d. Taste buds
ANSWER: ________
RATIO:________________________________________________________________________________________
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___ RATIONALIZATION ACTIVITY (THIS WILL BE DONE DURING THE FACE TO FACE INTERACTION)
The instructor will now rationalize the answers to the students. You can now ask questions and debate among
yourselves. Write the correct answer and correct/additional ratio in the space provided.

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1. ANSWER: ________
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LESSON WRAP-UP (5 minutes)

You will now mark (encircle) the session you have finished today in the tracker below. This is simply a visual to help
you track how much work you have accomplished and how much work there is left to do.

You are done with the session! Let’s track your progress.

To better gauge your understanding in this discussion, kindly answer the question below with
honesty: 1. In today’s session, what was least clear to you?

(For the next lesson, continue working on module for session #8, Human Development Part 1)

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