2.3: Sensation And Perception

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Scientists interested in both the physiological aspects of sensory systems and the psychological experience of sensory information work within the area of sensation and perception (Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\)). As such, sensation and perception research is also quite interdisciplinary. Imagine walking between buildings as you move from one class to another. You are inundated with sights, sounds, touch sensations, and smells. You also experience the temperature of the air around you and maintain your balance as you make your way. These are all factors of interest to someone working in the domain of sensation and perception.

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\): When you look at this image, you may see a duck or a rabbit. The sensory information remains the same, but your perception can vary dramatically. [“Kaninchen und Ente”/Wikimedia Commons is in the public domain.]

Our experience of our world is not as simple as the sum total of all of the sensory information (or sensations) together. Rather, our experience (or perception) is complex and is influenced by where we focus our attention, our previous experiences, and even our cultural backgrounds.