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10: Complementary Cognitive Processes - Sensation (and Perception)

  • Page ID
    370987
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    Chapter Overview

    Chapter 10 is the first of four modules which will cover cognitive processes that work in conjunction with, or are complementary to, learning. Our first topic will be sensation, and we will begin this discussion by covering the communication model of the nervous system, of which sensation is maybe the most important piece. We will also cover the neural impulse, perception and the brain, and sending commands out from the brain to the body via the peripheral nervous system. Do not worry. We will cover these topics at a very basic or introductory level.

    Chapter Learning Objectives
    • Outline how communication occurs in the nervous system.
    • Describe how the five sensory systems affect learning.
    • Understand how the neural impulse occurs.
    • Explain how brain structures and the process of perceptions aids us in learning associations in our environment.
    • Clarify the importance of sending commands out to the body for learning.

    • 10.1: Understanding Communication in the Nervous System
      This page covers the fundamentals of the nervous system and its integral role in learning, defining learning as behavior change due to experience. It highlights the significance of sensation, neural impulses, and perception, while distinguishing between the central and peripheral nervous systems.
    • 10.2: Sensation
      This page explores the links between smell, touch, and human behavior, emphasizing how olfactory senses evoke memories and emotions through their connections with the limbic system, influencing learning and reactions. It also discusses the skin's role as the largest sensory organ, detailing the functions of various receptors in perceiving temperature and pain.
    • 10.3: The Neural Impulse
      This page covers neural transmission in three sections: it explains the structure and function of the axon and neural impulse, outlines the all-or-nothing principle with a focus on sodium and potassium ions, and describes the synapse's role in signal transmission through neurotransmitters like dopamine, serotonin, and GABA, highlighting their functions in mood, movement, and learning.
    • 10.4: Perception- Adding Meaning to Raw Sensory Data
      This page details the brain's major structures and functions, including the medulla, pons, and various lobes. It introduces perception as the interpretation of sensory information influenced by perceptual set, along with Gestalt principles that highlight our tendency to perceive objects and patterns as whole entities rather than isolated parts.
    • 10.5: Sending Commands Out
      This page covers the appraisal of emotional stimuli and its effects on behavior and learning. It explains primary appraisal for assessing emotional significance and secondary appraisal for response decisions. The somatic nervous system's role in transmitting sensory information and executing movements is discussed, alongside the amygdala's involvement in the fight-or-flight response.
    • 10.6: Chapter Recap
      This page discusses the cognitive processes of sensation and perception, presenting a communication model in the nervous system that includes steps from sensation to brain processing. It emphasizes how these processes contribute to learning and prepares for a discussion on memory, which is closely linked to learning, similar to sensation and perception.


    This page titled 10: Complementary Cognitive Processes - Sensation (and Perception) is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lee W. Daffin Jr. via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.