Essentials of Sensation and Perception

Foundations of Psychology

by George Mather

The study of sensation and perception looks at how we acquire, process, and interpret information about the outside world. By describing key ideas from first principles, this straightforward introduction provides easy access to the basic concepts in the subject, and incorporates the most recent advances with useful historical background. The text takes a uniquely integrative approach, highlighting fundamental findings that apply across all the senses - including vision, hearing, touch, pain, balance, smell and taste - rather than considering each sense in isolation. Several pedagogical features help students to engage with the material. ‘Key Term’ and ‘Key Concept’ boxes describe technical terms and concepts whilst ‘Question’ boxes relate the material to everyday questions about perception. Each chapter ends with suggestions for further reading, and the final chapter draws together the material from the previous chapters, summarizing the broad principles described, and outlining some major unresolved issues. Assuming no prior knowledge, this book is an accessible and up-to-date overview of the processes of human sensation and perception. Presented in full color, it is an ideal introduction for pre-undergraduate and first year undergraduate students on courses in psychology, as well as neuroscience and biology.

Genres: Psychology

216 pages, Paperback

First published June 9, 2011

Reviews

[Jimmy J. Crantz]

I took a course on the psychology of perception several years ago. Back then, I thought the subject felt rather unimportant and dull. Now I had to read this book as part of a master’s program, and I found that it gave a much more accessible and interesting perspective on the subject.

[Kei]

A must-read for anyone learning or interested in Environmental Psychology.