Brent dives into a swimming pool and instantly feels cold.However, 10 minutes later the pool actually feels comfortably warm.The change in Brent's sensitivity to the temperature of the pool illustrates the principle of:
A)perceptual invariance
B)perceptual assimilation
C)sensory adaptation
D)changing difference thresholds

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Brent's decreased sensitivity to the temperature of the pool over time is an example of sensory adaptation, which refers to the brain's tendency to become less responsive to constant or unchanging stimuli. As Brent spends more time in the pool, his sensory receptors stop signaling the sensation of coldness to his brain as strongly, leading to an increased perception of warmth. The other answer choices do not accurately describe this phenomenon. Perceptual invariance refers to the brain's ability to recognize an object regardless of variations in its sensory input, while perceptual assimilation refers to the tendency to perceive ambiguous stimuli in a way that fits preexisting expectations. Changing difference thresholds refer to the minimum amount of change required in a stimulus for an observer to detect the difference.

Brent Dives into a Swimming Pool and Instantly Feels Cold