Thad returns home from class on a hot summer's evening,turns on the air conditioner full blast,and sits down to watch television.His roommate Sean returns home an hour later and wonders how Thad can hear the television above the loud noise of the air conditioner.Thad remarks that he doesn't even notice the sound.Which process causes the air conditioner to seem louder to Sean than to Thad?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sensory adaptation is the process by which our sensory receptors become less responsive to constant stimuli. In this case, Thad's ears have adapted to the constant noise of the air conditioner, so he no longer notices it as much. Sean, on the other hand, has just arrived and has not adapted yet, so he perceives the noise as louder. This is not transduction, which is the process whereby physical energy is converted into neural activity. Perception refers to the interpretation of sensory information, whereas sensation refers to the initial detection of sensory stimuli.

Thad Returns Home from Class on a Hot Summer's Evening,turns