Titleabc123 Version X1 Week One Worksheet Psy345 Version 31

Titleabc123 Version X1week One Worksheetpsy345 Version 31university

Respond to the following questions in 75 to 150 words each. 1. Differentiate between sensation and perception. Explain the importance of separating these concepts. 2. Identify the biological factors that influence sensation and perception. 3. As we age or incur visual impairment, we may need brighter light when reading. Explain why this is the case. 4. You are shown a picture of an elephant. Explain how that stimulus is processed from the retina to the visual cortex of the brain. In your reading assignment, you learned that bills can pass the House by a simple majority vote (51%) but usually require 60 votes (60%) to pass the Senate. This is because it takes 60 votes to end a filibuster in the Senate. Additionally, both chambers must also pass identical versions of the bill.

As you can see, this makes it much easier for bills to pass the House, but difficult to pass the Senate, unless one political party has at least a 60-40 advantage in the Senate. A good example is the upcoming vote on confirming Judge Gorsuch to the Supreme Court. Previously, Senate rules mandated that confirmation of a Supreme Court Justice must be done with at least 60 votes to avoid a filibuster. Republicans responded by changing the rules to allow Judge Gorsuch to be confirmed with a simple majority vote. In practice, do you favor this so-called “supermajority” component of bicameralism, or would it be preferable for bills to be passed through the Senate with a simple majority vote? Why or why not? What are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach?

Paper For Above instruction

The distinction between sensation and perception is fundamental in understanding how humans interpret their environment. Sensation refers to the physiological process of detecting stimuli such as light, sound, or touch through sensory organs. Perception, on the other hand, involves the brain's interpretation and conscious experience of those sensory stimuli. Separating these concepts is crucial because it allows researchers and clinicians to identify whether issues in sensory processing are due to physiological deficits or perceptual/cognitive misinterpretations. For example, a person might have normal sensation but impaired perception, as seen in certain neurological conditions like agnosia (Goldstein, 2018). Recognizing the difference enhances diagnostic accuracy and the development of targeted therapies, improving our understanding of sensory processing and cognition.

Biological factors influencing sensation and perception include the structure and health of sensory organs, neural pathways, and brain regions involved in sensory processing. Genetics determine the baseline sensitivity of sensory mechanisms, such as color vision deficiencies. Neural pathways transmit sensory signals from receptors to the brain, with damage or disease—like multiple sclerosis—altering perception. Neurotransmitter levels influence how signals are processed, affecting perception speed and accuracy. Age-related changes, such as decreased elasticity of the lens or retinal degeneration, affect the quality and clarity of sensory input (Limb, 2020). Additionally, individual differences in brain anatomy, such as variations in the visual cortex, can cause perceptual differences among individuals with similar sensory inputs.

As we age or experience visual impairments, brighter lighting becomes necessary because of physiological changes in the eye. The lens tends to become less elastic, resulting in presbyopia, which impairs the eye's ability to focus on close objects (Chung & Wong, 2013). The pupil also dilates less efficiently, reducing the amount of light reaching the retina. Additionally, there is a decline in the number of functioning cone cells responsible for color and detail vision, making low-light conditions more challenging. These changes decrease visual acuity and contrast sensitivity, necessitating brighter illumination to compensate for diminished sensitivity and to avoid eye strain during reading or other close-up tasks (Owsley & McGwin, 2018). This adaptation ensures that individuals with visual impairments can maintain visual function in everyday activities.

The process of visual perception begins when light reflected from an object, such as an elephant, enters the eye through the cornea and passes through the pupil. The lens then focuses the light onto the retina, where photoreceptor cells—rods and cones—convert light into electrical signals (Kandel et al., 2013). Rod cells are highly sensitive and enable vision in low-light conditions, while cone cells operate in brighter light and are responsible for color perception and visual detail. These electrical signals are transmitted via the optic nerve to the lateral geniculate nucleus in the thalamus, which then relays information to the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe (Purves et al., 2018). Here, complex processing occurs, enabling recognition of shapes, depth, and movement. The brain integrates this information to construct a coherent visual image, allowing us to perceive the elephant as a complete object, facilitating interaction with our environment.

The debate over the supermajority requirement in the Senate reflects broader questions about the balance between stability and efficiency in legislative processes. The requirement of 60 votes to end a filibuster was originally established to encourage bipartisanship, allowing minority voices to have a substantial influence and preventing hasty legislation (Binder, 2019). However, critics argue that it promotes gridlock and impedes the passage of reforms, especially when political majorities favor certain policies. The Republican decision to lower the threshold for judicial confirmations underscores a shift towards greater majority rule, emphasizing efficiency over bipartisanship (Mann & Ornstein, 2016). Personally, I support maintaining the supermajority requirement for significant legislation, as it offers stability and encourages consensus-building, reducing the risk of partisan polarization and extreme policy swings. Nonetheless, for urgent or less consequential decisions, a simple majority could promote more responsive governance. Each approach entails trade-offs: supermajorities foster deliberation but risk legislative stagnation, whereas simple majorities increase efficiency but may undermine checks and balances.

References

• Binder, S. A. (2019). Stalemate: Causes and Consequences of Legislative Gridlock. Brookings Institution Press.
• Goldstein, E. B. (2018). Sensation and Perception (10th ed.). Cengage Learning.
• Kandel, E. R., Schwartz, J. H., & Jessell, T. M. (2013). Principles of Neural Science (5th ed.). McGraw-Hill.
• Limb, C. J. (2020). Age-Related Changes in Sensory and Perception. Current Opinion in Otolaryngology & Head and Neck Surgery, 28(5), 324-330.
• Mann, T. E., & Ornstein, N. J. (2016). The Broken Branch: How Congress is failing America and how to get it back on track. Oxford University Press.
• Owsley, C., & McGwin, G. (2018). Vision and Driving Safety in Older Adults. Vision Research, 52(10), 1164-1171.
• Purves, D., Augustine, G. J., & Fitzpatrick, D. (2018). Neuroscience (6th ed.). Sinauer Associates.
• Smith, J. D. (2017). Visual Pathways and Processing. Journal of Neuroscience, 37(43), 10215-10222.