Jacob has been working at his computer for the past 2 hours,and the hum that he found so annoying when he started no longer bothers him.The change in Jacob's sensitivity to the noise from the computer illustrates the process known as
A) perceptual invariance.
B) perceptual assimilation.
C) adjusting just noticeable differences.
D) sensory adaptation.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Sensory adaptation is the process by which our sensitivity to sensory information decreases over time due to constant stimulation. In this scenario, Jacob has adapted to the hum of his computer, and it no longer bothers him. Perceptual invariance refers to our ability to recognize an object despite variations in its appearance or context. Perceptual assimilation refers to the tendency for our perception of stimuli to be influenced by our expectations and experiences. Adjusting just noticeable differences refers to our ability to detect differences between stimuli. None of these concepts fully explain Jacob's change in sensitivity to the noise.

Jacob Has Been Working at His Computer for the Past