Our senses provide us with a mechanism for sending messages about the environment to the brain. Our brain then provides an interpretation of that message, allowing us to respond with thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. This course will examine the mechanisms of auditory, visual, tactile, and chemical sensation as well as how our brain interprets these stimuli. These interpretations, however, are not hard-wired. Our experiences and cultural background have an enormous influence on how we respond to environmental stimuli.
Physiological factors can also have an impact.
In addition, our responses depend upon our mood and psychological state. We will explore these factors as well as how social situations contribute to perceptual influences. We will also discover how psychologists investigate these influences and the mechanisms involved in sensation. Successful completion of this course will provide students with a heightened awareness of how our senses and perceptions underlie the way we think, feel, and act. This course is designed to provide an overview of the basic principles of pharmacology, as well as psychological and sociological factors that exist in drug use and misuse.