When a familiar sensation fades
Follow a steady scent as it becomes less noticeable during exposure.
The picture in words
- At first
- The scent stands out.
- During exposure
- The same odor can become less noticeable.
- A changing response
- Sensory processing and attention help explain how an ongoing stimulus is experienced.
Reading the illustration
Sensitivity and attention can contribute at several levels during continued exposure. The perceived change concerns the person’s response while the odor source remains present.
Try a question
What changes between the two diffuser scenes?
Show the explanation
The scent becomes less noticeable during continued exposure. The diffuser remains in place, so the example draws attention to a changing response.
Read the sources
- Spielman, R. M., Jenkins, W. J., & Lovett, M. D. (2020). Psychology 2e. OpenStax. https://openstax.org/books/psychology-2e/pages/5-1-sensation-versus-perceptionSelected introductory passages inspected