Question

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?

transduction
perceptionc.
sensory adaptationd.
sensation

Answer 1

Answer: Sensory Adaptation.

Step-by-step explanation:

Sensory adaptation is a reduction in the responsiveness of the sensory system to a stimulus after being constantly exposed to it. It is useful because it helps our brain to focus its attention on other, more important things.

In this case, Thad has been experiencing the same stimulus (the air conditioner sound) for a while, so his brain has accustomed to it and turned its attention to the television.