Final answer:
Sensory adaptation refers to the diminished perception of a constant stimulus over time, demonstrating the difference between sensation and perception, and habituation is our reduced reaction to a repeated stimulus.
Step-by-step explanation:
As people become accustomed to a stimulus, their frame of reference changes and sensory adaptation occurs. When exposed to a constant stimulus over time, such as the flashing light outside the hotel window, our sensory receptors continue to detect the stimulus, but our perception may no longer register it. This phenomenon indicates that sensation and perception are related, yet distinct, processes. The ability to ignore constant, unchanging stimuli allows us to focus on more relevant changes in our environment, which is crucial for efficiency in processing sensory information. Similarly, the concept of habituation reflects our decreased response to a repeated stimulus, such as the background noise from a television, allowing us to concentrate on other tasks like reading a book.