Final Answer:
What early perspective influenced the contemporary area of sensation and perception is Gestalt psychology. Option B is answer.
Explanation:
Gestalt psychology, represented by Option B, is the correct answer. Gestalt psychology emerged in the early 20th century as a reaction to structuralism and behaviorism. It focused on the idea that perceptions are holistic and go beyond the sum of individual sensory experiences. Gestalt psychologists emphasized the importance of understanding the organization and patterns within perceptual experiences.
Unlike behaviorism (Option A), which focused on observable behavior, or functionalism (Option D), which examined the function of mental processes, Gestalt psychology made significant contributions to the study of sensation and perception by exploring how individuals organize and interpret sensory information.
Option B (Gestalt psychology) is the correct answer.