Binocular cues are tricks we use to see depth using both your eyes during perception. Retinal disparity states that since we have two eyes, so the brain gets two images. The more similar the images are between the two eyes, your brain will assume the object is farther away. The more of a difference the images are between the eyes, you brain will assume the object is closer. In this case, A-Rod’s eyes could have perceived the ball to be farther away than it truly was, resulting in it hitting his knee. As an object comes closer to us, our eye muscles must strain to stay focused on the object. The brain receives feedback from the muscles controlling eye movements and knows that the more the eye converges, the closer the object must be, and this is convergence.
The Gate Control Theory states that incoming pain must pass through a gate which is located in in the spinal cord which determines what information about pain will be sent to the brain. This is so it can be opened to allow pain through or closed to prevent pain from being perceived during perception. Since the gate is controlled by the brain the expectations, mood, and personality of A-Rob influence the functioning of the gate. So this is what allows A-Rod to experience the sensation of pain which is processed by his brain. Pain allows his knee to know that it was hit and he should take the necessary precautions to avoid damaging it any further.
Our sensory receptors are the first things to react to an external stimuli during a sensation. When we see ads on T.V., our sensory system is awakened and respond accordingly just as A-Rod’s sensory system was when he was hit with the ball. Our bodies try to think, feel, see, hear all the objects that incoming out from our environment. When our minds are fully focused in the subject, we grasp without hesitation and then speed and accuracy respond. A-Rod’s reactions were either slowed, or his sensory system was not fully awake at the time of the injury.
The final component that would have affected A-Rod’s perception of this experience would be selective attention. Selective attention is the process of discriminating between what is important and is irrelevant and is influenced by motivation. In the case of A-Rod, his friends were devoting their full attention to passing the ball to A-Rod, however, A-Rod was paying attention to more specific things such as who was throwing it and not the same things that his friends were paying attention to.