4. Sensation And Perception Flashcards
Sensation
Stimulation of a sensory organ
Perception
The organization, identification, and interpretation of a sensation in order to form a mental representation
Transduction
What takes place when many sensors in the body convert physical signals from the environment into encoded neural signals sent to the CNs
Psychphysics
Methods that measure the strength of a stimulus and the observer’s sensitivity to that stimulus
Absolute threshold
The point where the increasing intensity of the stimulus enables an observer to detect it on 50% of the trials
Just noticeable difference
The minimal change in a stimulus that can just barely be detected
Weber’s law
The just noticeable difference of a stimulus is a constant proportion despite variations in intensity.
Signal detection theory
The response to a stimulus depends on a person’s sensitivity to the stimulus in the presence of noise and on a person’s response criterion
Sensory adaptation
Sensitivity to prolonged stimulation tends to decline over time as an organism adapts to current conditions
Visual acuity
The ability to see fine detail
Retina
Light-sensitive tissue on the back of the eye
Accommodation
The process by which the eye maintains a clear image on the retina
Myopia
Nearsightedness
Hyperopia
Farsightedness
Fovea
Area of the retina where vision is clearest