5) Sensation & Perception Flashcards
Define sensation.
The process through which the senses pick up visual, auditory, and other sensory stimuli and transmit them to the brain
Define perception.
The process by which the brain actively organizes and interprets sensory information
What is the absolute threshold?
The minimum amount of sensory stimuli that can be detected 50% of the time
What is the difference threshold?
A measure of the smallest increase or decrease in a physical stimulus that is required to produce the just noticeable difference (JND) 50% of the time
What is the just noticeable difference?
The smallest change in sensation that a person can detect 50% of the time
What does Weber’s Law state?
The law stating that the just noticeable difference for all senses depends on a proportion or percentage of change in stimulus rather than on a fixed amount of change
What is transduction?
The process through which sensory receptors convert the sensory stimulation into neural impulses
What is sensory adaptation?
The process in which sensory receptors grow accustomed to a constant, unchanging level of stimuli over time
What is the lens?
The transparent disk-shaped structure behind the iris and the pupil that changes shape as it focuses on objects at varying distances
What is the retina?
The layer of tissue that is located on the inner surface of the eyeball and contains the sensory receptors for vision
Which structure of the eye has the image projected upside down and reversed from left to right?
Retina
What are the cones? Do they function in low light?
- The light-sensitive receptor cells in the retina that enable humans to see COLOUR and fine detail in adequate light
- Do not function in low-light
What are the rods? Do they function in low light?
- The light-sensitive receptor cells in the retina that allow the eye to see black-and-white
- Respond to low-light conditions
How do electrical visual impulses travel through nerves?
Optic chiasma –> Thalamus –> Primary visual cortex
What does the trichromatic theory state?
Suggests that three types of CONES in the retina each make a maximal chemical response to one of three colours
What does the opponent-process theory state?
Suggests that three kinds of cells respond by increasing or decreasing their rate of firing when different colours are present
What is frequency? What is the unit?
o Determined by the number of cycles completed by a sound wave in one second.
o The unit is Hertz (Hz)
What determines the pitch?
- Frequency
- How high or low the sound is
What is amplitude? What is the unit?
o The measure of the loudness of the sound
o The unit is Decibels (dB)
What components are apart of the outer ear?
- Pinna
- Auditory canal (ear drum)
What components are apart of the middle ear?
Ossicles, which connect the ear drums to the oval window and amplify sound waves
What is the order of the ossicles?
Hammer, anvil, stirrup
What components are apart of the inner ear?
Cochlea, vestibular sacs, and the semicircular canals
How do electrical impulses perform auditory transduction?
Electrical impulses occurs when the hair cells in the cochlea move
Where are the olfactory receptors?
Olfactory epithelium in the nostril
Where do olfactory sensations travel?
Olfactory epithelium –> Olfactory bulb (above nasal cavity)
What are the five taste sensations?
Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami