ch 3 pt 2 Flashcards
parapsychology
the study of paranormal phenomena, including ESP and psychokinesis
bottom-up processing
analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain’s integration of sensory information
cochlea
a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear. sound waves traveling through the cochlear fluid trigger nerve impulses
gestalt
an organized whole. these psychologists emphasized our tendency to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes
grouping
the perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups
habituation
decreasing responsiveness with repeated exposure to a stimulus
kinesthesia
our movement sense- our system for sensing the position and movement of individual body arts
olfaction
the sense of smell
phi phenomenon
an illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in quick succession
pitch
a tone’s experienced highness or lowness; depends on frequency
priming
the activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing one’s perception, memory, or response
sensory adaptation
diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation
top-down processing
information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions of drawing on our experience and expctations
vestibular sense
our sense of body movement and position that enables our sense of balance
visual cliff
a laboratory device for testing depth perception in infants and young animals
