Ch. 6 Sensory and Perception Flashcards
sensation
process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment
sensory receptors
sensory nerve endings that respond to stimuli
perception
process by which our brain organized and interprets sensory information enabling us to recognize objects and events meaningful
bottom-up processing
information processing that begins with sensory receptors and works up to the brains integration of sensory information
top-down processing
information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations
transduction
conversion of one form of energy into another
psychophysics
study of relationships between physical characteristics of stimuli, such as their intensity
absolute threshold
minimum stimulus energy needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time
signal detection theory
predicting how and when we detect the presence of faint stimulus amid background stimulation
sublimal
below ones absolute threshold for conscious awareness
priming
activation of certain associtation
difference threshold
minimum difference between 2 stimuli required for detection 50% of the time
Webers law
principle that 2 stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage
sensory adaptation
diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation
perceptual set
mental predisposition to perceive 1 thing and not the other
wavelength
distance from peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of another
hue
dimension of color determined by wavelength of light
intensity
amount of energy in a light wave or sound wave
retina
light sensitive inner surface of the eye, begins processing visual information
accomodation
process by which eye’s lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina
cones
retinal receptors concentrated near center of the retina and function in daylight or in well-lit conditions
optic nerves
carries impulses from eye to brain
blind spot
point which optic nerve leaves the eye
fovea
central focus point in retina
Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic theory
theory that retina contains 3 different types of color receptors which, when stimulated, can produce the perception of any color
opponent-process theory
theory that opposing retinal processes enable color vision
feature detectors
nerve cells in brains visual cortex that respond to specific features of the stimulus
gestalt
organized whole
grouping
tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups
depth perception
ability to see objects in 3D, allows us to judge distances
visual cliff
lab device used for testing depth perceptions
binocular cue
depth cue that depends on use of 2 eyes
retinal disparity
binocular cue for perceiving depth
monocular cue
depth cue available to either eye alone
phi phenomenon
illusion of movement created when 2 or more adjacent lights blink on and off un quick succession
perceptual constancy
perceiving objects as unchani
perceptual constancy
perceiving objects as unchanging even as illumination and retinal images change
audition
sense or act of hearing
frequency
number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time
pitch
tones experienced highness or lowness, depends on frequency
middle ear
chamber between eardrum and cochlea containing 3 tiny bones that concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochleas oval window
cochlear
coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in inner ear
inner ear
Intermost part of the ear, containing cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs
sensorineural hearing loss
most common caused by damage to cochleas receptor cells or to auditory nerve
conduction hearing loss
less common, caused by damage to mechanical system that conducts sound waves to cochlea
cochlear implants
device for converting sounds into electrical signals and stimulating auditory nerve through electrodes threaded into the cochlea
place theory
links pitch we hear with place where cochleas membrane is stimulated
frequency theory
theory that rate of nerve impulses traveling up auditory nerve matches frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense its pitch
gate-control theory
spinal cord contains a neurological gate that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain
dissassociation
split of consciousness, allows some thoughts to occur simultaneously with others
posthypnotic suggestion
suggestion to be carried out after subject is no longer hypnotized
gustation
sense of taste
olfacation
sense of smell
knesthia
movement sense
vestibular sense
sense of body movement and position that enables our sense of balance
sensory interaction
principle that one sense can influence another
extrasensory perception
claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input
parapsychology
study of paranormal phenomena
