Ch. 6 Sensory and Perception

Question 1

sensation

Answer 1

process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment

Question 2

sensory receptors

Answer 2

sensory nerve endings that respond to stimuli

Question 3

perception

Answer 3

process by which our brain organized and interprets sensory information enabling us to recognize objects and events meaningful

Question 4

bottom-up processing

Answer 4

information processing that begins with sensory receptors and works up to the brains integration of sensory information

Question 5

top-down processing

Answer 5

information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations

Question 6

transduction

Answer 6

conversion of one form of energy into another

Question 7

psychophysics

Answer 7

study of relationships between physical characteristics of stimuli, such as their intensity

Question 8

absolute threshold

Answer 8

minimum stimulus energy needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time

Question 9

signal detection theory

Answer 9

predicting how and when we detect the presence of faint stimulus amid background stimulation

Question 10

sublimal

Answer 10

below ones absolute threshold for conscious awareness

Question 11

priming

Answer 11

activation of certain associtation

Question 12

difference threshold

Answer 12

minimum difference between 2 stimuli required for detection 50% of the time

Question 13

Webers law

Answer 13

principle that 2 stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage

Question 14

sensory adaptation

Answer 14

diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation

Question 15

perceptual set

Answer 15

mental predisposition to perceive 1 thing and not the other

Question 16

wavelength

Answer 16

distance from peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of another

Question 17

hue

Answer 17

dimension of color determined by wavelength of light

Question 18

intensity

Answer 18

amount of energy in a light wave or sound wave

Question 19

retina

Answer 19

light sensitive inner surface of the eye, begins processing visual information

Question 20

accomodation

Answer 20

process by which eye’s lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina

Question 21

cones

Answer 21

retinal receptors concentrated near center of the retina and function in daylight or in well-lit conditions

Question 22

optic nerves

Answer 22

carries impulses from eye to brain

Question 23

blind spot

Answer 23

point which optic nerve leaves the eye

Question 24

fovea

Answer 24

central focus point in retina

Question 25

Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic theory

Answer 25

theory that retina contains 3 different types of color receptors which, when stimulated, can produce the perception of any color

Question 26

opponent-process theory

Answer 26

theory that opposing retinal processes enable color vision

Question 27

feature detectors

Answer 27

nerve cells in brains visual cortex that respond to specific features of the stimulus

Question 28

gestalt

Answer 28

organized whole

Question 29

grouping

Answer 29

tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups

Question 30

depth perception

Answer 30

ability to see objects in 3D, allows us to judge distances

Question 31

visual cliff

Answer 31

lab device used for testing depth perceptions

Question 32

binocular cue

Answer 32

depth cue that depends on use of 2 eyes

Question 33

retinal disparity

Answer 33

binocular cue for perceiving depth

Question 34

monocular cue

Answer 34

depth cue available to either eye alone

Question 35

phi phenomenon

Answer 35

illusion of movement created when 2 or more adjacent lights blink on and off un quick succession

Question 36

perceptual constancy

Answer 36

perceiving objects as unchani

Question 37

perceptual constancy

Answer 37

perceiving objects as unchanging even as illumination and retinal images change

Question 38

audition

Answer 38

sense or act of hearing

Question 39

frequency

Answer 39

number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time

Question 40

pitch

Answer 40

tones experienced highness or lowness, depends on frequency

Question 41

middle ear

Answer 41

chamber between eardrum and cochlea containing 3 tiny bones that concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochleas oval window

Question 42

cochlear

Answer 42

coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in inner ear

Question 43

inner ear

Answer 43

Intermost part of the ear, containing cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs

Question 44

sensorineural hearing loss

Answer 44

most common caused by damage to cochleas receptor cells or to auditory nerve

Question 45

conduction hearing loss

Answer 45

less common, caused by damage to mechanical system that conducts sound waves to cochlea

Question 46

cochlear implants

Answer 46

device for converting sounds into electrical signals and stimulating auditory nerve through electrodes threaded into the cochlea

Question 47

place theory

Answer 47

links pitch we hear with place where cochleas membrane is stimulated

Question 48

frequency theory

Answer 48

theory that rate of nerve impulses traveling up auditory nerve matches frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense its pitch

Question 49

gate-control theory

Answer 49

spinal cord contains a neurological gate that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain

Question 50

dissassociation

Answer 50

split of consciousness, allows some thoughts to occur simultaneously with others

Question 51

posthypnotic suggestion

Answer 51

suggestion to be carried out after subject is no longer hypnotized

Question 52

gustation

Answer 52

sense of taste

Question 53

olfacation

Answer 53

sense of smell

Question 54

knesthia

Answer 54

movement sense

Question 55

vestibular sense

Answer 55

sense of body movement and position that enables our sense of balance

Question 56

sensory interaction

Answer 56

principle that one sense can influence another

Question 57

extrasensory perception

Answer 57

claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input

Question 58

parapsychology

Answer 58

study of paranormal phenomena