Chapter 1, Exam #1 Flashcards
Sensitization
the increase in intensity of a reflex response due to frequent exposure (becoming more sensitive to gunfire in a high crime area)
Reflex
simple involuntary response produced by a specific stimuli (puff of air in eye makes you blink
voluntary response
responses that are primarily controlled by the organism instead of by an unconditioned stimulus and mediated by the somatic nervous system
sensory receptors
proximal stimulus (touch pain vision)
selective attention
we see what captures our attention, interests us, or what we cannot avoid
Central nervous system
includes the brain and spinal cord, stores and processes info that it receives from the environment and other parts of the body then sends messages to other parts of the body
Somatic nervous system
type of peripheral nervous system. controls voluntary responses (muscles tendons ligaments)
parasympathetic nervous system
component of the autonomic nervous system that controls the body when the organism is in a quiet, restful state (peace)
habituation
the lowering of the intensity of a reflex response due to repeated stimulation (not acting as strongly to needles if diabetic)
modal action (fixed action) pattern
one of several types of involuntary responses that is characterized by being an interrelated set of actions involving the whole animal (not just the reaction of part of the animal) specific to a given species, fixed and inflexible, and produced by a single (releasing) stimulus (spider spinning a web)
involuntary respons
a variety of responses types that are usually produced by a limited set of stimuli and primarily mediated by the autonomic nervous system (reflex, instinct)
visual adaption
the process by which the visual system alters its operating properties in response to changes in the environment
perceptual set
auditory, haptic, orientation, savory, and visual
peripheral nervous system
the part of the nervous system that extends out into the peripheral parts of the body
autonomic nervous system
type of peripheral nervous system that controls involuntary responses (breathing, heart rate, sweating)
sympathetic nervous system
component of the autonomic nervous system that controls the body when the organism is in a state of stress or excitement ( dear, anger)
3 major domains of psychology
emotion, cognition, behavior
The basic definition of learning
a hypothetical process which produces a relatively permanent change in behavior, cognition, or emotion as a result of experience
what is stimulus?
energy that contacts a sensory organ (eye, ear, skin) and produces a physiological or behavioral reaction in an organism
what is the difference between a stimulus and a response?
a stimulus is a change in an organisms surroundings which causes it to respond. a response is an organisms reaction to a specific stimulus
what is the difference between sensation and perception?
sensation is physical energy actioning on a sense organ and perception gives meaning to a sensory input
What are the major sensory receptors?
touch pain and vision
Distal, proximal, and perceived stimulus
Distal stimulus- the actual object being perceived
Proximal stimulus- the “photo” of stimulus to eyes, things as they are
Perceived stimulus- the perception that your mind creates
Why doesn’t perception accurately reflect the real-world stimulus environment?
Stimulus filtering - distal stimuli that never reach our sensory equipment (color)
Selective perception - we only se and hear what captures our attention, what interests us, or what we can’t avoid
Illusions - distorted reality
Hallucinations - seeing things that are not there at all
How does expectation and hypnosis alter our perception of pain?
by cutting out outside cues (left hand numb) similar to expectations, because if you expect it to hurt in your right hand it will, but because the left is “numb” you wont
Haptics system
exploratory system, recognizing objects through touch, combination of sensation and hand position
Auditory system
frequency, amplitude, and ability to locate source of sound
Savory system
(gustatory and olfactory) taste and smell, consume good things and not bad things
Orientation system
finding your way around and recognizing familiar surroundings
Visual system
humans are very visual and would hate to lose their sight
How does the brain cope with vast amounts of incomplete and confusing sensory information?
eyes dart around so the sharp spot- brain sees everything interesting compensates for blind spot through the several different images it has been given. Brains make sense of incomplete situations in an attempt to keep us out of danger before it arises
what are the four response measures?
Form/typography- clumsy to coordinated.
Frequency- increase to decrease in number.
Strength- force to durability. Speed/latency- quickness to response
what is the difference between behavioral and cognitive approach?
behavior is what we do, study observable behavior. Cognitive is what we know, mental processes
