Chapter 1 Part 2 Olfactory experiences

Question 1

Sight

Answer 1

la vue

Question 2

Hearing

Answer 2

l’ audition

Question 3

Touch

Answer 3

le toucher

Question 4

Taste

Answer 4

Le goût

Question 5

Smell

Answer 5

L’odorat

Question 6

Psychophysics

Answer 6

Fechner (1960)

The scientific study of the relationship between stimuli and the sensations and perceptions evoked by these stimuli.

Question 7

Perception

Answer 7

Is the way we interpret sensations and therefor make sense of everything around us.

Question 8

Absolute threshold

Answer 8

Seuil absolu
Is the point where something becomes noticeable to our senses. It is the softestsound we can hear or the slightest touch we can feel. Anything less than this goes unnoticed. The absolute threshold is therefore the point at which a stimulus goes from undetectable to detectable to our senses.

Question 9

Difference threshold

Answer 9

Seuil différentiel
Once a stimulus becomes detectable to us, how do we recognize if this stimulus changes? When we notice the sound of the radio in the other room, how do we notice when it becomes louder? It’s conceivable that someone could be turning it up so slightly that the difference is undetectable. The difference threshold is the amount of change needed for us to recognize that a change has occured. This change is reffered to as the Just Noticeable Difference (JND).

Question 10

Signal Detection Theory

Answer 10

Détection du signal

When we attempt to detect what we want to focus on an ignore or minimize everything else.

Question 11

Subliminal perception

Answer 11

Perception subliminale/inconsciente
Situation in which unnoticed stimuli are perceived.
Refers to any sensory stimulus below and individual’s threshold for conscious perception. This term war originally used to describe situations in which weak stimuli were perceived without awareness. In recent years, the term has been applied more generally to describe any situation in which unnoticed stimuli are perceived.

Question 12

Sensory adaptation

Answer 12

Adaptation sensorielle
Refers to a stimulus which has become redundant or remains unchanged for an extended period of time. Ever wonder why we notice certain smells or sounds right away and then after a while they fade into the background? Once we adapt to the perfume or the ticking of the clock, we stop recognizing it. This process of becoming less sensitive to unchanging stimulus is reffered to as sensory adaptation, after all, if it doesn’t change, why do we need to constantly sense it?

Question 13

Tip of the tongue

Answer 13

Le bout de la langue

Question 14

Olfactory compound

Answer 14

Composé olfactif

Question 15

Proust Phenomenon

Answer 15

La madeleine de Proust

Question 16

Endogenous/exogenous factors

Answer 16

Facteurs endogènes/exogènes

Question 17

Codability

Answer 17

Notion of codability relation perception and language

Some odors are more codable than others (garlic, lavender, anise, etc.) linked to culture.

Question 18

Semantic

Answer 18

Describe odors by grouping them into semantics classes: source, intensity, temporality, hedonistic value (pleasant or not), emotion. Odors cannot be described through language and no common vocabulary can emerge.