Chapter 1- Vocabulary Flashcards
What is perception. Hint: organizing
The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information so that it has meaning
What is bottom-up processing. Hint: registering…
The operation in sensation and perception in which sensory receptors register information about the external environment and send it up to the brain for interpretation
Top-down processing. Hint: cognitive
The operation in sensation and perception launched by cognitive processing at the brains higher levels that allows the organism to sense what is happening and to apply that framework to information from the world
What are sensory receptors?
Specialized cells that detect stimulus information interest transmitted it into sensory (afferent) nerves and the brain
Absolute threshold
The minimum amount of stimulus energy that a person can detect. The absolute amount
Noise
Irrelevant and competing stimuli- not only sounds but also any distracting stimuli for our senses.
Difference threshold
The degree of difference that must exist between two stimuli before the difference is detected.
Webers law
The principle that 2 stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage ( rather than a constant amount ) to Best regards, perceived as different.
Subliminal perception
The detection of information below the level of conscious awareness.
Signal detection theory
A theory perception that focuses on decision making about stimuli in the presence of uncertainty
What is sensation. Hint: receiving…
The process of receiving stimulus energies from the external environment and transforming those energies into neural energy
Photoreception
Detection of light, perceived as sight
Mechanoreception
Detection of pressure, vibration, and movement, preceived as touch, hearing and equilibrium.
Chemoreception
Detection of chemical stimuli, preceived as smell and taste
Selective attention
The process of focusing on a specific aspect of experience while ignoring others.
