Chapter 3 Flashcards
Absolute threshold
The smallest amount of a given stimulus a person can sense.
Difference threshold
The minimal difference in the magnitude of energy needed for people to detect a difference between two stimuli.
Webbers law
The principle that the amount of change in a stimulus needed to detect the difference is given by a constant ratio or fraction called a constant, of the original stimulus.
Signal detection theory
The threshold for detecting a signal depends not only on the properties of the stimulus itself, such as the intensity, the loudness of sound but also on the level of background stimulation, or noise, and, importantly on the biological and psychological characteristics of the perceiver
Sensory receptors
Specialized cells that detect sensory stimuli and convert them into neural impulses.
Sensory adaptation
The process by which sensory receptors adapt to constant stimuli by becoming less sensitive to them.
Photo receptors
Light-sensitive cells (rods and cones) in the eye upon which light registers.
Rods
Photo receptors that are sensitive only to the intensity of light (light and dark)
Cones
Photo receptors that are sensitive to color.
Optic nerve
The nerve that carries neural impulses generated by light stimulation from the Eye to the brain.
Blind spot
The area in the retina where the optic nerve leaves that I and that contains no photo receptor cells
Fovea
The area near the center of the retina that contains only cones and that is the center of focus for clearest vision
Place theory
The belief that pitch depends on the place along the basilar membrane that vibrates the most in response to a particular auditory stimulus
Frequency theory
The belief that pitch depends on the frequency of vibration of the basilar membrane and the volley of neural impulses transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerve
Sensations
The process by which we received, transform, and process stimuli from the outside world to create sensory experiences of vision, touch, hearing, taste, smell, and so on.
Volley principle
The principle that relates to the experience of pitch to the alternating firing of groups of neurons along the basilar membrane
Conduction deafness
A form of deafness, usually involving damage to the middle of the ear, in which there is a loss of conduction of sound vibrations through the ear
Nerve deafness
Deafness associated with nerve damage, usually involving damage to the hair cells for the auditory nerve itself
Pheromones
Chemical substances that are emitted by many species and that have various functions, including sexual attraction
Gate control theory of pain
The belief that a narrow gate in the spinal cord opens to allow pain messages to reach the brain and closes to shut them out
Vestibular sense
The sense that keeps us informed about balance and position of our body in space
Clairvoyance
The ability to perceive objects and events without using the known senses
Parapsychology
The study of paranormal phenomenon
Telepathy
Communication of thoughts from one minute to another that occurs without using the known senses
