Chapter 4 Key Terms

Question 1

Absolute Threshold

Answer 1

the minimum level of
energy required for a
stimulus outside our
body to be detected
by our internal senses

Question 2

Cones

Answer 2

the photoreceptors
providing clear vision
in colour; they work in
bright light

Question 3

Depth Cues

Answer 3

the ability to
accurately judge
three-dimensional
space and distance,
using cues in the
environment

Question 4

Feature Detectors

Answer 4

cells in the optic
nerve that individually
respond to lines of a
certain length, angle
or direction to break
up an image for visual
perception

Question 5

Interpretation

Answer 5

stimulus is given
meaning in the brain
based on our past
experiences, motives,
values and context

Question 6

Light Energy

Answer 6

the visible part of
the electromagnetic
spectrum

Question 7

Optic Nerve

Answer 7

the two tracts of
neurons that transmit
visual information
from the eyes to the
occipital lobes of the
brain

Question 8

Organisation

Answer 8

sensory information
reaches the brain and
is reorganised so we
can make sense of it

Question 9

Perception

Answer 9

the process whereby
the brain organises
and interprets
sensory information

Question 10

Photoreceptors

Answer 10

a layer of specialised
nerve cells that
detects visual stimuli;
they make up the
retina located at the
back of the eye and
convert (transduce)
visual light energy
(electromagnetic
radiation or light
waves within our
visual spectrum)
into electrochemical
energy (nerve
impulses)

Question 11

Reception

Answer 11

stimulus energy is
collected by the
sense organ

Question 12

Receptive Field

Answer 12

a particular region of

the visual space

Question 13

Retinal Ganglion Cells

Answer 13

a type of neuron
that is located
near the surface of
the retina; visual
information from
the photoreceptors
is received by the
retinal ganglion cells

Question 14

Rods

Answer 14

the photoreceptors
providing peripheral
vision in black and
white; they work in
dim light

Question 15

Selection

Answer 15

the process of
selecting the
important sensory
information on which
to focus attention
from the millions of
stimuli we receive

Question 16

Sensation

Answer 16

the process whereby
our sensory organs
or receptors receive
information about
the environment and
transmit it to the
brain

Question 17

Transduction

Answer 17

stimulus energy is
converted by the
receptor cells into
electrochemical
nerve impulses

Question 18

Transmission

Answer 18

the sending of neural
signals to the primary
sensory cortex where
specialised receptor
cells respond as the
process of perception
begins

Question 19

Visual Acuity

Answer 19

the clarity or

sharpness of vision

Question 20

What are the steps in the process of Visual Perception?

Answer 20

Reception, Transduction, Transmission, Selection, Organisation, Interpretation