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Psychology 121 > Chapter 4- Sensation And Perception > Flashcards

Chapter 4- Sensation And Perception Flashcards

1
Q

Sensation

A

Process of detecting, converting, and transmitting raw sensory information from the external and internal environments to the brain

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2
Q

Perception

A

Process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting sensory information into understandable patterns

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3
Q

Transduction

A

Converting a receptor’s energy into neural impulses that are sent on to the brain

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4
Q

Coding

A

Converting sensory inputs into different sensations

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5
Q

Sensory reduction

A

Filtering and analyzing incoming sensations before sending neural messages on to the cortex

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6
Q

Psychophysics

A

Studies the link between physical characteristics of stimuli and our sensory experience of them

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7
Q

Absolute Threshold

A

Minimum amount of a stimulus that an observer can reliably detect

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8
Q

Difference threshold

A

Minimal difference needed to notice a stimulus change

Aka Just Noticeable Difference

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9
Q

Subliminal Perception

A

Perceiving something without conscious awareness

doesn’t necessarily cause or change actions

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10
Q

Sensory Adaptation

A

Repeated or constant stimulation decreases the number of sensory messages sent to the brain which causes decreased sensation

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11
Q

Gate-Control Theory

A

Theory that pain sensations are processed and altered by mechanisms within the spinal cord
Damaged tissue opens the gate, counter pressure closes the gate
Pain is a mix of biological and psychological factors

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12
Q

Endorphins

A

Neurotransmitter that acts in the same way as morphine by inhibiting pain perception and closing the gate

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13
Q

Substance P

A

Neurotransmitter that opens the pain gate

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14
Q

Wavelength

A

The distance between successive peaks
Long wavelength/low frequency- reddish colours, low sounds
Short wavelength/high frequency- blueish colours, high sounds

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15
Q

Wave Amplitude

A

The height from peak to trough
Low amplitude/low intensity- dull colours, soft sounds
High amplitude/high intensity- bright colours, loud sounds

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16
Q

Range of wavelengths

A

The mixture of waves
Small range/low complexity- less complex colours and sounds
Large range/high complexity- complex colours and sounds

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17
Q

Fovea

A

Tiny pit in the centre of the retina filled with cones; responsible for sharp vision

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18
Q

Blind Spot

A

Point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye; contains no receptor cells for vision, thus creating a blind spot

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19
Q

Accommodation

A

Automatic adjustment of the eye which occurs when muscles change the shape of the lens so that it focuses light on the retina from objects at different distances

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20
Q

Retina

A

Light sensitive inner surface of the back of the eye, which contains the receptor cells for vision

21
Q

Rods

A

Visual receptor cells in the retina that detect shades of gray and are responsible for peripheral vision
Most important in dim light and at night

22
Q

Cones

A

Visual receptor cells, concentrated near the centre of the retina, responsible for colour vision and fine detail
Most sensitive in brightly lit conditions

23
Q

Place Theory

A

Explains that pitch perception is linked to the particular spot on the cochlear’s basilica membrane that is most stimulated

24
Q

Frequency Theory

A

Explains that pitch perception occurs when nerve impulses sent to the brain match the frequency of the sound wave

25
Q

Olfaction

A

Sense of smell

26
Q

Pheromones

A

Compounds found in body scents that may affect various behaviours

27
Q

Gustation

A

Sense of taste

28
Q

5 Taste Sensations

A

Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, uami (delicious)

29
Q

Skin

A

Tactile sense- uses a variety of receptors located in different parts of the skin to detect pain, temperature, fine touch, and pressure

30
Q

Vestibular

A

Sense of body movement and position, also called the sense of balance
Located in the inner ear, composed of the vestibular sacs and the semicircular canals

31
Q

Kinesthesis

A

Sensory system for detecting body posture, orientation, and movement of individual body parts
Kinesthetic receptors are found throughout the muscles, joints, and tendons of the body

32
Q

Selective Attention

A

Filtering out and attending only to important sensory messages

33
Q

Feature Detectors

A

Specialized neurons that respond only To certain sensory information

34
Q

Habituation

A

The brains reduced responsiveness to unchanging stimuli

35
Q

Gestalt Principles

A

Emphasizes the importance of organization and patterning in enabling us to perceive the whole stimuli

36
Q

Figure Ground Principle

A

Gestalt

We are able to distinguish objects from their surroundings

37
Q

Proximity Principle

A

Gestalt

We group together objects that are physically close

38
Q

Continuity Principle

A

Gestalt

Objects that continue a pattern are grouped together

39
Q

Closure Principle

A

Gestalt

The tendency to see a finished unit from and incomplete stimulus

40
Q

Similarity Principle

A

Gestalt

Similar objects are grouped together

41
Q

Binocular Depth Cues

A

Retinal disparity- images on retina can be in different places depending on the distance of the image
Convergence- the turning in of your eyes, the strain of which help your brain interpret distance

42
Q

Size Constancy

A

We are able to look past obvious size disparities because we know from experience the general size of things

43
Q

Shape Constancy

A

As an object rotates or moves it changes shale but we can still perceive it as the same shape

44
Q

Colour and Brightness Constancy

A

Although there are shadows and highlights, we perceive constancy in the colour

45
Q

Trichromatic Theory

A

Found that there are 3 primary colours (red, blue, and green) that can be combined to form all colours

46
Q

Opponent process theory

A

Hering’s theory states that colour perception is based on three systems of colour opposites
Blue yellow, red green, black white

47
Q

Perceptual Adaptation

A

The brains ability to rewire itself to adjust to new stimuli

48
Q

Frame of Reference

A

Our perceptions are affected by their context

Psychology 121 (6 decks)

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