Chapter 4 Test Flashcards
perception
relies on a person’s past experiences to make judgments
sensation
external stimuli is used to understand life
selective attention
the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus
inattentional blindness
failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere
absolute tresholds
the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time
signal detection theory
predicts how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus (signal) amid background stimulation (noise). it assumes that there is no single absolute threshold - detection depends partly on a person’s experience, expectations, motivation, and alertness
priming
increased sensitivity to a particular stimuli as a result of previous experience
just noticeable difference
the amount something must be changed in order for a difference to be noticeable, detectable at least half the time.
transduction
conversion of one form of energy into another. transforms sights, sounds, and smells into neural impulses our brains can interpret
amplitude determines __?
volume of a sound
purpose of the lens
changes the shape of the pupil to focus images on the retina
location of rods and cones
retina
blind spot
the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye
there are no receptors there
what kind of cells located in the occipital lobe
neural cells
place theory
links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea’s membrane is stimulated
whats more powerful hot or cold
hOt
kinesthesis
system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts
gate control theory of pain
theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological “gate” that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain.
it is opened by the activity of pain signals travelling up small nerve fibers and is closed by activity in larger fibers or by info. coming from the brain
endorphins do what to pain
end it
what is tinnitus
ringing in the ears
chemical senses = ?
taste and smell
depth perception and infants
visual cliff is used to judge
interposition
a mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another
size constancy
perceptions of the size of objects are relatively constant despite the fact that the size of objects on the retina vary greatly with distance
color constancy
Perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object
perceptual set
a mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another
parapsychology
the study of paranormal phenomena, including ESP and psychokinesis (Ghostbusters)
ESP
The controversial claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input; includes telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition
precognition
foreknowledge of an event, especially foreknowledge of a paranormal kind (That’s So Raven)
police and psychics
“Psychics” try to give police “help,” but it never works except that one episode of SVU but then the psychic ended up being the killer so I guess that’s not really “working,” is it?
prevailing views of ESP
most psychologists agree!
