Chapter 4 Test

Question 1

perception

Answer 1

relies on a person’s past experiences to make judgments

Question 2

sensation

Answer 2

external stimuli is used to understand life

Question 3

selective attention

Answer 3

the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus

Question 4

inattentional blindness

Answer 4

failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere

Question 5

absolute tresholds

Answer 5

the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time

Question 6

signal detection theory

Answer 6

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

Question 7

priming

Answer 7

increased sensitivity to a particular stimuli as a result of previous experience

Question 8

just noticeable difference

Answer 8

the amount something must be changed in order for a difference to be noticeable, detectable at least half the time.

Question 9

transduction

Answer 9

conversion of one form of energy into another. transforms sights, sounds, and smells into neural impulses our brains can interpret

Question 10

amplitude determines __?

Answer 10

volume of a sound

Question 11

purpose of the lens

Answer 11

changes the shape of the pupil to focus images on the retina

Question 12

location of rods and cones

Answer 12

retina

Question 13

blind spot

Answer 13

the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye

there are no receptors there

Question 14

what kind of cells located in the occipital lobe

Answer 14

neural cells

Question 15

place theory

Answer 15

links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea’s membrane is stimulated

Question 16

whats more powerful hot or cold

Answer 16

hOt

Question 17

kinesthesis

Answer 17

system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts

Question 18

gate control theory of pain

Answer 18

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

Question 19

endorphins do what to pain

Answer 19

end it

Question 20

what is tinnitus

Answer 20

ringing in the ears

Question 21

chemical senses = ?

Answer 21

taste and smell

Question 22

depth perception and infants

Answer 22

visual cliff is used to judge

Question 23

interposition

Answer 23

a mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another

Question 24

size constancy

Answer 24

perceptions of the size of objects are relatively constant despite the fact that the size of objects on the retina vary greatly with distance

Question 25

color constancy

Answer 25

Perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object

Question 26

perceptual set

Answer 26

a mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another

Question 27

parapsychology

Answer 27

the study of paranormal phenomena, including ESP and psychokinesis (Ghostbusters)

Question 28

ESP

Answer 28

The controversial claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input; includes telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition

Question 29

precognition

Answer 29

foreknowledge of an event, especially foreknowledge of a paranormal kind (That’s So Raven)

Question 30

police and psychics

Answer 30

“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?

Question 31

prevailing views of ESP

Answer 31

most psychologists agree!