Chapter 5 Flashcards
Sensation and Perception
What is the difference between sensation and perception?
Sensation is the detection of physical stimuli by sensory organs, such as light or sound waves, and the transmission of that information to the brain. Perception, on the other hand, is the brain’s process of organizing, interpreting, and consciously experiencing these sensory signals.
Explain the concept of sensory adaptation.
Sensory adaptation is the process by which a sensory system becomes less responsive to constant or unchanging stimuli. For example, after a while, you may no longer notice the feeling of your clothes on your skin, as your sensory receptors have adapted to the constant input.
Describe the pathway of light through the eye to the brain.
Light enters through the cornea, passes through the pupil, and is focused by the lens onto the retina. The retina contains rods and cones, which convert the light into electrical signals. These signals are processed by bipolar and ganglion cells before being sent via the optic nerve to the visual areas of the thalamus and then to the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe.
What is the trichromatic theory of color vision?
The trichromatic theory suggests that color vision is based on the activity of three types of cone receptors in the retina: S-cones (sensitive to short wavelengths like blue), M-cones (sensitive to medium wavelengths like green), and L-cones (sensitive to long wavelengths like red). The combination of activity in these cones allows us to perceive a wide range of colors.
What is the gate control theory of pain?
This theory posits that the experience of pain is controlled by a “gate” in the spinal cord that either allows or blocks pain signals from reaching the brain. Factors such as distraction or relaxation can close the gate, reducing pain perception.
