Chapter 5 - Sensation and Perception

Question 1

Sensation

Answer 1

Detection of stimuli (physical),
goes to brain

Question 2

Perception

Answer 2

Interpretation of sensory input, conscious experience

Question 3

Bottom-up Processing

Answer 3

Basically, start with the individual elements that make up an object, put them together, and interpret as whole
(Building up)

Question 4

Top-down Processing

Answer 4

Interpret sensory information with existing knowledge, expectations, experience

Question 5

Transduction

Answer 5

Process whereby the sensory info is converted to neural signals for the brain to interpret
(Translating stimuli to neural signals)

Question 6

Stimulus

Answer 6

Any DETECTABLE input from the environment

Question 7

Sensory thresholds:
Absolute Threshold

Answer 7

The minimum amount of stimulation
that can be detected
- 50% of the time

Question 8

Sensory Adaptation

Answer 8

A decline in sensitivity due to constant stimulation

Question 9

The Auditory System

Answer 9

Sensory system for Hearing and Sound

Question 10

Stimulus for Sound

Answer 10

Sound waves

Question 11

Sound Waves

Answer 11

Vibrations of molecules that travel through a medium, such as air

Question 12

What can sounds be described in?

Answer 12

Amplitude and Frequency

Question 13

What is amplitude measured in?

Answer 13

Decibels (dB)

Question 14

Amplitude graphs are called

Answer 14

Power spectras

Question 15

Frequency

Answer 15

Pitch of the sound

Question 16

What is frequency measured in?

Answer 16

Cycles per second or Hertz (Hz)

Question 17

What does pitch depend on?

Answer 17

Frequency

Question 18

Range of hertz

Answer 18

20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (spectogram)

Question 19

Gustatory System

Answer 19

Sensory system for Taste

Question 20

Gustatory Receptors

Answer 20

Clusters of taste cells found in
the taste buds

Question 21

Gustatory Receptors

Answer 21

Clusters of taste cells found in
the taste buds

Question 22

5 different types of taste

Answer 22

Sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami

Question 23

Catfish and Taste

Answer 23

•100,000 taste buds (up to 700,000!)
•Located in mouth, lips…all over body
Catfish
•Used for finding prey, mates, navigating

Question 24

The Olfactory System

Answer 24

Sense of smell, jogs memory

Question 25

What are the stimuli for the olfactory system?

Answer 25

Chemical substances

Question 26

What are the receptors in the olfactory system?

Answer 26

Olfactory cilia (hair) to olfactory bulb to other parts of the brain

Question 27

Unique patterns of what = unique _____

Answer 27

Unique patterns of Stimulation = unique Perception

Question 28

The Olfactory System animal

Answer 28

Snakes •No taste or smell receptors •Jacobson’s organ (Vomeronasal)

Question 29

The Tactile System

Answer 29

Sense of touch

Question 30

Tactile stimulation

Answer 30

Anything that comes in contact with skin

Question 31

Types of tactile stimulation

Answer 31

Temperature, pressure, pain

Question 32

What matters more in the tactile system?

Answer 32

Higher order processes (e.g. being tickled)

Question 33

Where do tactile stimulation signals go to in the brain?

Answer 33

Signals to Thalamus, then parietal lobe

Question 34

A tactile system animal

Answer 34

Vibrating Spiders • Most have poor eyesight • Use web vibrations for • Status of web • Health • Yummy food • Courtship • Territory defense

Question 35

The Visual System

Answer 35

Sensory system for Light Sense of sight

Question 36

What is the stimulus for the visual system?

Answer 36

Light

Question 37

What is light measured in?

Answer 37

Nanometers (one billionth of a metre)

Question 38

The Order in which light enters through the eye

Answer 38

1. Light enters through the CORNEA -> 2. Behind the pupil is the elastic LENS > 3. RETINA - multilayered tissue at rear> 4. OPTIC NERVE to brain (occipital lobe)

Question 39

What are the two Visual Receptors?

Answer 39

Rods and Cones

Question 40

Rods

Answer 40

Receptor with key role in NIGHT and peripheral vision

Question 41

Cones

Answer 41

Receptor with key role in daylight vision and COLOUR

Question 42

Gestalt Psychology

Answer 42

Humans have basic tendencies to actively organize what they see • For human perception, the WHOLE is GREATER than the sum of its parts • Ambiguous figure-ground relationships

Question 43

Gestalt Laws of Organization

Answer 43

• Law of similarity (parts of configuration are similar, grouped together) • Law of proximity (things are close to one another) • Law of closure (people tend to close the edge) • Law of continuity (people link continuous lines together)

Question 44

What are the perceptual constancies?

Answer 44

Shape Constancy, Size constancy, Brightness constancy

Question 45

Shape Constancy

Answer 45

Perception of certain shapes from different views Friend’s face has a different shape when you look at their profile than face on - has the friend’s face changed?

Question 46

Size Constancy

Answer 46

Perception of size from different views Walk to your car - image on your retina gets larger, do you perceive your car to be growing?

Question 47

Brightness Constancy

Answer 47

Perception of colour and surroundings due to brightness Colour of your jacket may be different in full sunlight than in shade