chapter 5 sensation and perception Flashcards
the process through which the lens changes shape to bring objects into focus on the retina
accommodation
the location in the temporal lobe where auditory information is processed
auditory cortex
the tissue inside the cochlea where the hair cells are located
basilar membrane
auditory cues require comparing an image as it falls on both eyes in order to understand how far away an object is from the viewer
binocular depth cues
the processing of physical messages delivered to the senses
bottom up processing
sensory cells in the nose that respond to air molecules that we interpret as smell and taste
chemoreceptors
a snail shaped structure in the inner ear where the auditory hair cells are located
cochlea
cells in the visual striate cortex that respond to specific orientations in motion
complex cells
a type of photoreceptor in the retina that is typically most responsive to bright lighting conditions and is responsible for communicating information about acuity and color
cone
a term for several rare conditions where an individual is unable to experience pain
congenital angalgesia
the transparent covering of the eye; performs about 80% of the focusing of a visual image
cornea
part of the bipolar layer of the retina. These cells receive signals from the rods and send their messages to large (magno) ganglion cells
diffuse bipolar cells
Cones in the visual system that respond maximally to medium wavelengths of light (e.g., greens & yellows). Also known as M-cone
medium wavelength cones
specialized cells in the visual cortex that respond most actively to specific stimuli
feature detectors
the theory of audition that suggests we understand pitch because of the rate of cellular firing on the basilar membrane
frequency theory
also known as the Where stream, this pathway takes information from the occipital lobe to the parietal lobe, where we are able to identify object location
dorsal stream
the physical measurement of pitch, or how high/low a sound it
frequency measured in Hz
the portion of the retina directly behind the pupil. It contains a large concentration of cones and NO rods
fovea
a theory of pain perception that suggests that painful stimuli can be blocked in the spinal cord when you are engaged in other activities
gate control theory of pain
the physical distance from one energy cycle to the next; changes in wavelength are often perceived as changes in colour
wavelength
the location in the occipital lobe where visual information is organized and analyzed
visual striate cortex
also known as our sense of balance
vestibular sense
the structures in the inner ear that respond to cues associated with balance and posture
vestibular sacs
also known as the What stream, this pathway takes information from the occipital lobe to the temporal lobe where we are able to identify an object
ventral stream
A theory of color vision that proposes that color information is identified by comparing the activation of different cones in the retina.
trichromatic theory
The process by which external sensations are converted into neural firing in the brain.
transduction
Also known as the eardrum, this structure transfers energy to the three smallest bones of the body known as the ossicles.
tympanic membrane
The integration of a person’s beliefs, memories, and expectations into their sensory experiences to create a perception.
top down processing
The spatial organization of the basilar membrane is maintained through the auditory pathway.
tonotopic organization
receptors in the skin specifically designed to detect changes in temperature
thermoreceptors
the location of taste sensitive cells on the tongue
taste pore
The spatial organization of touch; two adjacent points on your skin are represented by adjacent points on the somatosensory cortex.
somatotopic organization
The location in the parietal lobe where touch and motion are processed.
somatosensory cortex
Part of the ganglion layer of the retina. Receive signals from the midget bipolar cells. The axons of these cells leave the eye and form part of the optic nerve. Also known as parvo cells.
small ganglion cells
Feature-detecting cells in the visual striate cortex that respond to lines of specific orientations.
simple cells
Cones in the visual system that respond maximally to short wavelengths (e.g., blues). Also known as S-cones.
short cones
A visual depiction of what our bodies would look like if they were built in proportion to their representation on the cortex.
sensory homunculus
The elementary parts of the environment that the brain uses to create meaning.
sensations
The structures in the inner ear that sense changes in acceleration and the rotation of the head.
semicircular canals
One kind of photoreceptor in the retina; it typically is most responsive to low levels of light.
rod
The spatial organization of the retinal image is maintained through the visual pathway.
retinotopic organization
The difference between the retinal image that falls on both eyes. The brain uses disparity to calculate the distance between an individual and an object.
retinal disparity
the thin layer of tissue on the back of each eye that contains the photosensitive receptor cells
retina
The hole in the center of the eye that allows light to enter.
pupil
A field of psychology that attempts to evaluate the way the physical experience of sensations is translated into perceptions.
psychophysics
The theory of audition that suggests we understand pitch because of the location of firing on the basilar membrane.
place theory
The external part of the ear.
pinna
These cells, also called photosensitive cells, are specifically sensitive to exposure to light.
photoreceptors
The processing of stimuli to create a sensory understanding of the world.
perception
papillae The little bumps on the surface of the tongue where tastebuds are located.
papillae
the region of the brain that analyzes both taste and smell.
orbitofrontal cortex
The three smallest bones in the body. They are responsible for amplifying vibrations arriving at the eardrum and transmitting these signals to the oval window of the cochlea.
ossicles
An X-shaped structure where the optic nerves from each eye cross before the message is sent to the thalamus.
optic chiasm
A theory of color vision that suggests that cells in the visual pathway increase their activation when receiving information from one kind of cone and decrease their activation when they see a second color.
opponent process theory
Neurons that are specifically responsive to odorants.
olfactory receptor neurons (ORN)
The tissue that contains the chemoreceptors of the nose.
olfactory mucosa
The sensory neurons inside the inner ear that convert sound into neural firing.
hair cells (auditory)
The sensory neurons inside the vestibular sacs that convert information about gravity into neural firing.
hair cells (vestibular)
the physical measurement of the loudness of a sound. This is measured in decibles (db)
intensity
The brain compares intensity differences of sound as it arrives at each ear in order to understand object location.
interaural level differences
Comparisons made between the small differences in arrival time of a sound in each ear.
interaural time differences
Also known as an earworm, it is the auditory experience of an inability to dislodge a song from one’s consciousness.
involuntary musical imagery
The ring of pigmented tissue surrounding the pupil. The iris is responsible for controlling the diameter and size of the pupil, thereby controlling the amount of light that reaches the retina.
iris
Our sense of where our bodies are in space and how to move the body to accomplish specific tasks.
kinesthetic sense
Part of the ganglion layer of the retina. Receive signals from the diffuse bipolar cells. The axons of these cells leave the eye and form part of the optic nerve. Also known as magno cells.
large ganglion cells
The 6-layered portion of the thalamus that processes and organizes visual information.
lateral geniculate nucleus
A flexible piece of tissue, located behind the pupil that focuses light on the retina.
lens
Cones in the visual system that respond maximally to long wavelengths of light (e.g., reds). Also known as L-cones.
long wavelength cones
A stimulus that produces smells that can be perceived by the nose.
odorant
Also known as pictorial cues, these depth cues only require one eye to understand messages of depth.
monocular depth cues
Part of the bipolar layer of the retina. These cells receive signals from cones and send their messages to the small (parvo) ganglion cells.
midget bipolar cells
The portion of the thalamus that evaluates and organizes auditory information before sending it to the auditory cortex.
medial geniculate nucleus
Receptors in the skin that sense different kinds of pressure.
mechanoreceptors
little bumps on the surface where tastebuds are located
papillae
papillae allow us to taste what five flavours?
sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami (savory)
what four things does skin provide information about?
temperature, pain, surface qualities of objects, body location in space
pain is subjective but tells us when we experience
tissue damage
pain input happens along three pathways
small diameter (s-fibers), transmission cells (t-cell), large diameter (l-libers)
