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PSYCH 1002 - Psych as a Natural Science > Chapter 5 - Sensation & Perception > Flashcards

Chapter 5 - Sensation & Perception Flashcards

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1
Q

define sensation and perception

A

Sensation is the stimulus-detection process by which our sense organs respond to and translate environmental stimuli into nerve impulses that are sent to the brain. (bottom up)
Perception is making sense of what our senses tell us- is the active process of organizing this stimulus input and giving it meaning. (top down)

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2
Q

what is psychophysics

A

the study of how physical stimuli are translated into psychological experiences

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3
Q

What two kind of sensory capabilities are studied by psychophysics researchers?

A
  • The absolute limits of sensitivity
  • The difference between stimuli
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4
Q

eastyn is a psychophysicist, she asks “what is the smallest difference in brightness that we can detect?”

what is she studying

A

the difference between stimuli

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5
Q

eastyn is a psychophysicist, she asks “ what is the softest sound or weakest salt solution that humans can detect

what is she studying

A

the absolute limits of sensitivity

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6
Q

define transduction

A

the process whereby the characteristics of the stimulus are converted into nerve impulses

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7
Q

define synesthesia

A

condition in which the brain mixes up senses

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8
Q

name the two theories that attempt to explain the cause of synesthesia

A

Theory 1- the pruning of neural connections that occurs in infancy hasn’t happened

Theory 2- Insufficient neural inhibition in the brain so input overflows to other areas

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9
Q

define the absolute threshold

A

lowest intensity at which a stimulus can be detected 50% of the time

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10
Q

once transduction occurs, specialized neurons called _________ ___________ break down and analyze the specific features of the stimuli

A

feature detectors

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11
Q

what do you call stimulus that is so weak or brief that although it is received by the senses it can’t be perceived consciously

A

subliminal stimulus

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12
Q

define decision criterion

A

a standard of how certain they must be that stimulus is present before they will say they detect it

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13
Q

explain signal detection theory

A

signal detection theory is concerned with the situational factors that influence sensory judgements

when perception is more important, people have lower absolute thresholds

perception is thus a decision

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14
Q

Why do signal detection theorists view stimulus detection as a decision?

A

There is no single point on the intensity scale that separates no detection from detection of a stimulus.

There is a range of Uncertainty and people set their own decision criterion- a standard of how certain they must be that a stimulus is present before they will say they detect it.

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15
Q

What kind of personal and situational factors influence signal detection decision criteria?

A

Fatigue, expectation and the potential significance of a stimulus.

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16
Q

define the Difference threshold

A

the difference between two stimuli that people can perceive 50% of the time

the “just noticeable difference”

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17
Q

explain Weber’s law

A

states that the difference threshold is proportional to magnitude of stimulus, varies for every stimulus

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18
Q

eastyn is blasting the new metro boomin album in the car

the music seems loud at the beginning but by the end she get used to it

what is this an example of

A

sensory adaptation

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19
Q

what is sensory adaptation

A

reduced sensitivity to a stimulus after constant exposure

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20
Q

explain fechners law

A

sensation increase with the logarithm of intensity, there is not a 1:1 relationship between physical intensity and psychological intensity

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21
Q

what is subliminal perception

A

perception below the absolute threshold

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22
Q

what is the cornea

A

Cornea- outer layer that focuses on light

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23
Q

what is the pupil

A

the black part

an adjustable opening that can dilate or constrict to control the light coming in

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24
Q

what is the iris

A

controls dealation of pupils

coloured

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25
Q

what is the lens

A

an elastic structure that deals with fine tuning

becomes thinner to focus on far object, and thicker to focus on close objects

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26
Q

what are myopia and hyperopia? what causes them?

A

myopia - nearsightedness
lens is too long

hyperopia - farsightedness
lens is short

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27
Q

what is the retina

A

multi layered tissue in the back of the eye

perceives height and width

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28
Q

the ______ reverses images from right to left, and top to bottom, and projects the image onto the ______, the image is then reconstructed into the image we perceive in the brain

A

the lens reverses images from right to left, and top to bottom, and projects the image onto the retina, the image is then reconstructed into the image we perceive in the brain

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29
Q

mireille is blind as fuck and without he contacts she cant see far away things so she has _______

A

myopia

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30
Q

what are rods and cones in the eye

A

Rods- black and white brightness receptors
best in dark, common in peripherals, helps see dimly lit rooms

Cones- colour receptors
best in light

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31
Q

rods and cones send their messages to the brain vis two additional layers of cells.

what are they

A

bipolar cells and ganglion cells

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32
Q

________ cells synapse with rods and cones

________ cells’ axons are collected into a bundle to form the optic nerve

A

bipolar

ganglion

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33
Q

the ______ ______ is made up from a bunch of axons of ganglion cells that take info from the retina to the brain

A

the optic nerve is made up from a bunch of axons of ganglion cells that take info from the retina to the brain

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34
Q

what is visual acuity

A

ability to see fine detail

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35
Q

__________ are a protein that translates light waves into nerve impulses collected from rods and cones

A

Photopigments- a protein that translates light waves into nerve impulses collected from rods and cones

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36
Q

the blind spot is due to a portion of the eye not having what?

A

photoreceptors

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37
Q

eastyn is too stoned to find the lgith switch and eventually while walking through the dark kitchen, she gets used to the dark

what is happening here

A

Dark adaptation- progressive improvement to light sensitivity under low illumination

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38
Q

the ________ theory states that every color can be made from red blue green so there are 3 color receptors in the retina

A

trichromatic theory

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39
Q

what is a problem with the trichromatic theory

A

problem with the theory is that why can red green color blind people see yellow?

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40
Q

the ______ _______ theory states that there are three types of cones that respond to two different wavelegths; one to red or green, one to blue or yellow

and a third which responds to black and white

A

opponent process theory

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41
Q

the _______ ________ theory says both theories are right, trichromatic was right about cones containing one od three differnet photopigments that are sensitive to RGB, and opponent process was right about ganglion cells responding in opponent-process by altering firing rate

A

dual process theory

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42
Q

what is dichromat colour deficient vison

A

colour blind to only one system, either red-green or yellow-blue

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43
Q

what is monochromatic colour deficient vision

A

completely colourblind and can only see black and white

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44
Q

the ______ _______ _______ is an area in the occipital lobe which receives impulses generated from the retina via the ________, and analyzes the visual input using ________ detectors

A

the primary visual cortex is an area in the occipital lobe which receives impulses generated from the retina via the thalamus, and analyzes the visual input using feature detectors

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45
Q

a sensory neuron that responds to a specific feature of a stimulus, such as shape angle and colour, is called a what?

A

feature detector

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46
Q

How does the lens affect visual acuity?

A

Ability to see depends on the lens ability to focus the image directly onto the retina.

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47
Q

Describe the lens dysfunctions in Myopia

A

Aka- Nearsightedness.

Good vision for nearby objects but difficulty seeing far away objects.

-Lens focuses the visual image in front of the retina (Too near the lens) resulting in a blurred image for faraway objects.

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48
Q

Describe the Lens dysfunction in Hyperopia

A

Aka- Farsightedness

Excellent distance vision but trouble seeing closeup objects clearly.

Occurs when the lens does not thicken enough and the image is therefore focused on a point behind the retina (too far from the lens)

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49
Q

How are Rods distributed in the retina and how do they contribute to brightness, perception, colour vision and visual acuity?

A

The rods function best in dim light and are primarily black and white brightness receptors. They are about 500 more times sensitive to light than cones but do not give rise to colour sensations.

In humans, rods are found throughout the retina except in the fovea.
Periphery of the retina contains mainly rods.

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50
Q

How are Cones distributed in the retina and how do they contribute to brightness, perception, colour vision and visual acuity?

A

Cones, colour receptors, function best in bright illumination. Cones decrease in concentration as one moves away from the centre of the retina.

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51
Q

What is transduction and how does this process occur in the photoreceptors of the eye?

A

Transduction is the process whereby the characteristics of a stimulus are converted into nerve impulses.

In the eye rods and cones translate light waves into nerve impulses through the action of protein molecules called photopigments.

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52
Q

________ processing refers to the ability to use sense to contruct a unified image

A

Parallel processing refers to the ability to use sense to construct a unified image

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53
Q

in audition, what do you call the number of sound ways per second (pitch) and measured in ___

A

frequency

hertz (Hz) - the technical measure of cycles per second

54
Q

in audition, what do you call the vertical size of waves (loudness) and measured in ____

A

amplitude

decibels (db) - a measure of the psychical pressures that occur at eardrum

55
Q

what is the eardrum

A

moveable membrane that vibrates in response to sound waves

56
Q

what is the middle ear

A

3 tiny bones that amplify sound

57
Q

the hammer, anvil and stirrup and anvil are found in what part of the ear? how are they involved in the auditory transduction process?

A

they are found in the middle ear

they vibrate, amplifying sound waves more than 30 times

58
Q

what are the three parts of the inner ear?

A

the cochlea
basilar membrane
organ of corti

59
Q

the ______ is the part of the inner ear that kinda looks like a snail, is filled with liquid and contained receptors for sound

A

chochlea

60
Q

the _________ ________ is the part of the inner ear that is a sheet of tissue, contains corti, and has sound receptor hair cells

A

basilar membrane

61
Q

the_______ of _______ the _________ ________ is the part of the inner ear that is a sheet of tissue, contains corti, and has sound receptor hair cells

A

the organ of corti

62
Q

what is the name of the theory that sates that nerve impulses math the frequency of the sound

A

frequency theory

63
Q

what is the name of the theory that sates that a part of the cochlea where the fluid wave peaks indicates the frequency

A

place theory

64
Q

once the hair cells in the cochlea synapse with the neurons of the auditory nerve, impulses are sent via a relay station in the ______ to the auditory cortex, located in the temporal lobe

A

thalamus

65
Q

the fact that we have ears on both sides of the head so we can tell where sound is coming from refers to to________ ________

A

sound localization

66
Q

what is conduction deafness cause by

A

caused by damage to mechanical system that conducts sound waves to cochlea

67
Q

having damaged receptors within the inner ear or the auditory system itself refers to ______ _______

A

Nerve deafness

68
Q

what are the two varieties of deafness

A

conduction deafness and nerve deafness

69
Q

what is gustation

A

taste

70
Q

what is olfaction

A

smell

71
Q

gustation and olfaction are _______ senses because their receptors are sensitive to _______ molecules rather than to some form of energy

A

chemical

their receptors are sensitive to chemical molecules

72
Q

gustation and olfaction are _______ senses because their receptors are sensitive to _______ molecules rather than to some form of energy

A

chemical

their receptors are sensitive to chemical moleculest

73
Q

Scientists sometimes refer to gustation and olfaction as one _______ ________?

A

one chemical sense

they are intertwined

74
Q

describe the receptors involved in gustation

A

Taste buds

chemical receptors concentrated along the edges and back surface of the tongue

75
Q

describe the receptors involved in olfaction

A

The receptors for smell are long cells that project through the lining of the upper part of the nasal cavity and into the mucous membrane.

76
Q

eastyn and mireille get pissed off for 6 days, once a month

what phenomenon is likely occuring?

A

menstrual synchrony

77
Q

What four tactile sensations are humans sensitive to?

A

pressure (touch), pain, warmth and cold.

78
Q

Pain receptors are found in all body tissues with the exception of the what parts of the body

A

brain, bones, hair, nails and nonliving parts of the teeth.

79
Q

________ provides us with feedback about our muscles’ and joints’ positions and movements

A

kinesthesis

80
Q

how are phantom limb sensations produced?

A

by an irritation of the nerves that use to originate in the limb fools the brain into interpreting the resulting nerve impulses as real sensations.

81
Q

what is the natural opiate-like substance that is involved in pain reduction

A

endoprins

82
Q

_______ sense is the sense of body orientation or equillibriam

A

vestibular sense

83
Q

bottom up processing refers to ______

A

perception

84
Q

what is the name of the experimental technique where a participant wears headphones and a different message is played in either ear

A

shadowing

85
Q

in shadowing is is usually easy to hear what one ear hearr, at the expense of what?

A

at the expense of not paying attention to the other sound playing in the other ear

86
Q

what in Inattentional blindness-

A

the failure of unattended stimuli to register in consciousness

87
Q

if you are looking directly at something without acutally “seeing” it cause you’re thinking about you are probably experiencing ________ ________

A

inattentional blindness

the failure of unattended stimuli to register in consciousness

88
Q

explain figure ground relations

A

we tend to organize stimuli into foreground and background
central figure (foreground) has a more distinct shape and is more striking in perception and memory

89
Q

_______ laws are the laws of perceptual organization, which explain how separate stimuli come to be perceived as a part of a whole

A

gestalt

90
Q

name and explain the 4 gestalt laws

A

similarity - when parts of a configuration are perceived as similar they will be perceived as belonging together

proximity - - elements that are close in proximity will be perceived as part of the same configuration

closure - people tend to close the gaps in an incomplete figure

continuity - people link individual elements together so that they form a continuous pattern that makes sense (ie. we follow paths)

91
Q

“reorganizing” stimulus implies that we have a ________ _________: a mental representation of a image to compare with

A

perceptual schema

92
Q

What stimulus and personal characteristics influence attention?

A

intensity, novelty, movement, contrast, and repetition

Internal factors, such as our motives and interests, act as powerful filters and influence which stimuli in our environment we will notice

People are especially attentive to stimuli that have relevance to their well-being.

93
Q

in this example what would be considered as figure, and what would be considered as ground

instrumental music and melody, surrounded by other chords or harmonies

A

instrumental music is heard as a melody (figure) surrounded by other chords or harmonies (ground)

94
Q

_________ ____ is known as a readiness to perceive stimuli in a particular way - sometines seeing is believing

A

perceptual set

95
Q

Were it not for ________ _________ that allow us to recognize familiar stimuli under varying conditions, we would have literally to rediscover what something is each time it appeared under different conditions.

A

perceptual constancies

96
Q

the ability to recognize both an open door and closed door as still being a door is an example of what?

A

perceptual constancies

97
Q

shape constancy allows the recognition of people and objects from many different _______

A

angles

98
Q

the brain translates information from the retina (only in 2D - leght and width) into 3D perceptions using what two cues

A

monocular depth cues
binocular depth cues

99
Q

______ depth cues require only one eye, whilst ________ ________ requires both eyes

A

monocular depth cues require one eye
binocular disparity require both eyes

100
Q

monocular depth cues use _______ and _______ to create 3d images

A

monocular

101
Q

how does binocular disparity create 3d images

A

uses perceptions from both eyes and combines then into one image

102
Q

a second binocular distance cue is that of _______, which is produces by feedback from the muscles that turn your eyes inward to view a near object

A

convergence

103
Q

Primary cue for perceiving motion is movement of stimulus across the _______

A

retina

104
Q

Relative movement of an object against a structured background is a ________ ____

A

movement cue

105
Q

illusory movement produced when a light is briefly flashed in darkness, and then, a few milliseconds later, another is flashed nearby

if timed right, the light appears to move, though it is simply quick flashing of light in a movement pattern

what do gestralt psychologists call this

A

stroboscopic movement

106
Q

_____ are compelling but incorrect perceptions that can be understood as erroneous perceptual hypotheses about the nature of the stimulus

A

illusions

107
Q

size __________ may be distorted to create an illusion of distance

A

Size constancy

108
Q

describe binocular/retinal disparity

A

each eye sees a different image because they are on different sides

109
Q

name at least 5 monocular depth cue

A
  • patterns of light and shadow
  • linear perspective
  • Interposition
  • height in the horizontal plane
  • Texture
  • clarity
  • Relative size
  • motion parallax
110
Q

what is psychophysiology

A

the study of the relationship between physiological signals recorded from the body and brain to mental processes

neural mechanisms that allow us to sense

111
Q

______ is the father of psychophysics

A

Fechner

112
Q

eastyn is trying to sell booze to first years. to increase her sales she makes the logo on the bottles of alcohol have a hidden word on them that says “sex”, what tactic is she using

will it work?

A

subliminal perception

prolly wont work
in general, no evidence that subliminal cute influence consumer behaviour

113
Q

what is an accessory structure of the auditory system

A

the outer ear

114
Q

what part of the eye does the majority of light focusing

A

cornea - the clear protective layer on the eye

115
Q

where does transduction take place in the eye

A

the retina - the photoreceptors are on the retina

116
Q

when light goes through the pupil and to the back of the eye to the retina it goes through a layer of ________ cells and then ________ cells before it reaches the photoreceptors

A

ganglion and then bipolar

117
Q

the center of the fovea has no ______ only _____

A

no rods only cones

118
Q

rods and cones use _______ _______, a chemical that breaks down in the presence of light

A

visual pigments

119
Q

what is the visual pigment in a rod called

A

rhodopsin

120
Q

when rhodopsin goes clear we refer to it as _______

A

bleached

121
Q

what are three three visual pigments in cones called, and what colours are they sensitive to

A

chlorolabe - green

erythrolabe - red

cyanolabe - blue

122
Q

mireille takes a picture of eastyn with flash on, eastyn “sees spots” afterwards, why?

A

the photochemicals in her retina have been bleached and need time to regenerate

123
Q

what is the dark adaptation experiement

A
  • sit someone down in a dark room and let their eyes adapt to the dark
  • take a picture with flash, bleaching their retinas\
  • measure how long it takes for the person to see a different intensity of light
124
Q

what is the rod cone break
on the graph of threshold of intensity versus time in dark (dark adaptation experiment)

A

it is the point where rods are more sensitive than cones

125
Q

the contrast of an object changes due to its _______

A

background

this is the simultaneous background affect

126
Q

horizontal cells in the retina generate ______

A

inhibition

127
Q

when the lights are dim we get ______ frequency or firing, when the lights are bright we get _____ frequency of firing

A

when the lights are dim we get LOW frequency or firing, when the lights are bright we get HIGH frequency of firing

128
Q

seeing a shape that is generated by the surrounded shapes, but doesn’t actually exist is know as ________ contours

A

subjective contours

129
Q

the gestalt approach emphasizes the importance of _____ and ______ in how we perceive the world around us

A

expecation and context

130
Q

______ _________ implies that i rescale the size of objects so that they remain constant at any distance

A

size constancy

131
Q

constancy scaling is ________ in the first three months of infancy

A

learned

132
Q

the school of _________ says that we create meaning from basic elements or features

A

the school of constructionism (constructionist) says that we create meaning from basic elements or features

PSYCH 1002 - Psych as a Natural Science (8 decks)

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