Chapter 6 Flashcards
sensatioon
the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment
perception
the process by which our brains organizes and interprets sensory information enabling us to recognize objects and events as meaningful
bottom-up processing
information processing that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain’s integration of sensory infomation
top-down processing
information precessing guided by the higher-level mental processes. constructing perceptions drawing on our previous experience and expectations.
psychophysics
the study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli (ex intensity) and our psychological experience of them
absolute threshold
the minimum stimulus energy needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time
signal detection theory
theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus amid background stimulation.
*assumes there is no single absolute threshold and that detection depends partly on a person’s experience, expectations, motivations, and alertness
subliminal
below ones threshold for conscious awareness
difference threshold:
the minimum distance between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time. we experience a just notable difference (jnd)
webber’s law
the principle that to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage
sensory adaptation
the mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not the other
perceptual set
the mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not the other
vision
sensory + perceptual processing
wavelength
distance from one peak or trough of one wave to the other (peak to peak, trough to trough)
heu (light)
the dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light. what we know as “colors”
intensity (light)
the amount of energy in a light or sound wave which influences what we perceive as brightness or loudness. intensity is determined by wave’s amplitude.
retina
light-sensitive inner surface of the eye. contains rods and cones + a layer of neurons which begin the processing of visual information
rods
photoreceptors that detect black, white, and grey and are movement sensitive. necessary for peripheral and twilight vision (when cones dont respond)
cones
photoreceptors concentrated in the center of the retina (fovia) that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions. detects fine detail and gives rise to color sensations
optic nerve
nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain
blind spot
point at which the optic nerve connects to the retina. no photoreceptors here meaning we cannot see there causing a “blind spot”
fovia
central focal point of the retina around which the cones cluster
young-helmholtz trichromatic (3-color) theory
theory that the retina contains three different types of color receptors. one most sensitive to red, one to green, and one to blue which when stimulated in combination can produce the perception of any color
opponent-process theory
theory that opposing retinal processes (red/green, blue/yellow, black/white) enable color vision.
“we cant see red + green at the same time but can see red + blue at the same time because they travel on separate “tracks”/have separate receptors
feature detectors
nerve cells in the brain’s visual cortex that respond to specific features of a stimulus such as a shape, angle, or movement.
parallel processing
processing many aspects of a stimulus or problem simultaneously
gestalt
an organized whole. gestalt psychologists emphasized our tendency to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes (conscious perception is a continuous, integrated whole)
figure-ground
the organization of visual fields into objects (figure) that stands out from the background (ground)
grouping
the perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups
depth perception
the ability to see objects in three dimensions although the images that strike the retinal are two-dimensional. allows us to judge distance.
visual cliff
laboratory devise used for testing depth perception in babies and young animals
binocular cue
a depth cue (such as retinal display) that depends on the use of both eyes
monocular cue
a depth cue (such as interposition or linear perspective) available to either eye alone
phi phenomenon
an illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in quick succession (arrows on an electronic road sign)
perceptual consistancy
perceiving objects as unchanging even as illumination and retinal images change (seeing someone from the side but still recognizing them)
perceptual adaptation
the ability to adjust to changed sensory input, including an artificially displaced or even inverse visual field
audition
the sense or act of hearing
frequency
the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point at any given time (usually per second)
pitch
a tone’s experienced highness or lowness (high frequency = high pitch)
middle ear
chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones: hammer, anvil, and stirrup which concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochlea’s oval window
cochlia
a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear. sound waves traveling through the cochlear fluid trigger nerve impulses (later perceived as sound)
inner ear
the innermost part of the ear. contains cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacks
sensorineural hearing loss
most common type of hearing loss. caused by damage to the cochleas receptor cells or to the auditory nerve.
aka nerve deafness
conduction hearing loss
caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea
cochlear implant
a device for converting sounds into electrical signals and stimulating the auditory nerve through electrodes threaded into the cochlea
place theory (hearing)
theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochleas membrane is stimulated
aka place coding
frequency theory (hearing)
theory that the role of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone thus enabling us to sense its pitch.
aka temporal coding
touch
pressure + warmth + cold + pain
gate control theory
theory that the spinal chord contains a neurological “gate” that blocks the pain signals or allows them to pass to the brain. the “gate” is opened by the activity of pain signals traveling up nerve fibers, and is closed by activity in a larger fibers or by info coming from the brain
hypnosis
social interaction in which the hypnotist suggests to another person (the subject) that certain perceptions, thoughts, behaviors or feelings will spontaneously occur
dissasociation
a split in consciousness which allows some thoughts and behaviors to occur simultaneously with others
posthypnotic suggestion
a suggestion made during a hypnosis session to be carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized. used by any clinitions to help control undesired symptoms and behaviors
gustation
our sense of taste
olfaction
sense of smell
kinesthesia
our movement sense. system for sending the position and movement of individual body parts
vestibular sense
our balance sense. our sense of body movement and position that enables our sense of balance
sensory interaction
principle that one sense can influence another as when the smell of food affects its taste
embodied cognition
the influence of bodily sensations, gestures, and other states on cognitive performance and judgements
extrasensory perception (ESP)
controversial claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input. includes telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition
parapsychology
study of paranormal phenomena including ESP and telekinesis
