Chapter 6 Flashcards
Perception
The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events
Sensation
The process by which out sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment
Bottom up
Analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brains integration of sensory information FIRST IMPRESSION
Top down
Information processing guided by higher level mental process as we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectation EXPECTING
Psychophysics
The study of relationships between the physical characteristic of stimuli such as their intensity and out psychological experience of them
Absolute threshold
The minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time
Signal detection theory
A 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 persons experience, expectations, motivations, and level of fatigue.
Subliminal
Below ones absolute threshold for conscious awareness
Priming
The activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, this predisposing ones perception, memory, or response.
Difference threshold
The minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time. JND
Webers law
The principle that to be perceived as different two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage
Sensory adaptation
Diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation
Transduction
Conversion of one form of energy into another(sights sounds smells into neural impulses our brains can interpret)
Wavelength
Distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next
Hue
Dimension of color that is determined by wavelength of light
Intensity
The amount of energy in a light or sound wave which we perceive as brightness or loudness as determined by the waves amplitude
Pupil
Adjustable opening in center of eye in which light enters
Iris
Ring of muscle tissue that forms color portion of the eye around the pupil that controls pupil opening
Lens
Transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to focus image on retina
Retina
Light sensitive inner surface if the eye containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual information
Accommodation
The process by which the eyes lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on retina
Rods
Retinal recruits that detect black white gray. Used in peripheral and twilight vision when cones don’t respond.
Cones
Retinal receptors that are concentrated near the center if the retina and that function in the daylight or in well lit conditions. Cones detect detail and color.
Optic nerve
Nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain
Blind spot
The point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye creating a blind spot because no sensory receptors are located here
Fovea
The central focal point in the retina. Cones cluster around this.
Feature detectors
Nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus such as shape angle or movement
Parallel processing
The processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously the brains natural mode of information processing for many functions including vision.
Young helmholtz trichromatic theory
The theory that the retina contains three different color receptors one sensitive to red one to blue one to green. I’m combination they can produce any other color.
Opponent processing theory
Opposing retinal processes enable color vision. Ex. Some simulated by green inhibited by red. Some simulated by red inhibited by green.
Frequency
The number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time
Pitch
Highness or lowness
Depends on frequency
Middle ear
Chamber between eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones that concentrate vibrations of the eardrum onto the cochleas oval window
Cochlea
A coiled bony fluid filled tube in inner ear through which sound waves trigger nerve impulses
Inner ear
Contains cochlea, semicircular canals, vestibular sacs
Innermost part of ear
Place theory
Links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochleas membrane is stimulated
Frequency theory
The rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone thus enabling us to sense pitch
Conduction hearing loss
Hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea
Sensorineural hearing loss
Caused by damage to the cochleas receptor cells to the to the auditory nerves
Nerve deafness
Cochlear implant
A device for conversing sounds into electrical signals and stimulating the auditory nerve through electrodes threaded into cochlea
Kinesthesis
The system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts
Vestibular sense
Sense of body position and movement including balance
Gate control theory
The spinal cord contains a neurological gate that blocks pains signals it allows them to pass onto the brain. The gate is opened by the activity of pain signals traveling up small nerve fibers and is closed by activity in larger fibers or by information coming from the brain.
Sensory interaction
The principle that one sense may influence another
Gestalt
An organized meaningful whole
Figure ground
Organization of the visual field into objects that stand out from their surroundings
Grouping
The perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups
Depth perception
The ability to see objects in three dimensions
Allows us to judge distance
Visual cliff
A lab device for testing death perception in infants and young animals
Binocular cues
Cues that use two eyes
Judge distance
Retinal disparity
A binocular cur for perceiving depth. By comparing images from the retinas in the two eyes the brain computes distance. the greater the disparity of the two images the closer the object.
Monocular cues
Depth cues using one eye
Height Size Interposition Linear perspective Light and shadow Motion
Phi phenomenon
An illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in quick succession
Perceptual constancy
Perceiving objects as in hanging even as illumination and retinal images change.
Color constancy
Perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color even if changing illumination alters wavelengths
Perceptual adaptation
The ability to adjective to an artificially displaces or even invented visual field (in vision)
Goggles
Perceptual set
A mental predisposition to perceive one thing not another
Trumpet man and woman’s face
Human factors psychology
A branch of psychology that explores how people and machines interact and bike machines and physical environments can be made safe and easy to use
ESP
The controversial claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input
Telepathy
Clairvoyance
Precognition
Parapsychology
The study of paranormal phenomena including ESP and psychokinesis
