Chapter 6 Flashcards
perception
the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information
sensation
the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment
bottom up processing
analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brains integration of sensory information
top down processing
information processing guided by higher level mental processes
transduction
conversion of one form of energy into another
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
subliminal
below ones absolute threshold for conscious awareness
priming
the activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing ones perception, memory, or response
difference threshold
the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time
webers law
the principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percantage
sensory adaptation
diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation
perceptual set
a mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another
wavelength
the distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next
hue
the dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light
intensity
the amount of energy in a light or sound wave
retina
the light sensitive inner surface of the eye
accomdation
the process by which the eyes lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina
rods
retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray
cones
retinal receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well lit conditions
optic nerve
the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain
blind spot
the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye
fovea
the central focal point in the retina
feature detectors
nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus
parallel processing
the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brains natural mode of information processing for many functions
young helmholtz trichromatic theory
the theory that the retina contains three different color receptors which can produce that perception of any color
opponent process theory
the theory that opposing retinal processes enable color vision
gestait
an organized whole
figure ground
the organization of the visual field into objects the stand out from the surroundings
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 retina are two dimensional
visual cliff
a laboratory device for testing depth perception in infants and young animals
binocular cues
depth cues, such as retinal disparity,that depend on the use of two eyes
rentinal disparity
a binocular cue for perceiving depth
monocular cues
depth cues
perceptual constancy
perceiving objects as unchanging even as illumination and retinal images change
color constancy
perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color
perceptual adaptation
the ability to adjust to an artificially displaced or even inverted visual field
audition
the sense or act or hearing
frequency
the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time
pitch
a tones experienced highness or lowness
middle ear
the chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones and concentrate the vibration of the eardrum on the cochleas oval window
cochlea
a coiled, bony, fluid filled tube in the inner ear
inner ear
the innermost part of the ear
sensorineural hearing loss
hearing loss caused by damage to the cochleas receptor cells or to the auditory nerves
conduction hearing loss
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
in hearing, the theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochleas membrane is stimulated
frequency theory
in hearing, the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone
gate control theory
the theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological “gate” that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain
kinesthesis
the system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts
vestibular sense
the sense of your heads movement and position
sensory interaction
the principle that one sense may influence another
embodied cognition
the influence of bodily sensations, gestures, and other states on cognitive preferences and judgements
extrasensory perception
the controversial claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input
parapsychology
the study of paranormal phenomena
