Chapter 6 Flashcards
Sensation
sensory receptors and our nervous system receive and represent stimuli from our environment
what is perception
organizing and intercepting of sensory info, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events
transduction
converting one form of energy into another that our brain can use
absolute thresholds
minimum stimulation necessary to detect a particular light, sound, pressure, odor, or taste 50% of the time
difference thresholds
the minimum difference a person can detect b/t any 2 stimuli 50% of the time
weber’s law
for any avg person to perceive any different 2 stimuli, must differ by a constant min %
diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation
sensory adaptation
how does the eye receive energy
light
where light enters the eye
cornea
accommodation
the process by which the eye’s lens change shape to focus near or far objects on the retina
blind spot
point where optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a blind spot bc there are no receptors
parts of the eye
cornea, pupil, iris, lens, retina
opponent process theory
opposing retinal processes enable color vision
nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement
feature detectors
organized whole
gestalt
sound waves
change in air pressure unfolding overtime
frequency
rate of a vibration or the # of sound waves per sec, determines pitch
decibels
measurement for sound
hertz
measurement for frequency
outer ear
sound waves collected
middle ear
where waves are amplified
inner ear
waves are transsduced into coded neural messages
vestibular sense
balance
sensing the orientation of your head/bodyin space
pain
unpleasant sensory or emotional experience
process of smell
airborne molecules inhaled thro nose
offactory receptors cells in nasal cavity are stimulated
receptor cells stimulation are then converted to eural signals to offactory bulb
kinesthesia
system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts
sensory interaction
principle that one sense may influence another as when the smell of food influences its taste
Cornea
light enters the eye
bends light to help focus
pupil
light passes through
small adjustable opening surrounded by iris
iris
colored muscle that controls size of pupil by dilating to light intensity
responds to mood/emotion
lens
behind pupil
focuses incoming light rays into an image on the retina
changes curvature and thickness to focus
retina
lines the back of the eye, senses light, and creates impulses that travel through the optic nerve to the brain
