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Psychology > Chapter 6 - Sensation And Perspection > Flashcards

Chapter 6 - Sensation And Perspection Flashcards

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1
Q

Prosopagnosia

A

Face blindness - unable to recognize people even people of your own family

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2
Q

Phonagnosia

A

Voice blind - an inability to recognize familiar voices

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3
Q

Sensation

A

The process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment

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4
Q

Perception

A

The process of organizing and interpreting sensory info, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events.

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5
Q

Bottom up processing

A

Analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brains integration of sensory information

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6
Q

Top down processing

A

Information processing guided by higher level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations

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7
Q

All our senses…

A
  • receive sensory stimulation often using specialized receptor cells
  • transform that stimulation into neural impulses
  • deliver the neutral info to our brain
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8
Q

Transduction

A

Conversion of one form of energy into another. In sensation, the transforming of stimulus energies, such as sight into neural impulses our brain can interpret

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9
Q

Psychophysics

A

The study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli, such as their intensity and our psychological experience of them

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10
Q

Absolute threshold

A

The minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time

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11
Q

Signal detection theory

A

Predicts how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus (signal) amid background stimulation (noise). Assumes there is no single absolute threshold and that detection depends partly on a persons experience, expectations, motivation, and alertness

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12
Q

Subliminal

A

Below ones absolute threshold for conscious awareness

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13
Q

Priming

A

The activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing ones perception, memory, or response.

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14
Q

Difference threshold

A

The minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time. We experience the difference threshold as a just noticeable difference (jnd).

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15
Q

Webers law

A

The principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage rather than a constant amount

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16
Q

Sensory adaptation

A

Diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation. For example getting used to a familiar smell. This can happen with sight as well.

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17
Q

Perceptual set

A

A mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another. It can affect what we hear, taste, feel and see. Context effects: a given stimulus may trigger radically different perceptions, partly because of our differing perceptual set, but also because of immediate context.

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18
Q

Wavelength

A

The distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next

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19
Q

Hue

A

The dimension of colour that is determined by the wavelength of light; what we know as the colours blue, green, and so on.

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20
Q

Intensity

A

The amount of energy in a light wave or sound wave, which influences what we perceive as brightness or loud ness. Intensity is determined by the waves amplitude (height).

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21
Q

Frequency

A

The number of complete wave lengths that can pass a point in a given time; depends on wavelength. Shorter wavelength = higher frequency

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22
Q

Pupil

A

The adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters

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23
Q

Iris

A

A ring of muscle tissue that forms the coloured portion of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening. It dilates or constricts in response to light intensity. It also responds to our cognitive and emotional states. Pupils constrict when you are about to say no or feel disgust.

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24
Q

Lens

A

The transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina

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25
Q

Retina

A

The light sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons (bipolar, ganglion cells) that begin the processing of visual info

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26
Q

Accommodation

A

The process by which the eyes lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina

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27
Q

Rods

A

Retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision, when cones don’t respond. Rods are all over the eye

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28
Q

Cones

A

Retina, receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina (fovea) and that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions. The cones detect fine detail and give rise to colour sensation.

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29
Q

Optic nerve

A

The nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain. “Info highway” to the brain, where your thalamus stands ready to distribute the info it receives from your eyes

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30
Q

Blind spot

A

The point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a blind spot because no receptor cells are located there

31
Q

Fovea

A

The central focus point in the retina, around which the eyes cones cluster

32
Q

Far sightedness

A

A condition in which faraway objects are seen more clearly than near objects because the image of near objects is focused behind the retina

33
Q

Young-helmholtz three colour theory

A

The theory that the retina contains three different colour receptors– one most sensitive to red, one to green, one to blue- which combined can produce the perception of any colour. We see other colours when light stimulates two colour cones together

34
Q

Nearsightedness

A

A condition in which nearby objects are seen more clearly than distant objects because distant objects focus in the front of the retina

35
Q

Herings opponent-process theory

A

The theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable colour vision. For example, some cells are stimulated by green and inhibited by red and vice versa

36
Q

Acuity

A

Sharpness of vision

37
Q

Feature detectors

A

Nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angle or movement

38
Q

Audition

A

The sense of hearing

39
Q

Gestalt

A

An organized whole. Gestalt psychologists emphasized our tendency to integrate pieces of info to meaningful wholes

40
Q

Figure ground

A

The organization of the visual fields into objects (the figures) that stand out from their surroundings (the ground).

41
Q

Grouping

A

The perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups

42
Q

Proximity

A

We group nearby figures together. We see not six separate lines but three sets of two lines

43
Q

Continuity

A

We perceive smooth, continuous patterns rather than discontinuous ones. This pattern could be a series of alternating semi circles, but we perceive it as two continuous lines - one wavy, one straight

44
Q

Closure

A

We fill in gaps to create a complete whole object

45
Q

Depth perception

A

The ability to see objects in three dimensions although the images that strike the retina are two dimensional; allows us to judge distance

46
Q

Visual cliff

A

A laboratory device for testing depth perception in infants and young animals

47
Q

Binocular cues

A

Depth cues, such as retina, disparity and convergence, that depend on the use of two eyes

48
Q

Retinal disparity

A

A binocular cue for perceiving depth; by comparing images from the two eyes, the brain computes distance - the greater the disparity (difference) between the two images, the closer the object

49
Q

Monocular cues

A

Depth cues, such as interposition and linear perspective, available to either eye alone

50
Q

Phi phenomenon

A

An illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink in and off in quick succession

51
Q

Perceptual constancy

A

Perceiving objects as unchanging (having consistent colour, brightness, shape, and size) even as illumination and retinal images change.

52
Q

Colour constancy

A

Perceiving familiar objects as having consistent colour, even if changing illumination alters the wave lengths reflected by the objects

53
Q

Perceptual adaptation

A

In vision, the ability to adjust to an artificially displaced or even inverted visual field

54
Q

Pitch

A

A tones experienced highness or lowness. Depends on frequency.

55
Q

Middle ear

A

The chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) that concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochlea’s oval window

56
Q

Cochlea

A

A coiled, bony, fluid filled tube in the inner ear; sound waves traveling through the cochlear fluid trigger nerve impulses

57
Q

Inner ear

A

The inner most part of the ear, containing the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs.

58
Q

Sensorineural hearing loss

A

The most common form of hearing loss, also called nerve deafness; caused by damage to the cochlea’s receptor cells or to the auditory nerves

59
Q

Conduction hearing loss

A

Less common, caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to he cochlea

60
Q

Cochlear implant

A

A device for converting sounds into electrical signals and stimulating the auditory nerve through electrodes threaded into the cochlea

61
Q

Place theory

A

In hearing, the theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea’s membrane is stimulated. Explains how we hear his pitches (but, not low).

62
Q

Frequency theory

A

In hearing, the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of the tone, thus enabling us to sense it’s pitch. (Low pitches)

63
Q

Promotes weight gain in premature babies

A

Massage

64
Q

Nociceptors

A

Sensory receptors that enable the perception of pain in response to potentially harmful stimuli

65
Q

Gate control theory

A

Melzack and walls theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological gate that blocks or allows pain signals to pass on to the brain

66
Q

Hypnosis

A

A social interaction in which one person suggests to another that certain perceptions, feelings, thoughts, or behaviours will spontaneously occur

67
Q

Dissociation

A

A split in consciousness, which allows some thoughts and behaviours to occur simultaneously with others

68
Q

Post hypnotic suggestion

A

Suggestion made during a hypnosis session, to be carried out after the subject is no longer hypnotized; used by some clinicians to help control undesired symptoms and behaviours

69
Q

Kinesthesia

A

The system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts

70
Q

Vestibular sense

A

The sense of body movement and position, including the sense of balance.

71
Q

Sensory interaction

A

The principle that one sense may influence another, as when the smell of food influences its taste

72
Q

Embodied cognition

A

In psychological science, the influence of bodily sensations, gestures, and other states on cognitive preferences and judgements

73
Q

Extra sensory perception (ESP)

A

The controversial claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input; includes telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition

74
Q

Parapsychology

A

The study of paranormal phenomena, including ESP and psychokinesis

Psychology (9 decks)

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