Exam 1/Chapter 3- Sensation and Perception Flashcards
Sensation
messages from the senses
Perception
process of making sensations into meaningful experiences
Sensory Receptors
specialized cells that detect sensory stimuli
Transduction
translation of physical properties into electrical signals to be sent to the brain
List the general 4 steps from sensation–>perception.
- Stimulus energy (light, sound, smell, etc.) - Sensation
- Sensory receptors (eye, ears, nose, etc.)- Sensation
- Neural impulses- Sensation
- Brain (visual, auditory, olfaction areas)- Perception
Absolute Threshold
the smallest amount of a stimulus that can be detected (50% of the time)
Who came up with absolute threshold?
Gustav Fechner
Difference Threshold
the amount of difference between two stimuli required for detection (Just noticeable difference (JND))
Who came up with difference threshold?
Weber
State Weber’s Law.
the amount of change in stimulation needed to produce a noticeable difference is a constant proportion of the original stimulus
What is the unit for Weber’s Fraction for Different Stimuli?
(K)
Subliminal perception
below the threshold of awareness
Sensory Adaptation
sensitivity decreases over time
Habituation
ignoring a stimulus
Do the receptors change in sensory adaption?
YES
Do the receptors change in habituation?
NO
What is stimulation for vision?
electromagnetic radiation
Is visible light a small or large part of the spectrum?
Small
What are the properties of light waves?
- Wavelength
- Amplitude
- Saturation
Wavelength can be described as what?
Color/Hue
Amplitude can be described as what?
Brightness
Saturation can be described as what?
Purity
On a diagram, wavelength would determine the _____ of the line.
Color/Hue
On a diagram, aptitude would determine the _____ of the line.
height of the waves on the line (higher amplitude= higher waves)
Pure colors have how many wavelengths?
1
Impure colors have how many wavelengths?
Many
What controls accommodation?
Tiny muscles in the lens
To focus on distance objects the lens will do what?
Lessens curvature (flatten)
To focus on close objects the lens will do what?
Increases curvature
In normal vision where is vision focused?
On the retina
What is myopia?
Nearsightedness
What is hyperopia?
Farsightedness
In nearsightedness (myopia) where is the image focused?
Infront of the retina
In farsightedness (hyperopia) where is the image focused?
Behind the retina
What does the retina consist of?
- Photoreceptors (rods & cones)
- Bipolar cells
- Ganglion cells
Rods and cones are considered to be what?
Photoreceptors