Exam 2 - 3&4 Flashcards
Sensation
Detecting information and converting physical energy
Perception
Interpreting info
Organize and interpret
Prosopagnosia
Inability to recognize known faces
Bottom-Up Processing
Sensation to perception
Top-Down Processing
Using past experiences to fill in gaps
Association Areas
Neural networks in cities that integrate info
Transduce
Converting energy from one form to another
Cornea
Bend light
Front of eye
Iris
Dilates and constricts pupils
Retina
Contains photoreceptors
Photoreceptors
The sensory receptors for light
Rods
Black white and grey
For dark
Sensitive
Lots
Fires in groups
Cones
Fine details and color
Daytime
Not as sensitive
High Road
Thalamus to primary visual cortex
Low Road
Thalamus to amygdala
Blindsight
A person lacks explicit visual perception but can see in other ways
Absolute Thresholds
Minimum intensity to notice 50% of the time
Difference Threshold
Minimum change to notice change
Webers Law
Proportional constant
Dorsal Stream
Locates things in space
“Where” pathway
Ventral Stream
“What” pathway
Figures
The object of visual attention
Ground
The back/foreground that helps give the figure shape
Gestalt Psychologists
How “wholes” are constructed
Heuristic
Top-Down strategy allowing quick judgements
Monocular Cues
Use one eye
Distance for objects further than a few feet
Binocular Cues
Use both eyes
Detect and estimate distance (close)
Depth
Retinal Disparity
Images compared across retinas
Feature Detector Cells
Neurons that fire to specific shapes lines angles and properties
Supercell Clusters
Networks integrating feature into complex patterns
Context Effects
Perception is influenced by context
Perceptual Set
See what we expect to typically see
Phi Effect
Static stimuli presented in rapid succession interpreted as movement (ie animation)
Signal Detection Theory
Sensation without perception
Perception depends on state
Evolutionary Psychology
Similarities in big groups over differences
Behavioral Genetics
Genetics role to variation within groups
David Buss
Jealousy is an evolutionary adaptation that promotes natural selection
Reproductive Fitness
Characteristics that increase the odds of reproduction are naturally selected
Genome
Complete set of genes
Alleles
Gene locations allowing for variation within a species
Contribute to “trait” differences
Genotype
The actual gene
Phenotype
Observable trait
Hereditary
Passing on characteristics to offspring through genes
Homozygous trait
Trait due to identical alleles
AA, aa
Heterozygous Trait
Trait due to allele differences
Aa
Epigenetics
Environmental influence on gene expression
Epigenome
System of “tags”
Turn genes on and off
Sebastian Seung
Connectome
Genes and environment impact neural wiring
Biological Sex
Mix of phenotypical characteristics
Assigned
Testosterone
Hormone
SRY gene
A Construct
Theoretical species definition
Culture
Beliefs, practices, and expectations shared by a group
Gender Roles
Cultural expectations on gender
Gender Typing
Acquisition of gender roles
Acquisition of gender identity over time
Social Learning Theory
Gender typing occurs through interactions where we observe, are rewarded/punished, have experiences
Statistical Significance
Difference does not occur by chance
Effect Size
Characterizes the degree of difference
Gender Similarities Hypothesis
Men & women are more similar than not for most psychological characteristics
Sexual Orientation
Attraction towards
Single Blind
The researcher doesn’t know who is in what group
Double Blind
The researcher and participant don’t know groups
Masters and Johnson
Observed sexual response cycle
Naturalistic Observatuon
Observing a subject or group in a natural environment (without influencing)
Laboratory Observatuon
Observing a subject or group in a laboratory that simulates a natural environment
Estrogens
Hormone
Peak during ovulation
Diary Study
Studied women on ovulation
More intercourse when ovulating
Fantasy Study
Studied women while ovulating
Fantasize more during ovulation
Tshirt Study
Men smelled womens shirts that were sweat in during ovulation
Found more attractive when ovulating
Exotic dancer study
Men gave more tips when women were ovulating
Insomnia
Trouble falling/staying asleep
Chronic fatigue
Narcolepsy
Brains sleep-wake cycle compromised
Cataplexy
Sudden loss of control over muscle that produces weakness/paralysis
Sleep Apnea
Breathing is paused or becomes shallower during sleep
Circadian Rhythm
Daily biological sleep/wake rhythm
Suprachiasmatic Nuclei
Inhibits Pinal gland
When a lot of light, prevents us from sleeping
Hypnagogic Sensations
Intense dreams, can be perceived as memories
Sleep Spindles
Weird movements or speaking during sleep
K-Complex
Filter out external info
Integrate info into dreams
Psychoanalytic Theory of Dreaming
Sigmund Freud
Dreams contain info about a persons unconscious wishes, fears, motives, and personality
Manifest Content
The actual dream
Latent Content
The symbolic meaning of the dream
Days Residue
Recent events during the day
Can appear in dreams
Activation-Synthesis Model
Neural network activity increases during deep sleep and REM, brain synthesizes and interprets into dreams
Information-Processing Theory of Dreaming
Dreams represent the brains attempt to manage new learning