Human Information Processing Flashcards
1
Q
What do sensory systems have?
A
- Sense organs and receptors that detect info from the environment.
2
Q
What are sensory receptors?
A
- Specialized structures that adopt different shapes depending on their function.
- Nerve ending, once activated, sends signal to CNS
3
Q
Transduction?
A
- Refers to the conversion of physical/chemical stimuli into electrical signals (action potentials)
4
Q
How is a stimulus converted into a neural signal?
A
- The stimulus opens ion channels in the receptor membrane. In most cases, channel opening results in the influx of Na+ into the receptor, causing a depolarization of the membrane.
5
Q
4 different ways our sensory perception can be changed?
A
- Modality: way we perceive stimuli
- Intensity: stimuli intensity
- Duration: Stimuli time-course
- Location: Where you perceive stimuli.
6
Q
Sensory receptors (modality)
A
- Specific neuronal pathways sending info to specific cortical areas.
7
Q
Sensory receptors (Intensity)
A
- Proportional to intensity of the stimulus.
- How much we are depolarizing
a. Frequency code
b. Receptors population code.
8
Q
Population Coding
A
- Related to intensity
- Number of receptors activated.
- 1 finger vs 5 fingers touching you.
8
Q
Sensory Receptors (Duration)
A
- Depends on the firing pattern of sensory receptors.
- Rapidly adapting: Sitting in a chair for a long time, (forgetting its there)
- slowly adapting
9
Q
Frequency Code
A
- More activation over a long period of time creates greater intensity.
9
Q
Cones
A
- Gives our vision color
- Red, Blue, Green
9
Q
Sensory Receptors (Location)
A
- Provides info about spatial location and spatial resolution of the stimulus.
- Resolution represents touch detail
10
Q
Retina
A
- Contains sensory receptors (photoreceptors) and other types of neurons organized in different cellular layers.
- Receive light, convert light into neural signals, send signals to brain for visual recognition.
11
Q
What are rods and cones?
A
- Contains pigments that can be stimulated by light (different wave lengths)
12
Q
Sensory Receptor Field
A
- Each sensory receptor is most sensitive to stimulation of a specific area.
- What action potential are released from a sensory neuron, the neuron receptive field codes the stimulus location.