Lectures 1 & 2 (test 1)

Question 1

perceptual processes

Answer 1

sensitive to change (7 steps)

Question 2

environmental stimulus

Answer 2

stimulus occurring in the environment

Question 3

light reflected and transformed

Answer 3

incoming information converted to a biological signal

Question 4

receptor processes

Answer 4

• info processed from the retina to rest of brain

- transduction occurs

Question 5

transduction

Answer 5

environmental signal > electrical energy

Question 6

neural processing

Answer 6

• intra-cortical proceeding transformation (strengthened weakened or integration) of sensory data to perception
• receptor cell > subcortical areas <> cortical areas <> other cortical areas

Question 7

Perception

Answer 7

• detect features of stimulus

- past experiences can impact

Question 8

recognition

Answer 8

categorize

what is it?

Question 9

action

Answer 9

signal transformed into conscious awareness

Question 10

sensation

Answer 10

sensory processes detect information from the physical world and transform them into biological signals interpreted by the brain

Question 11

perception

Answer 11

awareness of a stimulus that in turn arises from a sensation produced by our sensory systems, gives meaning and or purpose to the detected sensation

Question 12

threshold

Answer 12

what is the faintest stimulus you can detect

Question 13

scaling

Answer 13

measuring private experiences (what colors you see)

Question 14

signal detection theory (SDT)

Answer 14

measuring difficult decisions (did I see the light or am I imagining it?)

Question 15

sensory neuroscience

Answer 15

how do sensory receptors and nerves underlie our perceptual experiences

Question 16

neuroimaging

Answer 16

an image of the brain

Question 17

physical stimulus vs. perception

Answer 17

• the physical stimulus can be a measure

- perception is a private experience

Question 18

classical psychophysics is pioneered by …

Answer 18

Gustav Fechner

Question 19

psychophysics

Answer 19

study of the quantitative relationship between physical stimuli and psychological experience

Question 20

absolute threshold

Answer 20

minimum stimulus level to perceive (50% success)

Question 21

sub-threshold

Answer 21

below the level of detection

Question 22

supra-threshold

Answer 22

above the level of detection

Question 23

why represent threshold with the mathematical model?

Answer 23

• use graphs
• relate to the average person
• help with marketing

Question 24

method of adjustment

Answer 24

• simplest

- present stimulus and participant adjusts till can barely perceive it

Question 25

method of limits

Answer 25

presenting an increasing or decreasing level of intensity

Question 26

method of constant stimuli

Answer 26

• most reliable

- no one knows the order of stimulus being presented

Question 27

why do you use 50% success as the absolute threshold

Answer 27

• variability in the nervous system

- cognitive factors

Question 28

difference threshold

Answer 28

• JND: just noticeable difference
• how much does a stimulus need to change to produce a detectable difference in perception
• when say 50% lighter, 50% heavier that is the perceptual equivalence point

Question 29

Weber’s Law

Answer 29

delta I= k x l

when I=0.07 this means that you need to increase the intensity by 7% to notice the difference

Question 30

Fechner’s Law

Answer 30

S= k x log(I)

increasing delta I proportionately to intensity will result in same delta s