Module 3

Question 1

Absolute threshold

Answer 1

the minimum amount of stimulus energy that must be present for the stimulus to be detected 50% of the time

Question 2

Subliminal messages

Answer 2

messages that are presented below the threshold for conscious awareness

Question 3

Perception

Answer 3

the way sensory information is organized, interpreted, and consciously experienced

Question 4

Bottom-up processing

Answer 4

the fact that perceptions are built from sensory input

Question 5

Top-down processing

Answer 5

how we interpret sensations is influenced by our knowledge, experiences, and thoughts

Question 6

Sensory adaptation

Answer 6

we often don’t perceive stimuli that remain relatively constant over prolonged periods of time

Question 7

Signal detection theory

Answer 7

the ability to identify a stimulus when it is embedded in a distracting background

Question 8

Amplitude

Answer 8

the height of a wave as measured from the highest point on the wave (peak or crest) to the lowest point on the wave (trough)

Question 9

Pitch

Answer 9

the frequency of a sound wave

Question 10

2 types of photoreceptors

Answer 10

cones (bright light) and rods (low light)

Question 11

Optic nerve

Answer 11

carries visual information from the retina to the brain

Question 12

Trichromatic theory of color vision

Answer 12

all colors in the spectrum can be produced by combining red, green, and blue

Question 13

Opponent-process theory

Answer 13

color is coded in opponent pairs: black-white, yellow-blue, and green-red

Question 14

Binocular disparity

Answer 14

the slightly different view of the world that each of our eyes receives

Question 15

Linear perspective

Answer 15

the fact that we perceive depth when we see two parallel lines that seem to converge in an image; monocular

Question 16

Pinna

Answer 16

the visible part of the ear that protrudes from our heads

Question 17

Tympanic membrane

Answer 17

eardrum

Question 18

3 ossicles of the middle ear

Answer 18

malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), stapes (stirrup)

Question 19

Cochlea

Answer 19

contains the sensory receptor cells (hair cells) of the auditory system

Question 20

Temporal theory of pitch

Answer 20

frequency is coded by the activity level of a sensory neuron

Question 21

Place theory of pitch

Answer 21

different portions of the basilar membrane are sensitive to sounds of different frequencies

Question 22

Interaural level/timing differences

Answer 22

difference in volume and timing you hear a sound on left or right side

Question 23

Thermoception

Answer 23

temperature perception

Question 24

Nociception

Answer 24

a signal indicating potential harm and maybe pain

Question 25

Vestibular sense

Answer 25

contributes to our ability to maintain balance and body posture

Question 26

Proprioception

Answer 26

perception of body position

Question 27

Kinesthesia

Answer 27

perception of the body’s movement through space

Question 28

Law of continuity

Answer 28

we are more likely to perceive continuous, smooth flowing lines rather than jagged, broken lines

Question 29

Principle of closure

Answer 29

we organize our perceptions into complete objects rather than as a series of parts