Module 3 Flashcards
Absolute threshold
the minimum amount of stimulus energy that must be present for the stimulus to be detected 50% of the time
Subliminal messages
messages that are presented below the threshold for conscious awareness
Perception
the way sensory information is organized, interpreted, and consciously experienced
Bottom-up processing
the fact that perceptions are built from sensory input
Top-down processing
how we interpret sensations is influenced by our knowledge, experiences, and thoughts
Sensory adaptation
we often don’t perceive stimuli that remain relatively constant over prolonged periods of time
Signal detection theory
the ability to identify a stimulus when it is embedded in a distracting background
Amplitude
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)
Pitch
the frequency of a sound wave
2 types of photoreceptors
cones (bright light) and rods (low light)
Optic nerve
carries visual information from the retina to the brain
Trichromatic theory of color vision
all colors in the spectrum can be produced by combining red, green, and blue
Opponent-process theory
color is coded in opponent pairs: black-white, yellow-blue, and green-red
Binocular disparity
the slightly different view of the world that each of our eyes receives
Linear perspective
the fact that we perceive depth when we see two parallel lines that seem to converge in an image; monocular
Pinna
the visible part of the ear that protrudes from our heads
Tympanic membrane
eardrum
3 ossicles of the middle ear
malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), stapes (stirrup)
Cochlea
contains the sensory receptor cells (hair cells) of the auditory system
Temporal theory of pitch
frequency is coded by the activity level of a sensory neuron
Place theory of pitch
different portions of the basilar membrane are sensitive to sounds of different frequencies
Interaural level/timing differences
difference in volume and timing you hear a sound on left or right side
Thermoception
temperature perception
Nociception
a signal indicating potential harm and maybe pain
Vestibular sense
contributes to our ability to maintain balance and body posture
Proprioception
perception of body position
Kinesthesia
perception of the body’s movement through space
Law of continuity
we are more likely to perceive continuous, smooth flowing lines rather than jagged, broken lines
Principle of closure
we organize our perceptions into complete objects rather than as a series of parts
