PSY 1101 - Chapter 05: Sensation & Perception (Pt. 1) Flashcards

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1
Q

What are the Three Musts of Sensation?

A
  1. Detection
  2. Transduction
  3. Transmission
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2
Q

Why is Detection Essential for Sensation?

A

We must be able to detect the stimulation and the energy that is out there in the natural world

we as humans can only detect a tiny portion of this stimulation

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3
Q

Why is Transduction Essential for Sensation?

A

the brain can only understand electrochemical messages,
- does not understand the physical simulation / energy that is out there
- The physical energy felt by our senses must be transduced (it must be translated into an electrochemical message)

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4
Q

Why is Transmission Essential for Sensation?

A

this information must be transmitted to the brain for further processing

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5
Q

What are Sensory Receptors?

A

Are highly specialized receptors
- don’t respond to neurotransmitters,
- responds to the physical energy/stimulation from the external world or within our bodies

*Sensory Receptors are the ones Detecting, Transducing, and Transmitting

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6
Q

What is Bottom-Up Processing?

A

sensation is a bottom up process
- with sensation, we start from scratch
- our bodies collect raw data from the world from our bodies and we send it to the brain

*Sensation is the raw data

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7
Q

What are the Four Methods of Measuring Senses?

A
  1. Psychophysics
  2. Absolute Threshold
  3. Difference Threshold (JND)
  4. Signal Detection Theory
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8
Q

What is Psychophysics?

A

the scientific study of how the physical characteristics of the physical world turn into physiological experiences

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9
Q

What is Absolute Threshold?

A

the minimal amount of energy that must be there in order for us to detect it 50% of the time

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10
Q

What is Difference Threshold?

A

Difference threshold is the minimum amount of change in stimulation that must take place in order for us to detect it 50% of the time

  • just noticeable difference
  • its essential for survival to detect changes in stimulation
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11
Q

What is Signal Detection Theory?

A

our ability to detect a stimulation does not depend only on how strong this stimulation is, rather a large number of different factors could be at play.

Ex: how healthy we are could make a difference
Ex: our motivation / moods can make a difference
Ex: how tired we are can make a difference

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12
Q

What is Perception?

A

the brain taking the raw data, analyzing it, organizing it, and interpreting it in a meaningful way

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13
Q

What is Top-Down Processing?

A

perception is a top-down process
- the brain is going to use its existing knowledge, expectations, and assumptions, in order to interpret the information

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14
Q

What is Prosopagnosia?

A

we can see, but we have no idea who’s face we’re looking at
- Have sensation but no perception

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15
Q

Is it possible to have Perception but no Sensation?

A

Yes, schizophrenia
- hallucination or because we’ve taken drugs

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16
Q

What is the Stimulus for Vision?

A

there must be light

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17
Q

What is Electromagnetic Radiation?

A

light is a form of electromagnetic radiation
- it travels in the form of a wave

18
Q

What is the Electromagnetic Spectrum?

A

The full range of electromagnetic radiation
- We can only detect a portion of it (visible light)

19
Q

What is the Range for Visible Light that Humans can detect?

A

we can only detect light rays ranging between 400 nm to 700 nm between the UV and the infrared

20
Q

What is Visible Light?

A

the light visible to our eyes

21
Q

What are the Two Characteristics of Light?

A
  1. Wavelengths
  2. Amplitude
22
Q

What are Wavelengths?

A

the distance between the peaks of the wave
- Physical characteristics translate into psychological experience
- Color doesn’t exist, color is an experience created by our brain its only psychological

23
Q

What are the Three Hues?

A

Long waves = psychological experience of red
Med waves = green
Short waves = blue

Psychological experience all depends on the length of the waves

24
Q

What is Amplitude?

A

physical characteristic of the height of the wave
- translate into the psychological experience of brightness

25
Q

What is Brightness?

A
26
Q

What must occur for us to see?

A

in order for us to see, light must enter the eye and it must reach the retina

27
Q

What are the different Structures of the Retina?

A
  1. Rods & Cones
  2. Bipolar C.
  3. Ganglion C.
  4. Optic Nerve
  5. Blind Spot
  6. Fovea
28
Q

What is the Retina?

A

The innermost layer of the eye
- as thin as a piece of paper
- contains rods and cones

29
Q

What are Cones & Rods?

A

these are the sensory receptors of our eyes (for our vision)

30
Q

What are Bipolar Cells?

A

the rods and the cones are connected to bipolar cells

31
Q

What are Ganglion Cells?

A

bipolar cells are connected to ganglion cells

32
Q

What are Optic Nerves?

A

the axons of ganglion cells bunch on together to form the optic nerve
- optic nerve is the one that carries information to the brain

33
Q

What is the Blind Spot?

A

where the optic nerve leaves the eye
- no rods & cones, no sensory receptors to detect the light

34
Q

What is the Fovea?

A

in the center of our retina… responsible to visible acuity (allows us to see fine details)

35
Q

What are Photoreceptors?

A

Rods and cones are known as photoreceptors
- The sensory receptors in our eyes
- They detect the light, transduce it and transmit t it for further processing

36
Q

What are the characteristics of Rods & Cones?

A
  • they differ in shape
  • they differ in number (we have significantly more rods than we have cones)
37
Q

Where are Rods & Cones located? (revisit)

A

they differ in terms of their location
- there are no rods in the fovea
- the rods are found in the periphery while the cones are highly concentrated in the fovea and few in the periphery

38
Q

What are the Connections of Rods & Cones to Bipolar Cells?

A
  • Cones have a one to one connection to bipolar cells
  • Multiple rods connect to one bipolar cell
39
Q

What is the Function of Rods?

A
  • super sensitive to light
  • very little light can activate them
  • we use them when its dark/dim
  • only see black white and grey shades (cannot see other colors)
  • quite involved in peripheral vision (visual stimuli in periphery)
40
Q

What is the Function of Cones?

A
  • are not very sensitive to light
  • they need a lot of light to activate
  • used during day time or in well lit environments
  • responsible for our ability to see color (fine details)