Psych Exam 2 Flashcards
Sensory systems developed to…
give an adequate representation of information in our environment to help us survive. It does not provide full, objective account of the world’s properties.
Sensation:
stimulation of sense organs
Transduction:
conversion of stimuli detected by receptor cells to electrical impulses transported to the brain
Perception
organization and interpretation of sensations
Psychophysics
the effects of physical stimuli on sensory perceptions and mental states
Absolute threshold
the intensity of a stimulus that allows an organism to just barely detect it
Vision: single candle flame burning 30 miles away
Hearing: tick of a clock 20 feet away in quiet room
Taste: 1 tsp sugar dissolved in 3 gallons of water
Smell: 1 drop of perfume in 3-room apartment
Touch: wing of bee dropped onto our cheek
Subliminal Stimuli:
stimuli below the absolute threshold that may have some effect on behavior, weak influence.
Vision works by…
detecting electromagnetic radiation, only a small portion of spectrum is seen as visible light
The eye works by…
using a lens to focus light onto a photosensitive surface at the back of a sealed structure
Photoreceptors:
rods and cones
The photoreceptors transduce the energy in light into a neural response.
Light entering the eye is absorbed by photopigment molecules inside the photoreceptors.
Cones
Allow us to see in bright light, see fine spatial detail, see different colors.
Concentrated in center of eye (fovea)
Approximately 6 million
Rods
Allows us to see in dim light, cannot see fine spatial details, cannot see different colors.
Concentrated in periphery.
Approximately 120 million.
Blind spot
region with no rods or cones in eye
Depth Cues
Messages from our bodies and environment that tell us about space and distance.
Monocular (one eye)
Binocular (two eye)
Perceiving Depth: Figure Ground
Ability to differentiate between a figure and the background.
