psychology Flashcards
what is the cornea
-covering that protects the front part of the eye
what is the function of the cornea
focuses light rays
what is the Aqueous Humour
The aqueous humor is a clear, watery fluid found in the anterior chamber of the eye, situated between the cornea and the lens
what is the function of the aqueous humor
It maintains intraocular pressure, nourishes the cornea and lens, and removes waste products
why there is a blind spot in the eye
The blind spot, also known as the optic disc, is a small area on the retina where there are no photoreceptors (rods or cones). This occurs because the optic nerve exits the eye at this point, and the space occupied by the nerve fibers does not have the cells necessary for detecting light.
how to find the retina in an eye dissection
when the lens is removed you will be able to see a thin delicate membrane which is the inner lining of the eye, this is the retina
what are cones
The photoreceptor cones are specialized cells in the retina responsible for color vision and visual acuity
what are rods
The photoreceptor rods are specialized cells in the retina that play a critical role in vision, particularly in low-light conditions
compare and contrast rods and cones
- overall rods and cones complement each other to provide a wide range of visual capabilities, enabling humans to see in various lighting conditions and perceive colour and detail
- rods are critical for vision
- cones are critical for colour
perceptual set
Perceptual set is a psychological concept that refers to a tendency to perceive things in a certain way based on expectations, experiences, emotions, or cultural background. It influences how we interpret sensory information and can affect our perceptions of objects, events, and situations
Describe the effects of miraculin and which part of gustatory perception it affects.
- the effects included the altering of taste perception, primarily making sour food taste sweet
- Miraculin primarily affects the sweet taste perception within the gustatory system. By modifying how sour tastes are interpreted, it engages with the sweet taste receptors on the taste buds, resulting in a sweet sensation even in the presence of sour stimuli.
what is a supertaster
A supertaster is an individual who has a heightened sensitivity to certain tastes, particularly bitter flavors. This heightened sensitivity is typically linked to the number of taste buds a person has; supertasters often possess a significantly higher density of taste buds than non-supertasters.
what characteristics one might expect to find in a supertaster
- Taste sensitivity
- Texture awareness
- Food preferences
Explain the relevance of other senses to gustatory perception
olfaction (smell)- odour molecules travel to our olfactory receptors, enhancing our experience
touch- sensations of temperature and texture influences overall taste perception
vision- appearance of food can affect our expectations
sound- sounds can influence eating experience
memory and experiences- past experiences with food and interplay into how we smeel, tough, see and interact with food
Identify a biological factor that would influence gustatory perception
genetics
Identify a psychological factor that would influence gustatory perception
expectations and past experiences
Identify a social factor that would influence gustatory perception
cultural influences
Be able to identify the six steps of Sensation and Perception
Steps of sensation - at sensory organ (eg. eye):
Reception (Real)
- sensory receptor
- receives sensory stimulus
- eg. cells in retina get light information
Transduction (Tik)
- energy must be converted into electrochemical impulse
- the process where the receptors change the energy of the detected sensory information into a form which can travel along the neural pathways to the brain.
- This step is about energy conversion-neurons communicate using electrochemical energy
Transmission (Tok)
- Transmission is the process of sending the sensory information to the brain
Steps of perception (at brain level):
Selection (Stars)
- Brain chooses what sensory info is relevant
Organisation (Own)
- seeking of patterns in the data
Interpretation (It)
- makes sense of information
Define synaesthesia, and explain why it might be an advantage and a disadvantage
- Synaesthesia is a neurological condition in which stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to involuntary experiences in another sensory pathway.
advantage: enhanced memory, creative thinking
disadvantage: sensory overload, difficulty in communication
what is the pupil and its function
The opening in the center of the iris that allows light to enter the eye. The size of the pupil adjusts (dilates or constricts) in response to light levels, helping regulate the amount of light that reaches the retina.
what is the iris and its function
The colored part of the eye surrounding the pupil. It controls the size of the pupil and thus the amount of light entering the eye, helping to protect the retina and improve visual acuity.