Psychology Chapter 3-4 Flashcards
What is the difference between sensation and perception
Sensation is detecting a physical stimulus such as light. And perception is being able to process and organize the info you get from sensation
What is Sensory Adaptation?
A gradual decline in sensory sensitivity when exposed to continual stimuli
What is Sensory Threshold?
To be strong enough to be detected, a stimulus must be able to activate a sensory receptor cell (there is a threshold it must pass in order for us to detect it)
What is Visible Light?
A portion of Electro Magnetic Spectrum that can be seen
What is the Retina?
The retina is in the back of the eye that contains CONES and photoreceptors. And these photoreceptors do detect color
What are the two types of light receptors in the retina called
Cones and Rods
What do Cones do?
They recieve color and within the area of the eye called the FOVEA. Most active in well lit conditions
What do Rods do?
Photoreceptors that are highly receptive to light but not color
What is the blindspot?
There is a point in the optic nerve where there is a small gap that we fill in through our field of vision.
How does information travel from the visual cortex to the brain?
Optic nerves meet at the optic chiasm and split apart, One set of nerve fibers crosses over to the other part of the brain while another set continues on the same side. They travel to the thalamus, then the visual cortex of the Optic Nerve
What is the Optic Chiasm
The optic chiasm is a small, X-shaped structure in the brain where the optic nerves cross over:
What structure is the sensory gateway to the brain?
The Thalamus
What area of the brain is the visual cortex
The Occipital Lobe
What are the two theories of Color Vision
Opponent Process theory and Trichromatic Theory of Color
Which Color Vision Theory is correct?
Tri-Chromatic Theory of Color
What is Opponent Process Theory?
Color vision is the product of opposing pairs of color receptors
What is Tri-Chromatic Theory of Color
Color is a result of cones having greater sensitivities to certain wavelengths
What is Synesthesia
When one sense is perceived simultaneously as another sense
What is a common form of Synesthesia
Word-Color Form
What causes Synesthesia
The condition occurs from increased communication between sensory regions and is involuntary,
What are the features of sound waves
Physical stimuli that we process as a sound
What are the 3 distinct parts of the ear?
Outer Ear, Middle ear, Inner ear
What are the three tiny bones in the ear
The malleus (aka the hammer) The Incus (the anvil) and the Stapes (the stirrup)
What is the outer ear composed of?
Contains the Pinna, Ear canal and eardrum
What is the inner ear composed of?
Cochlea, Semicircular Canals
What is the middle ear composed of?
The hammer, Anvil and Stirrup
What is the outer ears role?
It collects sound waves and channels them into the ear canal, where the sound is amplified
What is the middle ears role?
The three bones are all connected together and they all vibrate together so they can help block sounds and other foreign objects from reaching the brain
What is the Inner ears role
The inner ear converts sound waves into electrical impulses that the brain can interpret as sound:
What do the Semicircular Canals do?
They can assist with balance
What is the Cochlea?
Has a fluid filled tube that is the organ of auditory transduction
Wheref is the basilar Membrane
It is a structure in the inner ear that is located in the cochlea and separates the fluid filled tubes
What does the basilar membrane do?
When soundwaves enter the cochlea they cause fluid to ripple, which creates a wave along the basilar membrane. The basilar membrane respond to different frequencies of sound and they are translated into electrical impulses which are sent to the brain
What do hair cells do?
Hair cells are specialized sensory receptors located in the inner ear that convert mechanical energy, like sound waves or head movements, into electrical signals that are then transmitted to the brain
how can we determine pitch
By changing the frequencies of sound
What are common causes for hearing loss
Loud noises, Ear infections, loud noises
How do cochlear implants work?
A cochlear implant works by bypassing damaged parts of the ear and stimulating the auditory nerve with electrical currents to help people hear:
Where do odorant molecules bind in the nose?
Odorant molecules bind to receptors on the cilia of olfactory sensory neurons in the upper part of the nose:
What is the olfactory transduction pathway?
The olfactory transduction pathway is the process by which odorants are converted into an electrical response in the olfactory sensory neurons (OSNs) of the nose:
What are the primary tastes?
Sweet, Salty, Sour, Bitter, umami
Why are tastes so important?
They help us seek nutrient rich foods
What are mechanoreceptors?
Receptors cells in the skin that are sensitive to pressure, grooves, vibrations, textures and etc
What are proprioceptors
Sensory receptors in the muscles and joints that provide info about body position and movement