Sensation and Perception

Question 1

Sensation

Answer 1

Conversion of physical, electromagnetic, auditory, and other info from internal and external environment into electrical signals in nervous system

Question 2

Perception

Answer 2

Processing of sensory information to make sense of its significance

Question 3

Absolute threshold

Answer 3

minimum of stimulus energy that is needed to activate a sensory system

Question 4

Threshold of conscious perception

Answer 4

minimum of stimulus energy that creates a signal large enough in size and long enough in duration to be brought into awareness

Question 5

Difference threshold or just noticeable difference

Answer 5

Minimum difference in magnitude between two stimuli before one can perceive this difference

Question 6

Weber’s law

Answer 6

The JND for a stimulus is proportional to the magnitude of the stimulus and that this proportion is constant over most of the range of possible stimuli

Question 7

Signal detection theory

Answer 7

Effect of non-sensory factors (experiences, motives, expectations) on perception of stimuli

Question 8

Adaptation

Answer 8

decrease in response to a stimulus over time

Question 9

Cornea

Answer 9

Gathers and filters incoming light

Question 10

Iris

Answer 10

Colored part of the eye
Divides into anterior and posterior chambers

Question 11

Lens

Answer 11

Refracts incoming light to focus it onto the retina and is held in place by suspensory ligaments connected to ciliary muscle

Question 12

Retina

Answer 12

Contains rods (dim light) and cones (color)
Contains mostly cones in the macula (central visual field)

Question 13

Fovea

Answer 13

At the center of the macula
Contains only cones
Most precise vision

Question 14

Parallel processing

Answer 14

Ability to analyze and combine information simultaneously regarding color, shape, and motion

Question 15

Parvocellular cells

Answer 15

Detect shape
High spatial resolution

Question 16

Magnocellular cells

Answer 16

Detect Motion
High temporal resolution

Question 17

Cochela

Answer 17

Detects sound

Question 18

Utricle and saccule

Answer 18

Linear acceleration

Question 19

Semicircular canals

Answer 19

Rotational acceleration

Question 20

Auditory Pathway

Answer 20

Cochlea
Vestibulocochlear nerve and medial geniculate nucleus of thalamus
Auditory cortex of temporal lobe

Question 21

Smell

Answer 21

Detection of volatile or aerosolized chemicals by olfactory chemoreceptors in epithelium

Question 22

Olfactory pathway

Answer 22

Olfactory nerves
Olfactory bulb
Olfactory tract
Limbic system

Question 23

Visual pathway

Answer 23

Eye
Optic nerve
Optic chiasm
Optic tracts
Lateral geniculate nucleus of thalamus
Visual radiations
Visual cortex

Question 24

Taste

Answer 24

Papillae detect taste
Sweet, salty, bitter, umami

Question 25

Somatosensation

Answer 25

Pressure Vibration Pain Temperature

Question 26

Two-point threshold

Answer 26

Minimum distance necessary between two points of stimulation on the skin such that the points are felt as two distinct stimuli.

Question 27

Nocireceptors

Answer 27

Pain perception

Question 28

Gate theory of pain

Answer 28

States that pain sensation is reduced when other somatosensory signals are present

Question 29

Kinesthetic sense

Answer 29

refers to the ability to tell where one's body is in three-dimensional space

Question 30

Bottoms up processing

Answer 30

Data driven Recognition of objects by parallel processing and feature detection Slow Less prone to mistakes

Question 31

Top down processing

Answer 31

Conceptually driven Recognition of object by memory and expectations with little attention to detail Fast More prone to mistake

Question 32

Gestalt principles

Answer 32

Brain infers missing parts of a picture when incomplete

Question 33

Law of Proximity

Answer 33

Elements close to one another perceived as aunit

Question 34

Law of similarity

Answer 34

Objects that are similar appear to be grouped together

Question 35

Law of good continuation

Answer 35

elements following same path tend to be grouped together

Question 36

Subjective contours

Answer 36

perception of nonexistent edges in figures based on surrounding visual cues

Question 37

Law of closure

Answer 37

Space is enclosed by a group of lines is perceived as a complete or closed line

Question 38

Law of pragnanz

Answer 38

perceptual organization is as regular, simple, and symmetrical as possible