Sensation and Perception Flashcards
Sensation
when sensory information is detected by a sensory receptor, sensation has occured
Transduction
the conversion from sensory stimulus to action potential ex) brain receiving sensory stimulus of smelling smoke, because the brain smells smoke it may perceive that something nearby is burning
Absolute Threshold
the minimum amount of stimulus energy that must be present for the stimulus to be detected 50% of the time ex) presenting various levels of volume. The smallest level that a participant is able to hear is the absolute threshold
Just Noticeable Difference (JND) aka Difference Threshold
how much difference in stimuli is required to detect a difference between them- a constant fraction of the original stimulus ex) if asked to hold two objects of different weights the just noticeable difference would be the minimum weight difference between the two that you could sense half of the time
What are the 5 basic senses?
sight, auditory, olfaction, gustation, somatosensorial
What are the other senses?
balance (vestibular sense), body position and movement (proprioception and kensthesia), pain (nociception), temperature (theroception)
Perception
refers to the way sensory information is organized, interpreted, and consciously experienced
Sensory Adaptation
we do not often perceive stimuli that remain relatively constant over prolonged periods of time
Attention
plays an important role in determining what is sensed vs what is perceived
Inattentional Blindness
failure to notice something that is completely visible because of a lack of attention
Signal Detection Theory
involves our ability to identify a stimulus when it is embedded in a distracting background; motivation to detect a particular stimulus (important phone call) can shift ability to detect meaningful stimulus
What affects our perceptions?
our beliefs, values, prejudices, expectations, and life experiences
Individualism
is a way of thinking about people that emphasizes how they are separate, self contained, and alone responsible for what goes on “inside their own heads”
What are the 6 basic tastes?
sweet, sour, salty, bitter, savory, and fatty content
Gestalt Psychology
is a school of thought that looks at the human mind and behavior as a whole; suggests that we perceive objects as part of a greater whole and as elements of more complex systems
Figure-Ground relationship
We tend to segment our visual world into figure and ground; our ability to interpret sensory information depends on what we label as figure and what we label as ground in any particular case
Law of Continuity
we are more likely to perceive continuous, smooth flowing lines rather than jagged, broken lines
What are the 6 core processes that promote psychological flexibility?
Acceptance- involces acknowledging and embracing the full range of your thoughts and emotions rather than trying to avoid, deny, or alter them; Cognitive Defusion- involves distancing yourself from and changing the way you react to distressing thoughts and feelings, which will mitigate their harmful effects; Being Present- involves being mindful in the present and observing your thoughts and feelings without judging them or trying to change them, experiencing events clearly and directly can help promote behavior change; Self as Context- is an idea that expands the notion of self and identity, it purports that people are more than their thoughts, feelings, experiences; Values- encompass choosing personal values in different domains and striving to live according to those principles. this stands in contrast to actions driven by desire to avoid distress or adhere to tother peoples expectations for example; Committed Action- involves taking concrete steps to incorporate changes that will align with you values and lead to positive change. this may involve goal setting, exposure to difficult thoughts or experiences and skill development
