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Psych > Sensation And Perception > Flashcards

Sensation And Perception Flashcards

1
Q

Sensation

A

The activation of the sense organs by a source of physical energy

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2
Q

Perception

A

Sorting out, Interpretation, analysis of stimuli by the sense organs and brain

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3
Q

Stimulus

A

Source of energy that produces a response in a sense organ

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4
Q

Psychophysics

A

Study of the relationship between the physical aspects of stimuli and our psychological experience of them.

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5
Q

Absolute threshold

A

Smallest intensity of a stimulus that must be present for it to be detected

The minimum intensity of light we can see
The lowest volume of sound we can hear

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6
Q

Difference threshold aka..

A

Just noticeable difference

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7
Q

Difference threshold

A

the smallest amount by which two sensory stimuli can differ in order for an individual to perceive them as different.

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8
Q

Weber’s Law (JND)

A

JND is in constant proportion to the intensity of an original stimulus

Higher the initial stimulus, the greater the JND, proportion is constant.

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9
Q

Sensory Adaptation
*Behavioralists call this habituation

A

Adjustment in sensory capacity after prolonged exposure
“Getting used to”

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10
Q

Vision 👁️
(CPLR)

A

Cornea -> Pupils (iris) -> Lens -> Retina

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11
Q

Retina (receptor cells) function

A

Converts light to electrical impulses for transmission to the brain

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12
Q

Rods (receptor cells)

A

Sensitive to light
Night vision

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13
Q

Cones (receptor cells)

A

Sharp focus / color
Bright light

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14
Q

Optic Nerve

A

Carries visual info to brain

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15
Q

Optic chiasm

A

The point where the optic nerve splits

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16
Q

Smell (olfaction)

A

Molecules enter nasal passages and pass over receptor neurons (olfactory cells)
Responses sent to brain, recognition of smell

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17
Q

Taste (Gustation)

A

Receptor cells in the taste buds respond to five basic stimulus
Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami

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18
Q

Sound

A

Movement of air molecules brought ab by vibration (sound waves)

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19
Q

Eardrum

A

Vibrates when sound waves hit it

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20
Q

Semicircular canals

A

Movement of fluids, affects our sense of balance (middle ear)

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21
Q

Cochlea

A

Fluid vibrates in response to sound (inner ear)

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22
Q

Basilar membrane

A

Inside cochlea, covered in hair cells, when bent, send neural message to brain

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23
Q

Trichromatic theory of color vision

A

Three kinds of cones in retina
Human eyes only perceive three colors of light

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24
Q

Opponent process theory of color

A

Looking at one color for a long period of time, causes receptor cells to become fatigued.
Receptor cells are linked in pairs
Work opposite to each other

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25
Figure ground organization
We usually perceive objects as a figure standing out against a background
26
Gestalt Law of Organization gestalt = patterns
How we organize pieces of information into meaningful wholes
27
Closure
Fill in the gaps when an object is incomplete
28
Proximity
When objects are close together, they tend to be perceived as a group.
29
Similarity
When objects look similar, people perceive them as a group or pattern
30
Simplicity
When we observe a pattern, we perceive it in the most basic, straightforward manner
31
Top down processing
Perception is guided by our background knowledge and experiences to interpret what we see.
32
Bottom up processing
Stimulus shapes our perception What our sense can detect
33
Depth Perception
Ability to view the world in 3D and perceive distance
34
Binocular disparity (depth perception)
Differences in images seen by right eye and left eye, how we determine distance
35
Monocular cues (depth perception)
Can give us information ab distance using one eye
36
Motion parallax
Objects closer to you, when you are moving, appear to move faster ie. trees when you’re in a moving car
37
Relative size
Closer objects larger
38
Texture gradient
Closer objects are more clear
39
Linear perspective
Objects in distance appear to converge
40
Motion perception How do we perceive motion?
-Movement across retina is perceived relative to an unmoving background -If stimulus is coming toward you, retina will expand in size, assume approaching rather than growing in size -We factor info ab our head and eye movements with info ab changes in retinal image
41
Perceptual illusions Visual illusions
Physical stimuli that consistently produce errors in perception
42
Functional implications (limitations) Figure ground
Can’t tell an object from its background Open junk drawer, can’t find pen
43
Functional implications (limitations) Depth
Can’t tell size or how far away something is
44
Perceptual consistency
Humans see familiar objects as having standard size, shape, regardless of changes in perspective, distance or lighting. Snow on the ground during the day, during the night.
45
Functional implications (limitations) Visual memory
Not able to retain knowledge, unable to grasp understanding
46
Perception of Pain Skin senses
Touch, pressure, temperature and pain; receptor cells in skin distributed unevenly throughout the body
47
Substance P
Chemical released by damaged cells that transmits pain messages to brain
48
Gate-control theory of pain
mechanism where pain signals can be let through or restricted
49
Purpose of pain
Warns of potential harm / survival Illness Environmental dangers Alerts to need for care and treatment
50
A delta fibers
Quick sharp pain
51
C fibers
Long dull pain
52
Neural Responses and Pain Pain pathway One sends “where” info to
Somatosensory cortex Detect sensory info from the body regarding temperature, touch, pain parietal lobe
53
Neural Responses and Pain Pain pathway Two
Sends motivational and emotional info to the hypothalamus, amygdala (limbic system) and frontal lobe (awareness)
54
Influences on the perception of pain Top down influences (brain, expectation)
Individual factors to influence perception of pain Past experience Culture Goals Expectations Knowledge
55
Influences on the perception of pain Bottom up influences
Sensory receptors pick up signals for the brain to process ie. Stubbing your toe on a chair Type of stimulus Intensity of stimulus
56
Referred pain
When you have an injury in one area of your body but feel pain somewhere else
57
Chronic pain
When pain persists when tissue injury is no longer present
58
Phantom pain
Pain is felt in a limb that has been amputated Neural circuits remain after limb is gone
59
4 stages of sleep
Last 90 minutes Each stage associated with a unique pattern of brain waves
60
Stage 1 sleep
Rapid low amplitude brain waves
61
Stage 2 sleep
Deeper sleep, slower, more regular waves Sleep spindles Power Nap
62
Stage 3 sleep
Deepest stage Least responsive
63
Stage 4 sleep REM
rapid eye movement Increased heart rate, blood pressure and breathing Dreams occur Muscles appear paralyzed
64
Function of Dreams Freud psychodynamic
Unconscious wishes Latent Meaning of dream disguised
65
Function of Dreams Survival theory
Everyday concerns ab survival Reconsidered and reprocessed Not disguised
66
Function of dreams Activation synthesis theory
Random activations of various memories Related to dreamer’s concerns Not disguised
67
Insomnia
Can’t sleep
68
Sleep apnea
Difficulty breathing during sleep
69
Night terrors
Awakening from REM in panic
70
Narcolepsy
Uncontrollable sleeping periods
71
Circadian rhythm
24 hour cycle Sleep/wake cycle Bodily functions = temperature, hormone production, blood pressure

Psych (3 decks)

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