Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Psych > Sensation and Perception > Flashcards

Sensation and Perception Flashcards

1
Q

Sense

A

How receptors detect information

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Perception

A

Interpretation of sensations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Bottom-Up Processing

A

Analysis of the stimulus begins with the sense receptors and works up to the level of the brain and mind.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Top-down Processing

A

Information processing is guided by higher-level mental processes as we construct perceptions, drawing on our experience and expectations.
Analysis of the stimulus begins with perception and expectations

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Cocktail party effect

A

You can hear one voice among many
If someone says your name from far away

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Selective Attention

A

Directing our awareness to relevant stimuli while ignoring relevant stimuli in the environment.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Divided Attention

A

While we can perform some simple motor skills simultaneously (walking and chewing gum), for more cognitively complex tasks, we can focus on only one thing at a time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Inattentional blindness

A

Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Change Blindness

A

A type of inattentional blindness
The inability to see changes in our environment when our attention is elsewhere.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Choice Blindness

A

the failure to recall a choice immediately after we have made that choice

  • similar faces
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Pop-Out Effect

A

A visual stimulus that has mostly similar-looking objects but one differing object that pops out or stands out very noticeably from the other objects

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Absolute Threshold

A

Smallest detectable level of a stimulus

The minimum stimulation necessary to detect a particular light, sound, pressure, taste or odor 50% of the time. (listening to pitches during a hearing test)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Difference threshold

A

Just noticeable difference
Ability to sense the difference between 2 stimuli

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Weber’s Law

A

To notice a difference, two stimuli must differ by a constant proportion percentage (not a constant amount)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Signal Detection Theory

A

Predicts how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus (signal) amid background noise (other stimulation).

There is no single absolute threshold

Detection depends on
Person’s experience
Expectation
Motivation
Level of fatigue

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Subliminal Stimulation

A

We process info below the absolute threshold for conscious awareness

To predispose one’s perception, memory, or response

Unconscious processing

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Sensory Adaptation

A

Diminishing sensitivity to an unchanging stimulus

After constant exposure to a stimulus, our nerve cells fire less frequently

An adjustment of the senses to the level of stimulation they are receiving

The constant quivering of our eyes allows us to minimize sensory adaptation for vision
The smell in your friend’s house goes away after a few minutes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Gestalt

A

Instead of focusing on every small component, we see objects as part of a greater whole and as elements of more complex systems.

The brain creates a coherent perceptual experience that is more than simply the sum of the available sensory information

It does this in predictable ways

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Common Region

A

Objects that are within the same region are perceptually grouped together

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Similarity

A

when objects are similar you group them together

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Proximity

A

we perceive objects which are close to one another as a group

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

closure

A

people will fill in blanks to perceive a complete object whenever an external stimulus partially matches that object

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Continuity

A

elements that are arranged on a line or curve are perceived to be more related than elements not on the line or curve

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Connectedness

A

when we see connections in disjointed objects

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Q

Figure Ground

A

Something is a figure and something is a background
Or something is a background and something is a figure

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
26
Q

Depth Perception

A

Enables us to judge distances
Human infants have depth perception
Even newborn animals show depth perception.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
27
Q

Binocular Cues

A

Depth perception that we have because we have TWO eyes

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
28
Q

Retinal disparity - binocular cue

A

Images from the two eyes differ. (how 3D works)
The amount of disparity (difference) between the two images
Can be used as a cue for distance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
29
Q

Convergence - binocular cue

A

Neuromuscular cues.
When two eyes move inward (towards the nose) to see near objects and outward (away from the nose) to see far away objects.
The angle formed at the convergence indicates the distance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
30
Q

Relative height

A

We perceive objects higher in our field of vision as farther away

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
31
Q

Relative size

A

Relative size - If two objects are similar in size, we perceive the one that casts a smaller retinal image to be farther away

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
32
Q

Interposition

A

Objects that block other objects tend to be perceived as closer

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
33
Q

Linear perspective

A

Parallel lines appear to converge in the distance. The more the lines converge, the greater their perceived distance

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
34
Q

Relative motion

A

Objects closer to a fixation point move faster and in opposing direction to those objects that are farther away from a fixation point, moving slower and in the same direction

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
35
Q

Light and shadow

A

Nearby objects reflect more light than more distant objects

Objects that are shaded on top are seen as “sticking out toward us”

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
36
Q

Phi phenomenon

A

The apparent motion created by lights flashing in sequence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
37
Q

Stroboscopic motion

A

Created by a rapid series of still pictures

dots in a circle

38
Q

Perceptual constancy

A

The ability to recognize objects without being deceived by changes in their shape, size, brightness or color even as illumination and retinal images change

39
Q

Color constancy

A

We perceive familiar objects as having consistent color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object

Color depends on context in its surrounding objects

40
Q

Size constancy

A

We perceive objects as having a constant size, even if projected image appears to change sizes

41
Q

Ponzo Illusion

A

The distant monster and the top red bar appear bigger because of distance cues.

Ex - A more distant object can create the same-size image as a nearer one only if it is actually larger—the illusion makes the object that is farther away look larger, when in reality it is not

42
Q

Moon illusion

A

The moon looks up to 50% larger when on the horizon compared to when it is high in the sky

43
Q

Adelbert Ames’ room

A

Even though one girl looks taller than the other, the room is distorted (the girls are actually the same height)

44
Q

Shape Constancy

A

We perceive the form of familiar objects as remaining the same even if projected retinal image changes

45
Q

Lightness/brightness constancy

A

We perceive an object as having a constant lightness even when its illumination varies

46
Q

Relative luminance

A

Amount of light an object reflects is relative to its surroundings

47
Q

White Objects

A

Reflect all light, absorb none

48
Q

Black Objects

A

Absorb all light, reflect none

49
Q

Sclera

A

White

50
Q

Iris

A

Colored. Controls size of pupil; regulates amount of light that enters eye

51
Q

Pupil

A

Black. Hole. Light enters, hits lens.

52
Q

Cornea

A

Covering. Bends light to provide focus

53
Q

Lens

A

Light hits here. Shifts shape to focus light

54
Q

Retina

A

Membrane at back of eye. “Movie screen.” Where light energy transduced to neural signals

55
Q

Fovea

A

Sharpness. Contains cones. Color.

56
Q

Rods

A

Shapes

57
Q

Cones

A

Color

58
Q

Ganglion Cells

A

Connects retina to brain

59
Q

Blind spot

A

area of retina where the optic nerve leaves the eye

60
Q

Optic Nerve

A

Axons of ganglia, project to brain

61
Q

Feature Detection

A

Different parts of the visual cortex detect different components of vision (shape, edges, motion, color).

62
Q

Parallel processing

A

doing many things at once

63
Q

Sound Localization

A

the ability of an organism to discover the location of something producing sound waves based on intensity and timing

64
Q

Conduction Deafness

A

Something goes wrong with the sound and the vibration on the way to the cochlea: eardrum damage, fluid in middle ear, earwax or foreign object located in middle ear.

You can replace the bones or get surgery or a hearing aid to help.

65
Q

Nerve (Sensorineural) Deafness

A

The hair cells in the cochlea get damaged. Loud noises can cause this type of deafness.
NO WAY to replace the hairs.
Cochlear implant is possible.
Can be linked to disease, biological changes with heredity, aging, prolonged exposure to ear-splitting noise or music

66
Q

Cochlear implants

A

Electronic devices that enable the brain to hear sounds.

67
Q

Frequency

A

Long waves…low frequency…low pitch
We measure sounds in decibels
Absolute threshold for hearing = 0 decibels
Amplitude determines loudness

68
Q

Frequency theory

A

A sound heard is replicated and matched by the same amount of nerve impulses that are then transmitted to the brain.

This theory falls short as a neuron has a refractory period which does not allow a neuron to fire faster than 500 impulses per second, as the human ear can definitely hear frequencies much louder than 500Hz (can hear up to 20,000Hz)

69
Q

Place theory

A

Different parts of the cochlea, in the inner ear, process sounds of different frequencies.

Multiple neurons fire at once either near the opening of the oval window, which transmits lower-pitched sounds.

70
Q

Five basic tastes

A

Sweet - energy source
Salty - sodium essential to physiological processes
Sour - potentially toxic acid
Bitter - potential poisons
Umami - proteins to grow and repair tissue

71
Q

Taste buds

A

Little bumps on top and sides of the tongue
Taste receptor cells inside taste bud pores

72
Q

Umami

A

Savory
Ketchup, anchovies, so sauce, seaweed

73
Q

Sensory interaction

A

one sense may influence another
Interaction of smell and taste

74
Q

McGurk Effect

A

Change your ears to match what you see

75
Q

Olfaction

A

Chemical sense
Odor molecules
Olfactory bulb
Olfactory nerve

76
Q

In the skin are receptor cells for

A

Pain
Pressure
Temperature

77
Q

Touch Localization

A

Depend on the relative lengths of the pathways from the stimulated parts to the brain.

78
Q

Hair cells

A

detect movement and pressure

79
Q

Vestibular sense

A

monitors your head’s/body’s position and movement

the inner ear - near the swirly thing

80
Q

Nociceptors

A

Sensory receptors that detect hurtful temperatures, pressures or chemicals

81
Q

Gate-control theory

A

the spinal cord contains a “gate” that controls whether pain signals get sent to the brain or not

82
Q

Psychological influences

A

We edit our memories of pain (which often differ from the pain we actually experienced)

We record pain at the peak moment, register pain at the end

83
Q

Social-cultural influences

A

We tend to perceive more pain when others also seem to be experiencing pain

Our experience of pain is much more than neural messages sent to the brain

84
Q

Synesthesia

A

The extraordinary sensory condition in which stimulation of one modality leads to perceptual experience in another. Literally, the term means “to perceive together.”

85
Q

Perceptual adaptation

A

In vision, the ability to adjust to an artificially displaced or even inverted visual field

Given a new pair of glasses or new contact lenses, we may feel a little strange, even dizzy. Within a day or two, we adjust

86
Q

Perceptual set

A

A bias or readiness to perceive certain aspects of available sensory data and to ignore others

87
Q

Motivation on perception

A

Motivated individuals may interpret ambiguous stimuli in a way that supports their goals or desires

Motivation influences what individuals choose to focus on. When motivated, people are more likely to selectively attend to information that is relevant to their goals or needs.

88
Q

Emotion on perception

A

A person in a positive mood may perceive ambiguous stimuli more positively, while someone in a negative mood may interpret the same stimuli more negatively.

Emotional stimuli often capture attention more easily than neutral stimuli.

  • A person feeling fear might be more attuned to stimuli related to potential threats.
89
Q

Context Effects

A

Our brain can work backward in time to allow a later stimulus to determine how we perceive an earlier one

90
Q

Schemas

A

Used to organize and interpret unfamiliar information

Psych (3 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions