Sensation and Perception Flashcards
A process that occurs when special receptors in the sense organs are
activated, converting outside stimuli into neural signals.
SENSATION
The process of converting outside stimuli into neural signals
TRANSDUCTION
Specialized neurons stimulated by different kinds of energy. Each receptor
type transduces the physical information into electrical information.
SENSORY RECEPTORS
A neurological condition where senses start to
merge
SYNESTHESIA
two types of sensory threshold
difference and absolute
The smallest difference
between two stimuli that is
detectable 50% of the time.
DIFFERENCE
THRESHOLD
Lowest level of stimulation that
a person can consciously
detect 50% of the time the
stimulation is present.
ABSOLUTE
THRESHOLD
Stimuli that are below the level of conscious awareness
SUBLIMINAL STIMULI
Processing a stimulus without conscious awareness
SUBLIMINAL PERCEPTION
Used to assess our judgments,
or the decisions we make,
under uncertain conditions.
SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY
Tendency of the brain to stop attending to
constant, unchanging information
HABITUATION
Tendency of sensory
receptor cells to
become less
responsive to a
stimulus that is
unchanging.
SENSORY ADAPTATION
Protects eye and bends light for focus
Cornea
Clear liquid that nourishes the eye
Aqueous humor
Controls the amount of the eye; controls pupil size
Pupil
Colored part of the eye; controls pupil size
Iris
Adjusts shape to focus light
Lens
Jelly-like fluid that maintains eye shape
Vitreous humor
Inner layer of the eye with photoreceptors
Retina
Area of sharpest vision (most cones)
Fovea
Sends visual signals to the brain
Optic nerve
Area in the retina with no photoreceptors where the optic
nerve exits the eye.
Blind spot
Detect black,
white, and gray
(night vision).
Rods
Detect color (red,
blue, green)
Cones