Sensation and Perception Flashcards
ABSOLUTE THRESHOLD
minimum intensity at which a stimulus can be detected at least 50 percent of the time. For
example, humans can barely detect a candle flame from 30 miles away on a clear, dark night.
SENSORY ADAPTATION
The decline in sensitivity to a constant stimulus. For example, the longer an individual is exposed to
a strong odor, the less aware of the odor the individual becomes.
TRANSDUCTION
The process by which sensory receptors convert the incoming physical energy of stimuli, such as
light waves, into neural impulses that the brain can understand.
SIGNAL DETECTION THEORY
States that sensation depends on the characteristics of the stimulus, the background stimulation, and
the detector. Selective attention enables you to filter out and focus on only selected sensory
messages. For example, while practicing your piano you may not hear your cell phone ring.
However, if you are expecting an important call, you will hear the cell phone ring.
GATE-CONTROL THEORY
Theory that explains how the nervous system blocks or allows pain signals to pass to the brain.
RODS
The long, thin visual receptor cells in the retina that are highly sensitive to light, but not to color. The
rods are primarily responsible for peripheral vision and black-and-white vision. Cats have better
night vision than humans because they have a higher proportion of rods to cones.
CONES
receptor cells(near center retina) that help us see fine details of things and tend to help us see in situations where there is light or daylight
People who are color blind typically have deficiencies in their cones.
BLIND-SPOT
The point at the back of the retina where the optic nerve leaves the eye. Since there are no visual
receptor cells, this creates a small gap in field vision called the “blind spot.”
COCHLEA
The coiled, snail-shaped structure in the inner ear containing receptors for hearing.
