Sensation and Perception review flashcards

Question 1

Sensation

Answer 1

When special receptors in the organs (eyes, nose, ears and taste buds) are activated allowing various forms of outside stimuli to become neural signals in the brain.

Question 2

Sense receptors

Answer 2

Specialized cells that convert physical energy into electrical energy that can be transmitted as nerve impulses to the brain.

Question 3

Synesthesia

Answer 3

A condition in which stimulation of one sense also evokes another. (giving the colors taste)

Question 4

Transduction

Answer 4

The communication between the brain and the rest of the body occurs via neuron. Information goes from the senses to the thalamus, then to various areas of the brain.

Question 5

Perception

Answer 5

Perception is the sensory experience of the world. It involves both recognizing environmental stimuli and actions in response to these stimuli.

Question 6

Absolute threshold

Answer 6

The smallest level of stimulus that can be detected, usually defined as at least half the time

Question 7

Difference threshold

Answer 7

The minimum difference in intensity between two stimuli that one can detect

Question 8

Sensory deprivation

Answer 8

As the name says it’s quite literally when you are stripped away from your senses. (example: sensory deprivation tanks, however being in them for too long can be dangerous)

Question 9

Selective attention

Answer 9

The process of focusing on a particular object in the environment for a certain period of time.

Question 10

Inattentional blindness

Answer 10

The failure to notice a fully-visible, but unexpected object because attention was engaged on another task, event, or object. To purposefully turn a blind eye to something.

Question 11

Blind spot

Answer 11

The spot where your optic nerve connects to your retina has no light-sensitive cells, so you can’t see anything there

Question 12

Dark adaptation

Answer 12

Refers to how the eye recovers its sensitivity in the dark following exposure to bright lights (remember the Hunter x Hunter episode)

Question 13

Cocktail party effect

Answer 13

The ability to focus one’s attention a particular stimulus while filtering out a range of other stimuli

Question 14

Critical period

Answer 14

A phase during which the brain cell connections are more plastic and receptive to the influence of a certain kind of life experience.

Question 15

Psychological and cultural influences on perception: needs

Answer 15

What each individual requires to fulfill their needs.

Question 16

Psychological and cultural influences on perception: emotions

Answer 16

A complex state of feeling that results in physical and psychological changes that influence thought and behavior.

Question 17

Psychological and cultural influences on perception: expectation

Answer 17

A strong belief that something will happen or be the case in the future. The expectation from society will affect how you see life. Ex. In México there’s the expectation that one of your main goals in life is to marry.

Question 18

Gestalt principles: proximity

Answer 18

Things that are close together appear to be more related than things that are spaced farther apart

Question 19

Gestalt principles: closure

Answer 19

The brains tends to fill in gaps to perceive complete forms.

Question 20

Gestalt principles: similarity

Answer 20

Things that are alike are perceived together.

Question 21

Gestalt principles: continuity

Answer 21

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

Question 22

Binocular cues

Answer 22

Binocular cues provide information taken when viewing a scene with both the eyes.

Question 23

Monocular cues

Answer 23

Monocular cues provide depth information when viewing a scene with one eye

Question 24

Retinal disparity

Answer 24

The small difference between the images projected on the two retinas when looking at an object or scene. When one of the eyes is not seeing that well, the brain removes one of the images.

Question 25

Perceptual consistency: shape, location size, brightness, color

Answer 25

It’s what allows us to perceive an object as unchanging despite changing stimulus. /Shape: depending on the angle of out view/ Size: perceiving objects as having a constant size despite our distance from them changing// Color: depends on surrounding objects// Brightness: the light it reflects

Question 26

Convergence

Answer 26

The rotation of the two eyes inward toward a light source so that the image falls on corresponding points on.

Question 27

Gate-control theory

Answer 27

This theory suggests that the spinal cord contains a neurological “gate” that either blocks pain signals or allows them to continue on to the brain

Question 28

Phantom pain

Answer 28

Pain that feels like it’s coming from a body part that’s no longer there

Question 29

Kinesthesia

Answer 29

Awareness of the position and movement of the parts of the body by means of sensory organs. The perception of body movements.

Question 30

Equilibrium

Answer 30

The sense of balance.

Question 31

Semicircular canals

Answer 31

A set of three looped tubular channels in the inner ear that detect movements of the head and provide the sense of dynamic equilibrium that is essential for maintaining balance.

Question 32

Vestibular sense

Answer 32

A sensory system that provides the leading contribution to the sense of balance and spatial orientation for the purpose of coordinating movement with balance. (Ex. when you stand up too fast and loose balance)

Question 33

Subliminal perception

Answer 33

Messages, either visual or auditory, that are presented just beyond the threshold of human perception (Ex. Disney)

Question 34

E.S.P

Answer 34

Perceiving things by means other than the known senses. Things you’ve felt but can’t explain.

Question 35

Parapsychology

Answer 35

The study of alleged psychic phenomena and other paranormal claims, for example related to near-death experiences, synchronicity, apparitional experiences