Sensation/Perception, Attention, Cognition, and Language Flashcards
1
Q
sensation
A
- detections and encoding of physical energy from the environment
2
Q
perception
A
- the selection, organization, and interpretation of our sensations
3
Q
psychophysics
A
- the study of how physical stimuli are translated in the psychological experience
4
Q
stimulus
A
- any detectable change in the environment
5
Q
absolute threshold
A
- lowest level of a stimulus we can detect 50% of the time
6
Q
difference threshold
A
- minimum difference between two stimuli we can detect 50% of the time
- also known as just noticeable difference
7
Q
Weber’s law
A
- two stimuli must differ by a constant proportion which varies by the type of stimulus, but remains constant within a given stimulus
8
Q
signal detection theory
A
- proposes a method for quantifying a person’s ability to detect a given stimulus (the signal) amidst other, non-important stimuli (noise)
9
Q
hit
A
- stimulus present and response present
10
Q
type II error
A
- stimulus present and response absent
- false negative
- miss
11
Q
type I error
A
- stimulus absent and response present
- false positive
- false alarm
12
Q
correct rejection
A
- stimulus absent and response absent
13
Q
detecting the stimulus requires
A
- acquisition of information
- application of criteria
14
Q
external noise
A
- other stimuli present that can affect our detection
- outside of body
15
Q
internal noise
A
- psychological distractions
- mood, attitude, cognition
- inside of body
16
Q
receiver operating characteristic curve
A
- a graphical plot that demonstrates the hit rate versus false alarm rate to graphically determine a receiver’s accuracy
- accuracy is area under the curve
17
Q
modality
A
- the type of stimulus that is being detected
- based on type of receptor firing
18
Q
location
A
- communicated by receptive field of stimulus
19
Q
intensity
A
- how strong the stimulus is
- the rate of firing of action potentials
20
Q
duration
A
- how long the stimulus is present
21
Q
tonic receptors
A
- generate action potentials as long as the stimulus is present
22
Q
phasic receptors
A
- fire only when the stimulus begins
- communicate changes in stimuli
23
Q
sensory adaptation
A
- a decrease in the frequency of action potentials when the intensity of the stimulus remains constant
24
Q
feature detection theory
A
- certain parts of the brain are activated for specific visual stimuli
- visual perception results from the interaction of numerous specialized neural systems, each of which performs a specific, simple task
25
Q
parallel processing
A
- occurs so that many aspects of a visual stimulus are processed simultaneously rather than in a step-wise fashion (serial processing)
26
Q
kinesthesis
A
- allows us to sense the position of our limbs in space as well as detect body movements
27
Q
muscle spindle
A
- detects muscle stretch
28
Q
golgi tendon organs
A
- detect tension in tendons
29
Q
joint capsule receptors
A
- detect pressure, tension, and movement in the joints
30
Q
bottom-up processing
A
- starts with information from our sensory receptors and builds up to a final product in our brain
- start with details and end with a final representation in our mind
- when we encounter new stimuli
31
Q
top-down processing
A
- start with a larger concept or idea and works down to the details
- when we encounter information we are more familiar with
32
Q
3 processes of perception
A
- stimulus
- environmental stimulus
- attended stimulus
- stimulus on receptors
- electrochemical processes
- transduction
- transmission
- processing
- experience and action
- perception
- recognition
- action
33
Q
gestalt psychology
A
- emphasizes our tendency to organize information into meaningful whole
- what we perceive in predictable ways
34
Q
emergence
A
- first identify an outline which helps us figure out the whole
- then we look at individual parts
35
Q
figure and ground
A
- separate figure from all else
36
Q
multistability
A
- tendency of ambiguous images to pop back and fort unstably between alternate interpretations in our brains
37
Q
law of proximity
A
- things near each other seem to be grouped together
38
Q
law of similarity
A
- things that are similar tend to appear grouped together
39
Q
law of continuity
A
- we perceive smooth, continuous lines rather than a disjointed one
40
Q
law of common fate
A
- objects moving in same direction or in synchrony perceived as a group or unit
41
Q
law of connectedness
A
- things joined or linked or grouped as perceived as connected
42
Q
law of closure
A
- perceive things as complete logical entity because our brains will fill in info
43
Q
perceptual organization
A
- in order to transform sensory information into useful perceptions, we must organize it
- we must perceive objects as being separate from their environments and having constant form
- we must also be able to detect motion and perceive distance
44
Q
depth perception
A
- the ability to see objects in three dimensions despite the fact that the images are imposed on the retina in only two dimensions
- allows us to judge distance
45
Q
Gibson and Walk experiment
A
- depth perception is largely innate
46
Q
binocular cues
A
- cues that depend on information received from both eyes
47
Q
retinal disparity
A
- the brain compares the images projected onto the two retinas in order to perceive distance
- the greater the difference between the two images, the shorter the distance
48
Q
convergence
A
- the extent to which the eyes turn inward when looking at an object
- the greater the angle of convergence or inward strain, the closer the object
49
Q
monocular cues
A
- depth cues that depend on information that is available to either eye alone
50
Q
relative size
A
- if objects are assumed to be the same size, the one that casts the smaller image on the retina appears more distant
51
Q
interposition
A
- if one object blocks the view of another, we perceive it as closer
52
Q
relative clarity
A
- we perceive hazy objects as being more distant than sharp, clear objects
53
Q
texture gradient
A
- changes from a course, distinct texture to a fine, indistinct texture indicates increasing distance
54
Q
relative height
A
- we perceive objects that are higher in the visual field as farther away
55
Q
relative motion
A
- as we move, stable objects appear to move as well.
- objects that are near to us appear to move faster than objects farther away
56
Q
linear perspective
A
- parallel lines appear to converge as distance increases
- the greater the convergence, the greater the perceived distance
57
Q
light and shadow
A
- closer objects reflect more light than distant objects
- the dimmer of two identical objects will seem further away
58
Q
motion perception
A
- our brains assume that objects that are decreasing in size are moving farther away from us and objects that are getting large in size are approaching
59
Q
phi phenomenon
A
- describes the illusion of movement that is created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in succession
60
Q
perceptual constancy
A
- we perceive an object as unchanging even as the illumination, angle, and distance of the object change
61
Q
shape constancy
A
- familiar objects are perceived as having a constant form despite changes in the images that are projected into our retinas
62
Q
size constancy
A
- we perceive objects are having a constant size even as the distance of the object changes
63
Q
lightness (brightness) constancy
A
- we perceive objects as having a constant brightness despite changes in illumination
64
Q
attention
A
- the active consciousness that allows us to focus awareness on some stimuli vs others.
65
Q
models of attention
A
- filter model
- resource model
- spotlight model
- attenuation model
66
Q
resource model
A
- attention is a limited resource that can become spread too thin
67
Q
spotlight model
A
- attention is a focal point that can shift.
68
Q
broadbent filter model
A
- more information enters our sensory stores
- some of that information makes it through the selective filter into our working memory
- other information is filtered out and decays
- helps explain why we are not constantly overwhelmed by all the stimuli in our environment
69
Q
Treisman attenuation model
A
- some information not attended to can still be detected
- information not attended to does not decay but it is turned down to a lower volume. information from that channel is processed, just not as consciously
70
Q
cocktail party effect
A
- when you filter out other conversations, until your name (or something equally salient) is mentioned, at which point your attention shifts to this other channel
71
Q
multitasking
A
- divided attention
- dependent on
- task similarity
- task difficulty
- task practice
72
Q
Baddeleys Model of working attention
A
- an explanation of how three short term sensory stores interact with the central executive, which controls the flow of info from/to the sensory stores
- phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, and episodic buffer
73
Q
central executive
A
- responsible for the control and regulation of all cognitive processes
- coordination of slave systems
- shifting between tasks or retrieval strategies
- selective attention and inhibition
74
Q
phonological loop
A
- short-term phonological store, with an auditory rehearsal component
- spoken and written material
75
Q
visuospatial sketchpad
A
- temporary storage and manipulation of spatial and visual information
- mentally manipulating objects in our mind’s eye
76
Q
episodic buffer
A
- integrates information across domains and links to long term memory
77
Q
schema
A
- a mental framework that allows us to organize our experiences/stimuli and respond to new experiences/stimuli
78
Q
sensorimotor stage
A
- 0-2
- child experiences world directly through senses and motor movement
- object permanence - objects exist even when they can’t be seen
- stranger anxiety
79
Q
preoperational stage
A
- 2-7
- child can represent things with words and images but uses intuitive, not logical, reasoning
- pretend play
- egocentrism - can’t take the view of other people
80
Q
concrete operational
A
- 7-11
- child thinks logically
- performs simple mental manipulations with concrete operations
- conservation - the fact that just because something has changed shape, the amount will remain the same
81
Q
formal operations
A
- 12-adult
- person can reason abstractly, solve hypothetical problems, deduce consequences, etc
- abstract logic
- moral reasoning
82
Q
assimilation
A
- use an existing schema to deal with a new object or situation
83
Q
accommodation
A
- when our existing schema does not work and needs to be changed to deal with the new situation
84
Q
moral identity
A
- the degree to which being a moral person is important to a person’s identity
85
Q
preconventional
A
- young children and children
- punishment and obedience - rules obeyed to avoid punishment
- self-interest - rules obeyed for personal goals
86
Q
conventional
A
- most adolescents and adults
- conformity and interpersonal accord - rules obeyed for approval
- authority and social order - rules obeyed to maintain social order
87
Q
post conventional
A
- only 15% of adults
- social contract - impartial rules are obeyed rules that infringe on the rights of others are challenged
- universal principles - individual establishes own set of rules in accordance with personal ethical actions
88
Q
trial and error
A
- attempting several different potential solution and ruling out those that do not work
89
Q
algorithm
A
- a step-by-step procedure that exhausts all possible options but guarantees a solution
90
Q
heuristic
A
- mental rule-of-thumb, shortcut, or guideline that can be applied to problem solving
91
Q
insight
A
- occurs when we puzzle over a problem, then the complete solution appears to come to us all at once
- doesn’t necessarily involve a clue or hint
92
Q
confirmation bias
A
- we seek out evidence to support our conclusions more than we seek evidence that will refute them
- interpret neutral or ambiguous evidence as supporting our beliefs
93
Q
fixation
A
- we have structured a problem in our mind in a certain way, even if that way is ineffective, and then we are unable to restructure it
- unable to see problem from a fresh perspective
94
Q
mental set
A
- our tendency to approach situations in a certain way because that way has worked in the past
95
Q
functional fixedness
A
- mental bias that limits our perspective for an object can be used based on how that object is traditionally used
96
Q
availability heuristic
A
- we rely on immediate examples that come to mind when trying to make a decision or judgment.
- when you overestimate the likelihood of something happening because you think of examples of it happening
97
Q
representativeness heuristic
A
- we estimate the likelihood of an event by comparing it to an existing prototype that already exists in our minds
98
Q
intelligence
A
- the ability to learn from experience and adapt to the environment
99
Q
social intelligence
A
- the ability to manage and understand people
100
Q
emotional intelligence
A
- the ability to monitor and discriminate emotions in order to guide thinking and action
101
Q
fluid intelligence
A
- reason quickly and abstractly
102
Q
crystallized intelligence
A
- accumulated knowledge and verbal skills
103
Q
fixed mindset
A
- belief that intelligence and abilities are static
104
Q
growth mindset
A
- belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort
105
Q
aging improves
A
- semantic memory until around age 60
- crystallized intelligence
- reasoning in emotionally-charged situations
106
Q
aging declines
A
- recall
- episodic memory
- processing speed
- divided attention
107
Q
behaviorist model of language acquisition
A
- infants are trained to learn language through operant conditioning
- reinforcement due to making sounds
- BF skinner
108
Q
Noam Chomsky
A
- humans are born with an innate ability to learn language (universal grammar)
- all normally-developing humans learn when exposed during the critical period
- nativist perspective
109
Q
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
A
- language strongly influences thought
- the words we use and how we use them defined and limit our cognitive abilities
110
Q
empiricist view of language
A
- language is just another example of conditioned behavior
111
Q
rationalist view of language
A
- language is a human ability prewired into the brain
112
Q
materialist view of language
A
- all discussion of ideas and linguistic expression are real physical changes in the brain and actions in the body
113
Q
linguistic relativity hypothesis
A
- language and thought overlap
- cognition and perception are determined by the language one speaks
- cultures have more words than snow than we do because it’s more important to them
114
Q
broca’s area
A
- inferior frontal gyrus of dominant hemisphere
- associated with language production
- motor neurons in control of speech
- close to motor cortex
115
Q
broca’s aphasia
A
- know what they want to say but are unable to say it or write it fluently
- cannot communicate in full sentences
- nonfluent aphasia with intact comprehension
- language includes disjointed words
116
Q
wernicke’s area
A
- posterior superior gyrus
- temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes
- associated with understanding written and spoken language
117
Q
wernicke’s aphasia
A
- fluent aphasia with impaired comprehension
- perfect fluidity but sentences make no sense
- unable to understand language.
118
Q
temporal lobe contains what important structure
A
- hippocampus
