Sensations and Perceptions Flashcards
the process by which you detect physical energy from your environment, using your senses and encode it as neural signals.
Sensation
process of selecting, organizing, and interpretation of sensations, enabling you to recognize meaningful objects and events
Perception
Name the three energy senses, along with their more technical names
Vision(light), Hearing(sound waves), Touch (pressure)
In what forms do the energy senses gather energy? Explain this per sense
Your eyes sense light which is electromagnetic energy. Your senses of taste and smell detect chemical energy. Other senses respond to mechanical or thermal energy. But even though your senses are sensitive to different forms of energy, they all convert each of them into a single kind - electrical energy. (TRANSDUCTION)
Where specifically does transduction occur within the eye
Transduction occurs when light activates the neurons in the retina*
CHANGING LIGHT ENERGY INTO INTERNEURAL IMPULSES, HAPPENS AT THE RETINA BACK OF THE EYE**
Explain the differences between the photoreceptors (rods and cones)
Cones= color, clarity & central vision
HOT RODS COME OUT AT NIGH
Are there more rods or cones? Why?
The rods are responsible for peripheral and night vision.(NEED MORE RODS THAN CONES SINCE WE CANNOT SEE WELL AT NIGHT)
Where are the rods and cones located? Give details
Cones (Within the Retina/IN THE MIDDLE) “FOVEA”
RODS (FOUND IN RETINA, NO RODS WITHIN CENTRAL AREA THEY MOVE TOWARD THE PERIPHERY.)
What is another name for the optic nerve and why is it called this?
PHYSIOLOGICAL BLINDSPOT- THE BRAINS FILLS THESE BLACK HOLES, Where the optic nerve exits the retina (and the eye), there aren’t any rods or cones…
Trichromatic Theory (Young Helmholtz Theory):
This theory hypothesizes that we have three types of cones in the retina: cones that detect the colors blue, red and green* This theory does not however explain afterimages and colorblindness
Opponent- Process Theory (Ewald Hering)
Stated that sensory receptors (cones) come in pairs
Red & Green, Yellow & Blue and Black& White
Cells in the visual pathway (cells between the cones (within the retina) and the brain), compare the outputs of two different photoreceptor sets(red/ green, blue/ yellow, black white) before making their own response and allowing us to perceive color (within the brain)
This theory explains afterimages well
State another term for hearing
AUDITORY SYSTEM (AUDITION)
Name the three main regions of the ear
OUTER, MIDDLE AND INNER
Describe the path soundwaves take when they travel into the ear up until the brain
PINNA, EAR CANAL(AUDITORY), EAR DRUM(TYMPANIC MEMBRANE)CREATES VIBRATIONS FROM SOUND WAVES, THE OSSICLES(MIDDLE REGION), COCHLEA “OVAL WINDOW”(INNER REGION), PRESSURE CHANGES AFFECT THE OUTER CHAMBER, RIPPLES IN THE BASILAR MEMBRANE, BENDS HAIR CELLS IN THE COCHLEA, TRANSDUCTION (NEURAL IMPULSES), NEURAL IMPULSES TRAVEL THROUGH THE AUDITORY (COCHLEAR) NERVE, THALAMUS (RELAY STATION) and AUDITORY CORTICES IN THE TEMPORAL LOBES.
Where does transduction take place within the ear?
COCHLEA
How do the semicircular canals assist us in hearing? Explain your answer
They are not involved in hearing. They help with balance and head position in space.
Define amplitude
Amplitude: The height, intensity and the amount of energy in a wave
Frequency
Pitch depends on the frequency of a sound wave
Pitch
depends on the frequency of a sound wave, the quality of a sound governed by the rate of vibrations producing it; the degree of highness or lowness of a tone.
Timbre
Quality of the sound
Define the term waveform
Shape of a sound wave
The Place Theory(pitch theory)
Different pitches activate different places on the cochlea’s basilar membrane (lined with hair cells aka CELIA)This theory explains how we hear high pitched sounds.
The Frequency Theory(pitch theory)
The whole basilar membrane vibrates at the frequency of a sound. Explains how we hear lower tones
Conduction deafness
This form of deafness occurs when there is a problem with the system of conducting the sound to the cochlea (in the ear canal, eardrum, ossicles,etc)PROBLEMS OF SYSTEM BEFORE COCHLEA, PROBLEM IN OUTER/INNER REGION WILL NOT LET COCLEA RECIEVE INFO.
Nerve (sensorineural) deafness
This occurs when the hair cells in the cochlea are damaged, usually by loud noise,COCHLEA IS DAMAGED. Prolonged exposure to loud noise can lead to damaged hair cells in the cochlea, these cells do not regenerate
Explain the purpose for a cochlear implant
Cochlear implants directly stimulate the surviving auditory nerve fibers. This does not make sound louder, but allows the individual to perceive sound.
Name the technical name for touch?
Somatosensation
What are the four classes of tactile sensations?
Touch, Pressure, Temperature (Cold/ Warmth), Pain
Explain the pathway that allows the brain to perceive touch, from the skin to where transduction occurs and all the parts of the brain that are involved
Sensory receptors at the point of contact, Transduction “sensory impulses turn to neural impulses”, Neural impulses to Spinal cord, Medulla Oblongata, Thalamus, “relay station”(all sensory info travels through except smell), Somatosensory cortex in the Parietal lobes.
What is CIPA? How does a person get CIPA?
CIPA (congenital”SOMETHING YOU’RE BORN WITH” insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis) CIPA is an homozygous recessive disorder.(FROM BOTH PARENTS)
Explain the concept behind the Gate Control Theory. Who proposed this theory?
They explained “The experience of pain”. Pain messages have a higher priority than others
When a higher priority message is sent, “the gate” swings open for it and swings shut for a low priority message, which we will not feel. Ronald Melzack and Patrick Wall proposed this theory.
Which of the senses are considered the chemical senses? State the more technical names as well
Taste (Gustation), Smell (Olfaction)
Explain the pathway for taste
Taste messages are dissolved in our saliva, Tastebuds (transduction occurs), Brainstem(consisting of the medulla, midbrain, pons, continuing down to form the spinal cord), Thalamus, Primary Gustatory Cortex (in the Parietal lobes.
Explain the pathway for smell
Molecules of substances (ex- hot chocolate) rise into the air and enter our noses through our nasal cavity, The molecules are then absorbed by the olfactory receptor cells (This is where transduction occurs), Next, the neural impulses travel through the olfactory bulb, From there, the neural impulses will then travel through the olfactory nerve, The olfactory nerve connects to the brain at the amygdala and then to the hippocampus (limbic system).
What is a supertaster?
A supertaster has a very high number of taste buds. They are more sensitive, They have a low gustatory threshold, They show a strong response to certain tastes (bitter veggies, alcohol- found in mouthwash,black coffee, etc…) BITTER AND SOUR FOODS.
Name and describe the two body position senses.
two kinds of position sense: (i) indicating positions of different body parts relative to one another, using signals from muscle spindles; and (ii) indicating position of the body in extrapersonal space, using signals from exteroceptors, vision, touch and hearing.
Absolute threshold(TOLERANCE)
smallest (minimal) amount of stimulus we can detect 50% of the time (LIMIT TO OUR SENSES)
Explain the different absolute threshold for each sense
SIGHT- A CANDLE FLAME SEEN AT 30 MILES ON A CLEAR, DARK NIGHT.
SMELL- ONE DROP OF PERFUME DIFFUSED INTO THE ENTIRE VOLUME OF A 3-ROOM APARTMENT
SOUND- THE TICK OF A WATCH UNDER QUIET CONDITIONS AT 20 FEET.
TASTE- ONE TEASPOON OF SUGAR IN 2 GALLONS OF WATER
TOUCH- THE WING OF A BEE FALLING ON YOUR CHEEK FROM A HEIGHT OF 1 CENTIMETER
Explain the concept of the just noticeable difference (JND), according to Weber and his given percentages
The smallest amount of change (in the original stimuli)needed in a stimulus before we detect a change. The more intense the stimulus was originally, the more we will need to increase it before we notice a difference. How much change is needed within the stimuli is determined by Weber’s Law (Ernest Weber
What is the purpose of the Signal Detection theory, how does it negate the absolute threshold theory?
SDT states that, the ability to detect a stimulus depends on both the intensity of the stimulus (e.g., how loud a noise is) and the physical and psychological state of the individual (e.g., how alert you are).”**Signal detection theory states that we do not have an absolute threshold, because it takes into account other factors that affect our threshold (motivation, fatigue, attention, expectations, and emotional distress). Psychologists use the Signal Detection Theory (SDT) to overcome the shortcomings of the absolute threshold theory
Define parapsychology and give a few examples of specific abilities
Parapsychology is a field of study that investigates paranormal or “psychic” phenomena”BASED ON BELIEFS”. (OPPOSITE SINCE PSYCHOLOGY IS BASED ON EMPIRICAL DATA) EX: recognition: perceiving information the future, such as in a vision or dream
Clairvoyance: perceiving information about distant locations
Telepathy: communicating mind-to-mind (without the use of normal senses)
Psychokinesis or telekinesis: manipulating objects with the power of the mind
Out-of-body experiences (OBEs) (such as perceiving one’s own body from above)Apparitions and hauntings
What are the two basic principles of perceptual organization and their subcategories?
Figure-Ground:the organization of the visual field into objects that stand out from their surroundings.
and Grouping: We (according to Gestalt Psychologists ) group things together, so that we can place stimuli into certain perceivable groups.(Both are a part of Gestalt Psychology)
Law of Proximity
States that objects are near or proximate to each other tend to be grouped.
Law of Similarity
Things that share visual characteristics such as shape, size, color, texture or value will be grouped together.
Law of Continuity
The mind continues visual, auditory and kinetic patterns.
Law of Closure
People tend to fill in blanks to perceive a complete object whenever an external stimuli partially matches that object.
Law of Common Region
Adding borders (creating common regions) around an element or group of elements is an easy way to create separation from surrounding elements.
Law of Pragnanz
Reality is organized or reduced to the simplest form possible.
Define depth perception
The ability to perceive the world in three dimensions (3D).
The two stimulus cues of depth perception
Monocular cues- Depth cues that do not depend on having two (functioning)eyes
Binocular cues-Cues that depend on having two (functioning) eyes
Monocular cues stimulus: relative size
If two objects are the same size, the object producing a larger retinal image is perceived as closer than the one producing a smaller image on the retina)
Monocular cues stimulus: height in visual fields
More distant objects tend to be higher on the horizon
Monocular cues stimulus: interposition
Closer objects block the view of distant objects
Monocular cues stimulus: linear perspective
As two lines come closer together, the perceived distance increases
Monocular cues stimulus: reduced clarity
Greater distances usually yield less clarity
Monocular cues stimulus: light and shadow
Shading helps contribute to 3-D perception)
Monocular cues stimulus: texture gradient
Texture appears gradually less with increased distance
Monocular cues stimulus: motion parallex (movement gradient)
ex: the moon (The difference in relative movement between two objects gives cues to their different distances).
Binocular cues stimulus: retinal disparity
(Since both of our eyes are in slightly different locations, they receive slightly different images on the same object. )
Binocular cues stimulus: convergence
As an object moves closer to us, our eyes must move closer to each other to keep focused on the object. The more the eyes converge, the closer an object must be.
Discuss the three effects that cause us to perceive motion when there is nothing actually moving
Stroboscopic effect: This illusion forces us to perceive motion that occurs when a stationary object is first seen briefly in one location and, following a very short interval, is seen in another location. Used in movies and flip books.
Phi phenomenon: This effect can be seen in a series of light bulbs turned off and on at a particular rate (appears as one moving light)
Autokinetic effect: If a small spotlight is projected steadily on a wall in a dark room, people will say that the dot is moving
Draw the classic perceptual illusions we had discussed in class (7 of them)
Zollner Illusion(Do the diagonal lines appear to be parallel to each other?)
Wundt Illusion(Do the horizontal lines appear to be parallel?)
Twisted Cord/ Frasiers Spiral(Do the cords appear to spiral????)
Ebbinghaus Illusion(Which of the two center green circles appears to be bigger?)
Ponzo Illusion(Do the two horizontal lines appear to be the same length?)
Poggendorff Illusion?(Does the two lines that cut across the two parallel lines appear to be aligned or offset? The line that goes through the two parallel lines is actually aligned not offset)
The Muller-Lyer illusion(is the red or green line longer?)
Top-Down Processing(GENERAL TO SPECIFIC)
Uses pre existing thoughts, motivations, and expectations to apply meaning to a sensory event. In other words, top-down processing happens when we work from the general to the specific; the big picture to the tiny details.
Top-Down Processing(GENERAL TO SPECIFIC)
Uses pre existing thoughts, motivations, and expectations to apply meaning to a sensory event. In other words, top-down processing happens when we work from the general to the specific; the big picture to the tiny details.
Bottom-Up Processing
We use only the features of an object itself to build a complete perception. Automatic process (no actual thinking needed here), does not use past experiences as a reference. Takes longer, but is more accurate than top-down processing. In 1987, Irving Bierderman, said that lines and angles help to identify letters, and people recognize 3-D objects by detecting and then combining their simple forms, known as geons
How does Network Processing (PDP Processing) combine both Top-Down and Bottom-Up Processing?
Extensive and relatively automatic interactions of various neural feature detectors. Each feature in a stimulus is more likely to be perceived as belonging to a pattern if it is activated by another feature that it has been paired up with in the past.
Selective attention
Focusing on a particular object or stimuli for a period of time while simultaneously ignoring irrelevant information that is also occurring.
Sustained attention
The ability to focus on an activity or stimulus over a long period of time. It is what makes it possible to concentrate on an activity for as long as it takes to finish, even if there are other distracting stimuli present.
Divided attention (multitasking)
Occurs when you simultaneously devote mental resources to more than one thing at a time, it may sometimes be difficult to focus on either of these objects. “ALL AT THE SAME TIME”
Alternating attention
Alternating attention refers to the ability to switch between tasks; to stop one task to participate in another and then be able to return to the initial task. “SWITCH”
OPTIC CHIASM
causes (RESPONSIBLE FOR CONTRALATERAL CONTROL= FIBERS THAT CONNECT THE RIGHT AND LEFT
HEMISPHERES.
This inability to feel physical pain does not extend to emotional pain – people with CIPA feel emotional pain just like anyone else. Why do you think this is the case?
AMYGDALA and LIMBIC SYSTEM, WHERE EMOTIONAL PAIN HERE
ELEANOR GIBSON=VISUAL CLIFF EXPERIMENT
(used the visual cliff experiment to determine when infants can perceive depth).
