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C. PsS MCAT > Sensory Perception > Flashcards

Sensory Perception Flashcards

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MCAT flashcards
1
Q

Inferences and perceptual organization through depth, form, motion, constancy

A

visual cues

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2
Q

depth d/t retinal disparity with eyes about 2.5 in apart

A

binocular cues

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3
Q

binocular convergence based on how the eyeball is turned

A

far away = muscle relaxation
close up= muscle contraction/strain

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4
Q

Name monocular cues

A
  • size (closer the object, the bigger it looks)
  • interposition (overlap, object in front is closer)
  • relative height (higher looks further away)
  • shading/contour (light and shadows to perceive form depth/contours)
  • motion (motion parallax: things further away seem slower i.e. airplane)
  • constancy (object does not change even if the image cast on the retina is different)
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5
Q

Types of constancy of monocular cues

A

-size constancy (appears larger because closer but still the same object)

  • shape constancy (changing shape still maintains the same shape perception i.e. closing door is still a rectangle)
  • color constancy (changes of light on an object does not change our perception of the object)
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6
Q

How do senses change sensitivity to stimuli?

A

sensory adaptation

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7
Q

How does the inner ear protect the eardrum in hearing adaptation?

A

Muscle contraction. Works slowly for 2-hour concert but not at all for a quick gunshot

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8
Q

How do touch and smell adapt?

A

desensitized receptors to stimuli over time

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9
Q

hanging upside down, eventually, I would flip everything right side up because of

A

Proprioception adaptation: sense of body in space

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10
Q

During sight adaptation, downregulation causes pupils to –.

A

constrict. Downregulation (light adaptation – bright lights cause pupils to constrict so that less light enters the retina and rods/cones become desensitized to light)

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11
Q

measure of when we can notice a change in sensation, just noticeable difference (JND) aka difference threshold

A

Webers Law

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11
Q

During sight adaptation, upregulation causes pupils to –.

A

Dilate. Upregulation (dark regulation – pupils dilate and rods/comes start synthesizing light sensitive molecules) to light intensity

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12
Q

Equation for Webers Law

A

Change of intensity (JND) / initial intensity = k (constant)
predicts a linear relationship between incremental threshold and background intensity

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13
Q

the minimum intensity of stimulus needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time

A

Absolute threshold of sensation

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14
Q

What type of stimuli is below the absolute threshold of sensation?

A

subliminal stimuli

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15
Q

T/F. Stimulus detection varies amongst individuals and absolute threshold is not the same as JND

A

T

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16
Q

What is stimulus detection influenced by?

A

expectations, experience, motivation, alertness

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17
Q

Types of somatosensation/tactile sensation/touch

A

Thermoception (temperature)
Mechanoception (pressure)
Nociception (pain)
Proprioception (position)

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18
Q

How are neuron firing speed and intensity related?

A

directly.

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19
Q

The sensation throughout the surface of the skin is arranged in discrete segments that correlate to levels of the spinal cord. What are these segments called?

A

Dermatomes

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20
Q

a type of sensation; balance and spatial orientation from inner ear and limbs

A

the vestibular system

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21
Q

Where are the semicircle canals (posterior, lateral, anterior; each orthogonal to each other) filled with endolymph?

A

Inner ear.
Endolymph moves in ear canal during rotation signaling the brain

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22
Q

What helps us detect linear acceleration and head positioning?

A

Otolithic organs (utricle and saccule)

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23
Q

What crystals are in the otolithic organs (utricle and saccule)?

A

Contains calcium carbonate (CaCO3) crystals that move in viscous gel pulling on hair cells to trigger AP. Would not work well without gravity, buoyancy or visual cues

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24
Q

What causes vertigo?

A

endolymph doesn’t stop spinning when you stop. You or objects around you are moving

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25
Q

how we make decisions under conditions of uncertainty – discerning between important stimuli and unimportant “noise”. Ex. Experimenters give participants a list of words and then a second list of words and ask which words were repeated.

A

signal detection theory

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26
Q

Signal detection: subject response affirmative when a signal was present

A

hit

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27
Q

Signal detection: subject perceived a signal when there was not present

A

false alarm

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28
Q

Signal detection: negative response when a signal was not present

A

correct rejection

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29
Q

Signal detection: a negative response to a present signal

A

miss

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30
Q

How does strength of signal impact signal detection?

A

d’ strength
hit > miss (when there is a strong signal)
miss > hit (weak signal)

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31
Q

Strategies for signal detection

A

 Conservative strategy – always say no unless 100% sure signal is present
 Liberal strategy – always say yes, even if get false alarms

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32
Q

How to interpret this graph

A

Signal Detection Theory – part 2: For any signals, graph noise distribution (background noise) and signal distribution
- The mean of the strength of the signal (d’) is on the x-axis, so to the left is weak and right is strong.
- The strategy C can be expressed via choice threshold.

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33
Q

Name this type of processing:
o No preconceived cognitive constructs of the stimulus (never seen before)
o Data driven, stimulus directs cognitive awareness
o Inductive reasoning, always correct

A

Bottom Up: stimulus -> perception

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34
Q

Name this type of processing:
o Theory driven, perception influenced by our expectation
o Deductive reasoning
o Not always correct

A

Top-down Processing: background knowledge -> perception

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35
Q

Gestalt Principle: brain groups items that seem similar

A

similarity

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36
Q

Gestalt Principle: reality organized to simplest form possible

A

Pragnanz

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37
Q

Gestalt Principle: objects close together are grouped together

A

proximity

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38
Q

Gestalt Principle: lines are seen as following the smoothest path

A

continuity

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39
Q

Gestalt Principle: objects grouped together are seen as a while. Mind fills in missing information.

A

closure

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40
Q

Gestalt Principle: the mind perceives objects as being symmetrical and forming around a central point

A

symmetry

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41
Q

Gestalt Principle: groups of dots moving up and dots moving down are seen as two distinct groups

A

common fate

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42
Q

Gestalt Principle: some visual stimuli are categorized according to past experiences. If two objects tend to be observed within close proximity, the objects are likely to be perceived together

A

Law of past experiences

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43
Q

Gestalt Principle: context and processes of perceptual organization of stimuli contribute to how people perceive those stimuli. The context can also establish organization of stimuli

A

contextual effects

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44
Q

areas of skin that are supplied by a single dorsal root of the spinal nerve

A

dermatomes, the location of sensation

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45
Q

Representation of the human body, based on a neurological map of the areas and proportions of the brain dedicated to either motor or sensory functions for different parts of the body

A

Homunculus

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46
Q

Region of brain responsible for receiving sensory information
Located in the parietal lobe
Contains homunculus

A

primary somatosensory cortex

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47
Q

neuronal firing constant

A

non adapting

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48
Q

neuronal firing gradually decreases

A

slow adapting

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49
Q

neuronal firing at onset and offset of stimulus, but not between

A

fast adapting

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50
Q

Dictated by frequency of neuronal firing

A

intensity

51
Q

Binocular cues provide depth perception, also known as stereopsis, by relying on both eyes. Relies on two factors:

A

Retinal disparity = difference each eye receives of a given object
Convergence = inward angulation of eyes for close objects

52
Q

Monocular cues rely on only one eye, and usually rely on comparisons between objects. Examples include:

A

Relative size = closer objects appear bigger
Interposition = overlap when one object is in front of another
Motion parallax = farther objects move slower
Linear perspective = distances between parallel lines appear more narrow as they go farther

53
Q

Perception of an object remains constant even if retinal projection changes

A

constancy

54
Q

size projection on retina changes with distance, but size of object is constant

A

size constancy

55
Q

shape projected on retina can change based on angle, but shape of object is constant

A

shape constancy

56
Q

light on retina changes with ambient factors, but color of object is constant

A

color constancy

57
Q

Speed, thickness, and myelination of A-beta nerve fibers

A
58
Q

Speed, thickness, and myelination of A-delta nerve fibers

A
58
Q

Speed, thickness, and myelination of C fiber nerve fibers

A
59
Q

Rod detection type

A

black/white

60
Q

Rod sensitivity

A

high (function even in dim light)

61
Q

Rod location

A

periphery of the retina

62
Q

Rod quantity

A

120 million

63
Q

Rod recovery time

A

slow

64
Q

Cone detection type

A

color

65
Q

Cone sensitivity

A

low (function best in bright light)

66
Q

Cone location

A

macula and fovea

67
Q

Cone quantity

A

6 million

68
Q

Cone types

A

red, blue, and green

69
Q

Cone recovery time

A

fast

70
Q

Found in the retina, between the photoreceptors (rods and cones) and ganglion cells

A

bipolar cell

71
Q

Act to transmit signals from photoreceptors to ganglion cell

A

bipolar cell

72
Q

Type of neuron found in the retina, near the inner surface of the retina

A

ganglion cell

73
Q

Receives visual information from photoreceptors via two intermediate neuron types: bipolar cells and retina amacrine cells

A

ganglion cell

74
Q

Created by axons from the ganglion cells

A

optic nerve

75
Q

Exits retina through optic disc, giving rise to blind spot

A

optic nerve

76
Q

Contains visual information from nasal (medial) and temporal (lateral) portions of visual field, for each eye

A

optic nerve

77
Q

Partial crossing of optic nerves.

Nerves from the temporal portion of the retina remains on the same side.

Nerves from the nasal portion of the retina cross to opposite side (contralateral).

A

optic chiasm

78
Q

Light sensitive receptor protein contained within rods

A

rhodopsin

79
Q

Light sensitive receptor protein contained within cones

A

photopsin

80
Q

Binds to opsin proteins
Rearranges from cis to trans upon light exposure

A

retinal

81
Q

Protein in rods and cones
Attached to rhodopsin until exposed to light, upon which it detaches and becomes active

A

transducin

82
Q

Visual field summary:

High density of cones
Bright light conditions
Color and detail perception
Low light sensitivity, high acuity

A

Central (foveal)

83
Q

Visual field summary:

High density of rods
Dim light conditions
Motion perception
High light sensitivity, low acuity

A

peripheral

84
Q

Occurs when energy is transformed from one form to another, such as light energy transduced to electrical energy by rods and cones.
In other words, the photoreceptors convert light to neural impulses

A

transduction

85
Q

Phototransduction cascade

A

Light in the eye → rods and cones → optic nerve → optic chiasm → optic tracts → lateral geniculate nucleus → visual cortex

86
Q

Visual mapping in the brain

A

Due to the optic chiasm, the right visual field is received by the left side of the brain, and vice versa

87
Q

Color vision is receptive to 3 different types of photoreceptors: red, green, and blue
Also known as the Young-Helmholtz theory

A

trichromatic theory of color vision

88
Q

Color information from cones is combined such that we perceive three opposing pairs:
black/white, blue/yellow, and red/green

A

opponent processing theory of color vision

89
Q

Involves perceptual discrimination of specific aspects of a given stimulus via feature detectors.
Feature detectors are specific neurons that preferentially fire to a highly specific stimulus.
Three components of color, form, and motion

A

definition feature detection

90
Q

Detection by Parvocellular pathway, which is responsible for perception of finer detail, such as form and color

A

form feature detection
Mnemonic: Pink Pyramid = Parvocellular pathway

91
Q

Detection by Magnocellular pathway, which is responsible for perception of coarser detail, such as depth and motion

A

motion feature detection
Mnemonic = Motion = Magnocellular pathway

92
Q

Ability of the brain to simultaneously process various components (e.g. color, motion) of a visual stimulus, allowing the brain to divide stimuli into four features - color, motion, shape, and depth/distance.

A

parallel processing

93
Q

Pinna (auricle), external auditory canal, tympanic membrane
Mnemonic: PET

A

outer ear

94
Q

Connected to nasopharynx via Eustachian tube
Contains ossicles

A

middle ear

95
Q

Malleus, incus, and stapes
Footplate of stapes rests in oval window of cochlea
Mnemonic: MIS

A

ossicles of ear

96
Q

Contains bony labyrinth and membranous labyrinth
Responsible for sound detection and balance

A

inner ear

97
Q

Filled with perilymph
Comprised of three components: vestibule of the ear, semicircular canals, and the cochlea

A

bony labyrinth of the inner ear

98
Q

Contained within the bony labyrinth. Consists of the utricle and saccule, two membranous sacs, plus ducts within the cochlea and semicircular canal
Ducts are filled with endolymph

A

Membranous labyrinth of the inner ear

99
Q

Translates vibrations into neural impulses
Sends signals to the auditory nerve which transmits to the medial geniculate nucleus

A

cochlea of the inner ear

100
Q

Located within the cochlea and contains hair cells

A

organ of corti of the inner ear

101
Q

Main function is to regulate balance
Part of the vestibular system

A

semicircular canals of the inner ear

102
Q

Auditory pathway (distal)

A

Outer ear (pinna, external auditory canal, tympanic membrane) → middle ear (ossicles) → inner ear (cochlea, semicircular canals, utricle/saccule) → auditory nerve

103
Q

Auditory pathway (proximal)

A

Auditory nerve (part of vestibulocochlear nerve) → medial geniculate nucleus (MGN) → auditory cortex

103
Q

Function is to localize sound
Located in the brain stem

A

Superior Olive

104
Q

Function is startle reflex
Component of vestibulo-ocular reflex, which keeps eyes fixed on single point as head rotates

A

Inferior colliculus

105
Q

Theory that the perception of different pitches is due to various frequencies activating different portions of the cochlea basilar membrane

A

Place theory
Hair cells at the base of the basilar membrane are activated by high frequency sounds, whereas hair cells at the apex are activated by low frequency sounds

106
Q

Place theory in practice, whereby hair cells in the cochlea are preferentially activated at specific frequencies, allowing the brain to distinguish between high and low frequency sounds

A

Basilar tuning
Hair cells at base of cochlea are activated by high frequency sounds
Hair cells at apex of cochlea are activated by low frequency sounds

107
Q

Brain region that processes auditory information
Located within the temporal lobe
Mnemonic = Time Ticking = Temporal lobe

A

Primary auditory cortex

108
Q

Neurons within the auditory cortex are organized according to the frequency of sound to which they respond best

A

Tonotopical mapping

109
Q

Sense of smell

A

olfaction

110
Q

Chemical signal that triggers an innate response in members of the same species

A

pheromone

111
Q

Inability to perceive odor

A

anosmia

112
Q

Vibrational frequency of a molecule is responsible for its specific odor profile

A

Vibrational theory of olfaction

113
Q

Also known as shape theory, this asserts that odorous molecules fit into receptors similar to a lock-and-key mechanism

A

Steric theory of olfaction

114
Q

Specialized epithelium inside nasal cavity that contains olfactory receptor neurons

A

Olfactory epithelium

115
Q

Specialized region of brain that receives sensations of smell
Input = olfactory receptor neurons of olfactory epithelium

A

Olfactory bulb

116
Q

Olfactory bulb projects directly to the amygdala and hippocampus
Unlike other senses, olfaction bypasses the thalamus

A

Olfactory bulb projections

117
Q

Portion of ethmoid bone with small holes called the olfactory foramina, allowing passage of the olfactory nerves
Olfactory bulb sits atop the cribriform plate

A

Cribiform plate

118
Q

Humans have 5 main tastes(gustation):

A

Bitter
Salty
Sweet
Sour
Umami (Glutamate)

119
Q

Contain gustatory cells
Provides for detection of all 5 tastes anywhere on the tongue

A

taste bud

120
Q

Three types of taste buds:

A

Mnemonic: Fun in the front = fungiform, foliage on the sides = foliate, Circle around the back = circumvallate
Fungiform papillae (anterior)
Foliate papillae (side)
Circumvallate papillae (posterior)

121
Q

Do not contain taste buds
Located all over tongue, most densely at the center of the tongue, accounting for the lack of taste sensation in this region

A

Filiform papillae

122
Q

Anterior 2/3 of tongue sends taste signals via the VII cranial nerve
Posterior 1/3 of tongue via the IX (glossopharyngeal) and X (vagus) cranial nerves

A

Nerve innervation

123
Q

Receptors utilized in sweet, umami, and bitter taste profiles

A

GPCR receptors

124
Q

Channels utilized in salty and sour taste profiles

A

Ion channels
Mnemonic: SOdium, which is an ion channel is SOur and salty

C. PsS MCAT (34 decks)

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