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experimental psychology > sensory processes > Flashcards

sensory processes Flashcards

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1
Q

an input about the physical world obtained by our sensory receptors
- activation of sense organs, stimulated by physical energy

A

sensation

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2
Q

the process by which the brain selects, organizes and interprets stimuli coming form the environment

A

perception

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3
Q

stimulus

A

any passing source of physical energy that produces a response in a sense organ

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4
Q

psychophysics

A

science studying the relationships between the physical world obtained by our sensory receptors

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5
Q

absolute threshold

A

the smallest intensity of the stimulus that is necessary for it to be detected

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6
Q

difference threshold

A

the smallest intensity change needed to detect a difference between 2 stimuli (JND)

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7
Q

JND

A

just noticeable difference

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8
Q

Weber’s fraction (k)

A

it’s a constant, the intensity by which the standard must be increased to be noticed (Ai) is proportional to the intensity of the standard (Ss)

  • K = Ai / Ss
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9
Q

3 ways individuals are passive receivers

A
  1. evaluate and estimate the stimulus
  2. adapt their sensation to the environment
  3. decide to or not to report the difference detected
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10
Q

Steven’s law

A

had subjects do an estimate of magnitude: discovered the relationship between perceived magnitude and the intensity of stimulus is a power function

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11
Q

sensory adaptation

A

phenomenon in which the sensory capacity DECREASES with long exposure to the same stimulus

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12
Q

signal detection

A

considers the influence of a subject’s decision making on the presence of stimulus
- hit, miss, false alarm, correct rejection

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13
Q

image forming system consists of:

A
  1. cornea
  2. lens
  3. pupil
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14
Q

two types of photoreceptor cells in retina

A
  1. cones
  2. rods
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15
Q

cones

A

particularly in BRIGHT light situations light sensitive, responsible for detailed focus and colour

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16
Q

rods

A

thin and cylindrical
activated in LOW light, highly sensitive to light, colourless results

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17
Q

fovea

A

depression in the inner retinal surface (1.5 mm)
- photoreceptor layer is entirely cones and for maximum visual activity

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18
Q

role of the fovea

A

to see details in an object we move our eyes so that the object is projected by the fovea
- receptors are plentiful and closely packer = higher resolution

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19
Q

steps from eye to brain

A
  1. photoreceptor pick up visual signals because they detect light
  2. the bipolar cells receive info from receptors and send the info to the ganglion cells
  3. ganglion cells collect and synthesise info coming from bipolar cells
  4. info is sent from the back of the eye to the brain through ganglion axons, called optic nerve
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20
Q

blind spot

A

area where the optic nerve leaves the eye, so it has NO receptors

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21
Q

optic chiasm

A

point of conduction between 2 optic nerves, where they cross before making their way to the brain

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22
Q

primary visual area (BA 17)

A

located in occipital lobe in correspondence to the calcanne fissure

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23
Q

features extraction

A

in visual cortices there are specialized cells for the detection of lines oriented in a certain way (single cell recording)

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24
Q

ventral way (visual message to brain)

A

occipital lobe to temporal lobe
dedicated to the perception of attributes of an object, such as a shape, size and orientation (what is is)

25
Q

dorsal way (visual message to brain)

A

analyses position of objects in space (where it is)

26
Q

trichromatic theory

A

3 types of cones, each of which responds preferentially to a range of wavelength (blue/violet; green; yellow/red)

27
Q

colour blindness

A

supports trichromatic theory: genetic disorder that determines inability to see RED or GREEN colour

28
Q

opponent colour theory

A

receptors are linked in pairs and work in opposition to each other
- yellowish greens exist but reddish greens don’t

29
Q

sound

A

movement air molecules caused by a source of vibration

30
Q

from ear to brain steps

A
  1. enters from outer ear
  2. proceeds inside the auditory canal
  3. reaches the eardrum
  4. vibrations pass to the middle ear
  5. internal ear transforms sound into energy to send to brain
31
Q

taut membrane that vibrates with passage of sound

A

eardrum

32
Q

cochlea (inner ear)

A

spiral-shaped tube that contains fluid capable of vibrating in presence of sound

33
Q

what happens to sound in internal ear

A

Sound waves are transduced into electrical impulses that the brain can interpret as individual frequencies of sound

34
Q

basilar membrane

A

the main mechanical element of the inner ear
- crosses central part into the upper and lower cavity

35
Q

hair cells

A

if moved by vibrations entering the cochlea, they send message to brain (sensory cells)

36
Q

4 sound features

A
  1. frequency
  2. pitch
  3. amplitude
  4. loudness
37
Q

resonance-place theory (sound)

A

different areas of the basilar membrane respond to different types of frequencies

38
Q

temporal theory (sound)

A

the sound wave causes basilar membrane to vibrate and the rate of vibration determines the rate of impulses of nerve fibres in auditory nerve

39
Q

semicircular canals

A

three tubes containing liquid that moves inside them when the head moves, signalling rotation or angular movement

40
Q

otoliths

A

crystals that signal forward, backward, up and down movements along with the force of gravity
- register gravity and linear acceleration

41
Q

olfaction

A

sense of smell

42
Q

olfaction steps

A
  1. molecules of a substance enter the nasal canal
  2. molecules meet the olfactory cells
  3. through the fibres, the signal reaches the olfactory bulb located under the frontal lobes and connected with the olfactory cortex inside the temporal lobe (memory)
43
Q

gustation

A

allows qualitative evaluation of a substance based on flavour

44
Q

receptive cells in gustation

A

taste buds (10 000)

45
Q

how many tactile receptors does the each cm of skin have?

A

130

46
Q

3 types of somatic sensitivities (touch)

A
  1. meccanoceptive (pressure)
  2. thermal (temp)
  3. dolorific (pain)
47
Q

has an evolutionary projection function

A

pain

48
Q

phasic pain

A

sharp and brief

49
Q

tonic pain

A

dull and long

50
Q

“gate control” theory

A

specific receptors in spinal cord connected to parts of the brain
- when receptors are activated they open gate and the sensation of pain is experienced

51
Q

how can the gate be closed (pain)

A
  1. competition between stimuli
  2. psychological factos
52
Q

pain reduction: distraction method

A

tested on wounded soldiers with the use of virtual reality and worked

53
Q

touch and vision

A

increased sensitivity when we see the part of the body affected (rubber hand theory)

54
Q

vision and gustation

A

food appearance affects its palatability

55
Q

vison and audition

A

mouth movements affect what we hear
- Mc Gurk effect

56
Q

synesthesia

A

2 is green and 3 is red
- produces responses in more than one system

57
Q

2 theories on synesthesia

A
  1. psycholinguistic theory
  2. neurogical theory
58
Q

neurogical theory

A

synesthesia - activation effect of this ancestral perceptual system (poor inhibition between sensory areas)

59
Q

psycholinguistic theory

A

activations of different sensory modalities evoke coherent emotional response

experimental psychology (4 decks)

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