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Physiological Psychology > Sensory Systems > Flashcards

Sensory Systems Flashcards

1
Q

Law of specific nerve energies

A

activity by a particular nerve always conveys the same type of information to the brain

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2
Q

Pathway of light

A

Pupil > focused by lens and cornea onto retina (lined with visual receptors)

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3
Q

Cellular organisation is (eyes)

A

bipolar cells (back of the eye) synapse with ganglion cells (which form the optic nerve). Amacrine cells then synapse with bipolar and ganglion cells (many types of GC)

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4
Q

Types of ganglion cells

A

• Midget GC (parvocellular pathway)
• Parasol GC (magnocellular pathway)
• Bistratisfied GC (konicellular)

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5
Q

Optic chiasm

A

place where two optic nerves meet. Most axons terminate in the lateral geniculate nucleus.

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6
Q

Fovea

A

central portion of the retina. Lots of receptors, each receptor 1:1 with bipolar and ganglion cells. Poor low light but high spatial

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7
Q

Periphery of retina

A

greater number of receptors converge, low spatial but greater perception in faint light

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8
Q

Visual receptors

A

Rods: 120 million, most in periphery
Cones: 6 million, most around retina. Colour.

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9
Q

Trichromatic theory

A

occurs through relative rates of response by three kinds of cones. Ratio of activity determines the colour

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10
Q

Opponent process theory

A

paired opposites (R-G, B-Y). Mechanism = bipolar cells excited by one set of wavelength, inhibited by another

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11
Q

Retinex theory

A

cortex compares information from various parts of retina to determine brightness. Explains consistent colour perception in lighting.

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12
Q

Primary Visual Cortex (V1) (occipital lobe)

A

• Receives input from lateral geniculate nucleus, visual perception
• Various cell types – simple, complex, end-stopped.
• Secondary visual cortex (V2, important for binocular disparity) gets info from V1.

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13
Q

Ventral stream

A

the ‘what’, identify and recognise objects

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14
Q

Dorsal stream

A

the ‘how/where’, visually guided movements

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15
Q

Regions of brain responsible for facial recognition

A

• Core: Inferior occipital gyri
• Extended: Intraparietal sulcus

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16
Q

Brain regions responsible for motion perception

A
  • Middle-temporal cortex – cells w directional selectivity
  • Medial superior temporal – optic flow
17
Q

Process of sound transduction

A

• Outer ear: Pinna
• Middle ear: Tympanic membrane, malleus, incus, stapes, oval window
• Inner ear: Cochlea (basilar membrane and tectorial membrane

18
Q

What is sound and audition?

A

Sound waves are transduced, period compressions of air or water

19
Q

Place theory

A

each hair cell in BM sensitive to only one frequency

20
Q

Frequency theory

A

BM vibrates with sound and causes axons to produce APs at same frequency

21
Q

Pitch perception theory

A

combines both, PlaceT = high frequency sounds, FrequencyT low frequency sounds

22
Q

Primary auditory cortex location

A

superior temporal cortex, sylvian fissure

23
Q

Primary auditory cortex purpose

A

Primary site for processing information

24
Q

Sound localisation

A

does not rely on activity of sensory receptors, computed in CNS.

25
Q

Cues for sound and audition

A

Sound shadow and time of arrival

26
Q

What is vestibular sensation

A

composed of several structures, detect position/movement of head

27
Q

Vestibular sensation structures

A

• Saccule and utricle contain otoloths and hair cells
• Three canals contain jellylike substance

28
Q

Types of mechanoreceptors

A

• Meissners corpuscles – light pressure, fast adapt
• Merkels disks – light p, slow adapt
• Pacinian corpuscles – deep p, fast adapt

• Ruffini endings – deep p, slow adapt

29
Q

Transduction of touch

A

information enters CNS/brain through cranial nerves. Below head VIA spinal cord/nerves.

30
Q

Labeled line theory

A

Taste depends on which receptor is activated

31
Q

Across fibre pattern theory

A

pattern of activity dictates taste perception

32
Q

Transduction of taste

A

o Salt permits sodium ions to cross membrane
o Sour detects acids
o Sweet/bitter/umami activate 2nd messenger

33
Q

Taste

A

Papillae on surface of tongue, 10+ taste buds each w 50 receptors

34
Q

What is smell?

A

Olfactory receptors respond to odour molecules, which are lined in epithelium.

35
Q

Transduction of smell

A

occurs via second messenger. Info carried to olfactory bulb, which projects to cortex.

Physiological Psychology (6 decks)

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