SP Exam 1 Flashcards
Gustav Fechner
(1801-1887) Relationship between mind and matter
- Sometimes considered the true founder of experimental psych
- Proposed mind, or consciousness, is present in all of nature
- Explained relationship between spiritual and material worlds: mind and body
- Though it should be possible to do so using mathematics
Dualism
The idea that the mind has an existence separate from the material world of the body
-Dualists hold that the mind has an existence separate from the material world of the body
Materialism
Idea that the only thing that exists is matter, and that all things, including the mind and consciousness, are the results of interaction between bits of matter
-Materialists hold that the mind is not seperate
Panpsychism
The idea that the mind exists as property of all matter (all matter has consciousness)
Psychophysics
The science of defining quantitative relationships between physical and psychological (subjective) events
Ernst Weber
(1795-1878) Anatomist and Physiologist who was interested in touch
-Tested accuracy of touch using compass
Two-Point Threshold
The minimum distanct at which two stimuli are just perceptible as separate
Just Noticeable Difference (JND) [Difference Threshold]
The smallest detectable difference between two stimuli, or the min change in a stimulus that enables it to be correctly judged as different from a reference stimulus
Weber Fraction
The constant of proportionality in Weber’s Law
Weber’s Law
The principle describing the relationship between stimulus and resulting sensation that says the JND is a constant fraction of the comparison stimulus
Fechner’s Law
A principle describing the relationship between stimulus and resulting sensation that says the magnitude of subjective sensation increases proportionally to the logarithm of the stimulus intensity
Absolute Threshold
The minimum amount of stimulation necessary for a person to detect a stimulus 50% of the time
Method of Constant Stimuli
A psychophysical method in which many stimuli, ranging from rarely to almost always perceivable (or rarely to almost always perceivably different from a reference stimulus), are presented one at a time. Participants respond to each presentation: “Yes/No,”“Same/Different,” and so on.
Method of Limits
A psychophysical method in which the particular dimension of a stimulus, or the difference between two stimuli, is caried incrementally until the participant responds differently
Method of Adjustment
A method of limits in which the subject controls the change in the stimulus
Magnitude Estimation
A psychophysical method in which the participant assigns values according to perceived magnitudes of the stimuli
Steven’s Power Law
A principle describing the relationship between stimulus and resulting sensation that says the magnitude of subjective sensation is proportional to the stimulus magnitude raised an an exponent
Cross-Modality Matching
The ability to match the intensities of sensations that come from different sensory modalities. This ability enables insight into sensory differences. For example, a listener might adjust the brightness of a light until it matches the loudness of a tone.
Supertaster
An individual whose perception of taste sensations is the most intense
Signal Detection Theory
A psychophysical theory that quantifies the response of an observer to the presentation of a signal in the presence of noise. Measures obtained from a series of presentations are sensitivity (d’) and criterion of the observer
Criterion
In signal detection theory, an internal threshold that is set by the observer. If the internal response is above criterion, the observer gives one response (ex: “yes I hear that”). Below criterion, the observer gives another response (ex: “no, I hear nothing”).
Sensitivity
In signal detection theory, a value that defines the ease with which an observer can tell the difference between the presence and absence of a stimulus or the difference between stimulus 1 and stimulus 2
Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) Curve
In studies of signal detection, the graphical plot of the hit rate as a function of the false-alarm rate. If these are the same, points fall on the diagonal, indicating that the observer cannot tell the difference between the presence and absence of the signal. As the observer’s sensitivity increases, the curve bows upward toward the upper left corner. That point represents a perfect ability to distinguish signal from noise (100% hits, 0% false alarms)
Doctrine of Specific Nerve Energies
A doctrine, formulated by Johanes Muler, stating that the nature of a sensation depends on which sensory fibers are stimulated, not on how fibers are stimulated
Johannes Muller
German physiologist. Wrote Handbook of Physiology. Formulated doctrine of specific nerve energies
Polysensory
Blending multiple sensory systems. Information from more than one sense is being combined in some manner
Vitalism
The idea that there is a force in life that is distinct from physical entities
Herman Helmholtz
Disliked Mullers idea of vitalism. HE thought all behavior should be explained by only physical forces. Wanted the brain and behavior to obey purely physical laws. Set out to show that the activity of neurons obeys normal rules of physics and chemistry by being the first to effectively measure how fast neurons transmit their signals. Estimated speed of signal transmission in nerves of frog legs.
Santiago Ramon y Cajal
Developed insights into the organization of neurons in the brain. Drawings suggested that neurons do not touch
Sir Charles Sherrington
named tiny gap between the axon of one neuron and the dendrite of the next a synapse, from the greek word meaning “to fasten together”
Synapse
The junction between neurons that permits information transfer
Otto Loewi
Proposed something CHEMICAL, instead of electrical, might be at work at the synapse
Johannes Muller
German physiologist. Wrote Handbook of Physiology. Formulated doctrine of specific nerve energies
Polysensory
Blending multiple sensory systems. Information from more than one sense is being combined in some manner
Vitalism
The idea that there is a force in life that is distinct from physical entities
Herman Helmholtz
Disliked Mullers idea of vitalism. HE thought all behavior should be explained by only physical forces. Wanted the brain and behavior to obey purely physical laws. Set out to show that the activity of neurons obeys normal rules of physics and chemistry by being the first to effectively measure how fast neurons transmit their signals. Estimated speed of signal transmission in nerves of frog legs.
Santiago Ramon y Cajal
Developed insights into the organization of neurons in the brain. Drawings suggested that neurons do not touch
Sir Charles Sherrington
named tiny gap between the axon of one neuron and the dendrite of the next a synapse, from the greek word meaning “to fasten together”
Synapse
The junction between neurons that permits information transfer
Otto Loewi
Proposed something CHEMICAL, instead of electrical, might be at work at the synapse
