Test #3

Question 1

define transduction

Answer 1

transduction = sense receptors turn physical signals into neural ones

physical signals ——> neural signals

thanks transduction!

Question 2

sensory adaptation

Answer 2

when we adapt to our current and changing conditions!

Question 3

absolute threshold

Answer 3

the minimal amount of intensity needed to detect a stimulus (50%)

Question 4

acuity

Answer 4

how well we can distinguish two similar stimuli

e.g. distinguishing a rooster from a turkey, or one Hallmark Christmas movie from another

Question 5

Just Noticeable Difference

Answer 5

the minimal change in a stimulus that can barely be detected

Question 6

visual acuity

Answer 6

the ability to see in fine detail

Question 7

retina

Answer 7

a layer of tissue lining the back of the eyeball

Question 8

cones

Answer 8

photoreceptors that detect color

they operate in normal, daily conditions and allow our eyes to focus

think of the cones as a nice handyman from the 50s (Mr. Cones)

Question 9

rods

Answer 9

photoreceptors that become active in low-light conditions. enable night vision

think of rods as a thief sneaking in in the night (Mr. Rods)

Question 10

blind spot

Answer 10

a location in the visual field that produces no sensation. think of it like this:

blind spot = no man’s land

Question 11

Area V1

Answer 11

the part of the occipital lobe that contains the primary visual cortex

Area V1 is to primary visual cortex as Area 51 is to primary alien mothership

Question 12

color-opponent system

Answer 12

a theory stating that pairs of cone-type channels work in opposition to each other

e.g., in this 50s neighborhood, they are several Mr. Cones competing with each other to see who can be the best handyman

Question 13

visual receptive field

Answer 13

the region of the visual field to which each neuron responds

think of a giant open field that has a magnet sitting at the end, and neurons being fired like blasters, each fire being attracted to the magnet.

Question 14

parallel processing

Answer 14

the brain’s capacity to perform multiple activities at the same time

Question 15

illusory conjunction

Answer 15

a perceptual mistake the brain makes when it incorrectly combines features for multiple objects

KEY WORD(S): “conjunction” “combine”

Question 16

feature-integration theory

Answer 16

the idea that focused attention is not required to detect the individual features that make up a stimulus (such as the color, shape, size, or location) but is required to bind those features together.

visual aid: a puzzle being put together; the separate pieces are not as important as the finished, integrated product.

Question 17

perceptual constancy

Answer 17

perceptual principle stating that even as aspects of sensory signals change, perception remains consistent.

KEY WORD(S): “constancy” “consistent”

Question 18

perceptual contrast

Answer 18

the phenomenon that occurs when the sensory information from two things may be very similar, but we perceive objects differently regardless.

Question 19

perceptual organization

Answer 19

the process of grouping features to create whole objects organized in meaningful ways.

visual aid: think of Jack organizing his legos by color and type in order to build a set.

Question 20

monocular depth cues

Answer 20

aspects of a scene that yield information about depth when viewed with only one eye.

KEY WORD(S): “monocular” “one eye”

Question 21

binocular disparity

Answer 21

the difference in the retinal images of the two eyes that provides information about depth.

KEY WORD(S): “binocular” “two eyes” “difference”

Question 22

apparent motion

Answer 22

the perception of movement as a result of images appearing in rapid succession in different locations.

in other words, your eyes picking up movement.

Question 23

spatial acuity

Answer 23

the ability to distinguish two features that are very close together in space.

Question 24

temporal acuity

Answer 24

the ability to distinguish two features that are very close together in time

KEY WORD(S): “temporal” “time”

Question 25

multisensory

Answer 25

events that stimulate multiple senses at the same time

Question 26

change blindness

Answer 26

failure to detect changes in the visual details of a scene.

being blind to change.

Question 27

timbre

Answer 27

the quality of sound that allows you to distinguish two sources with the same pitch and loudness.

visual aid: listening to “Timber” by Kesha and Pitbull, and being able to tell who’s singing - either Kesha or Pitbull.

Question 28

traveling wave

Answer 28

the up-and-down movement in the basilar membrane.

visual aid: a crowd doing the “wave” at a basketball game.

Question 29

inner hair cells

Answer 29

specialized auditory receptor neurons imbedded in the basilar membrane.

Question 30

Area A1

Answer 30

the primary auditory cortex in the temporal lobe.

think: “A1” = primary auditory

Question 31

temporal code

Answer 31

the process by which the brain uses the timing of action potential on the auditory nerve to help determine the pitch you have.

KEY WORD(S): “temporal” “timing”

Question 32

haptic perception

Answer 32

the active exploration of the environment by touching and grasping objects with our hands.

visual aid: haptic —–> hectic two year-old that has to touch everything in its path

Question 33

tactile receptive field

Answer 33

a small patch of skin that relates information about pain/pleasure texture pattern or vibration to receptor.

KEY WORD(S): “tactile” “texture” “pattern”

Question 34

proprioception

Answer 34

your sense of bodily position.

proprioception —–> position

Question 35

olfactory receptor neurons

Answer 35

receptor cells that transduce odorant molecules into neural impulses.

KEY WORD(S): “olfactory” “odorant” “receptor”

Question 36

pheromones

Answer 36

biochemical utterance emitted by other members of an animal species that can affect its behavior of physiology.

pheromones —-> feral odor

Question 37

what are the three pairs of colors?

Answer 37

red/green - blood on the grass
blue/yellow - sun in the sky
black/white - film noir

Question 38

agnosia

Answer 38

the inability to recognize objects

Question 39

apperceptive agnosia

Answer 39

the inability to integrate new info about perceived objects

Question 40

how many taste cell receptors do we have?

Answer 40

100

Question 41

how many taste buds do we have?

Answer 41

up to 10,000

Question 42

consolidation

Answer 42

the process by which memories become stable in the brain

KEY WORD(S): consolidating, comfort, stability

visual aid: being in a stable, committed relationship

Question 43

reconsolidation

Answer 43

the process by which memories can become vulnerable to destruction when they are recalled, when they are required to be consolidated again.

visual aid: going through a break up and opening yourself up to love/stability again.

Question 44

serial position effect

Answer 44

observation that the first and last few items in a series are more likely to be recalled than the items in the middle.

visual aid: when asked to remember the set 5, 6, 10, 33, 89, 24, 72, 13, and 102, you are more likely to remember 5, 6, and 13 and 102.

Question 45

working memory

Answer 45

active maintenance of information in short term storage.

Question 46

long-term potentiation

Answer 46

a process in which repeated communication across the synapse between neurons strengthens the connection, making further communication easier.

visual aid: good communication generally leads to a long-term relationship.