Test #3

Question 1

Transduction

Answer 1

Changing sensory signals into nerve impulses

Question 2

Absolute Threshold

Answer 2

Minimum stimulus needed to register a stimulus 50% of the time

Question 3

Example Absolute thresholds for humans

Answer 3

Sight - Candle flame @ 30 mi.
Sound - Mechanical watch tick at 20ft
Taste - 1 tsp sugar in 2 gallons H2O
Touch - bee wing falling from 1 cm
Smell - 1 drop perfume in 3br apt.

Question 4

Difference Threshold

Answer 4

Smallest change in stimulus that will be detected 50% of the time.

Question 5

Weber’s Law

Answer 5

Size of diff threshold proportional to intensity of stimulus

Question 6

Light waves and eye

Answer 6

The eye detects a portion of the EM spectrum known as the visible light spectrum. Shorter wavelength - blue, longer wavelength - red.

Question 7

Order of light path in eye

Answer 7

Cornea - pupil - lens - retina w/ photoreceptors (rods - greyscale & peripheral, cones - detail & color) - Bipolar cells - ganglion cells - optic nerve - thalamus - visual cortex

Question 8

Blind spot

Answer 8

The spot in the eye where the optic nerve exits. no photoreceptors, thus, no vision in that spot The other eye fills in that area.

Question 9

Sound waves / frequency

Answer 9

frequency is number of times a wave completes a cycle in a given time. determines highness or lowness of pitch. usually in cycles / second (hz)

Question 10

Parts of the ear

Answer 10

Outer ear (pinna, tympanic membrane), middle ear(hammer, anvil, stirrup), cochlea, basilar membrane, hairs -> nerve cells.

Question 11

frequency theory

Answer 11

different hairs on basilar membrane react to different frequencies of sound. explains why humans can hear

Question 12

Vestibular sense

Answer 12

sense of body position in regards to gravity.

Question 13

The binding problem

Answer 13

no one knows how the brain takes all of the sensory data and build 1 perception from it.

Question 14

Bottom - up processing

Answer 14

Stimulus driven perception (when you have no experience) focused on the details due to lack of knowledge about subject.

Question 15

Top-down processing

Answer 15

experience based perception. Conceptually driven processing

Question 16

perceptual constancy

Answer 16

Ability to recognize objects as remaining constant under different conditions.

Question 17

Interpretation of ambiguous figures

Answer 17

Used to study perception and processing in right/left hemisphere, also and seeing 2d objects as 3d.

Question 18

Gestalt principles

Answer 18

Figure & ground - focus vs background
Closure - filling in the blanks
Perceptual grouping- categorizing
Similarity - same features
Proximity - close to each other
Continuity - always shown same way
Common fate - movement or termination in same area

Question 19

Learning based inference theory

Answer 19

Perception is primarily shaped by learning (experience) rather than innate factors. Make inferences based on prior experience. (mask with outward nose on each side)

Question 20

Cognitive neuroscientists research techniques

Answer 20

FMRI, PET, etc.

Question 21

Conscious and non-conscious information processing

Answer 21

Conscious - one at a time focus that creates our mental representation of the world and our current thoughts.
Non-conscious - Processed in parallel, not active thought with focus.

Question 22

Daydreams

Answer 22

Mildly altered state of consciousness where attention turns to memories, expectations, desires. Often w/ vivid mental imagery. Default set when brain is bored.

Question 23

Hypothalamus

Answer 23

Controls the bio-clock

Question 24

Consciousness

Answer 24

• Restricts attention
• Provides mental meeting place for perception to take place
• Allows us to create a mental model of the world

Question 25

Circadian rhythms

Answer 25

Bodily patterns that repeat ~ 24 hrs. Controlled in bio-clock that also determines metabolism and other factors.

Question 26

Sleep cycle

Answer 26

~90 minutes / cycle
4-6 cycles / night
Stage 1 - fast brain waves (beta)
Stage 2 - Short bursts of fast electrical energy (spindles)
Stage 3 - Slows down waves (delta), heart rate, breathing deep, most relaxed sleep
Stage 4 - Even slower waves
REM - ~10 min then longer as night progresses. (rapid eye movement)
Cycles - 1,2,3,4,3,2,REM (repeat)

Question 27

Sleep and personality

Answer 27

No agreement theories: Conserve energy, mental functioning / problem solving, Restore body, help brain process info.

Long sleepers - nervous, worrisome, artistic
Short sleepers - energetic, extroverted.

Question 28

Sleep requirements

Answer 28

Babies - 16 hrs
young adults - 7 or more
older adults -

Question 29

Sleep debt and symptoms

Answer 29

State when slept less than req’d.

Bad focus, weight gain, shortened life span, sleep when bored vs. daydream.

Question 30

Freud - interpretation of dreams

Answer 30

Wrote the book. Most comprehensive theory on the meaning of dreams

Question 31

Manifest content of dreams

Answer 31

Dream storyline / subject

Question 32

Latent content of dreams

Answer 32

Symbolic meaning of dream

Question 33

Hypnosis

Answer 33

Altered state of alertness in which deep relaxation, heightened suggestibility, and deep focus result.

Question 34

Meditation

Answer 34

State often induced on repetitive behavior, can exclude external stimuli.

Question 35

Hallucinogens

Answer 35

Creates altered perception of environment.

LSD, angel dust, cannibis, mushrooms.

Question 36

Opiates

Answer 36

From the poppy. Highly addictive, strong sens of relief, strong pain reliever.
Morphine, codeine, heroine, vicodin, oxycontin

Question 37

Depressants

Answer 37

Slow down mental processes, & CNS.

Benzodiasapines, alcohol, barbiturates

Question 38

Stimulants

Answer 38

Speed up CNS

Caffeine, methamphetamines, nicotine, cocaine.