UNIT 3

Question 1

define transduction

Answer 1

the sensory process that converts energy, such as light or sound waves, into the form of neural messages

Question 2

absolute threshold

Answer 2

the minimum stimulation needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time

Question 3

difference threshold (or JND)

Answer 3

the minimum difference that a person can detect between two stimuli

Question 4

Weber’s Law

Answer 4

for people to really perceive a difference, the stimuli must differ by a constant proportion, not a constant amount

Question 5

A law of magnitude that is more accurate that Fechner’s law and covers a wider variety of stimuli

Answer 5

Steven’s power law

Question 6

Fechner’s Law

Answer 6

The size of JND is proportional to the intensity of the stimulus; the JND is large when the intensity of the stimulus is high

Question 7

Assumes that we do not have an absolute threshold

Answer 7

signal detection theory

Question 8

4 visual sensations

Answer 8

color, form, boundary, movement

Question 9

opponent processing theory

Answer 9

there are some color combinations that we never see, such as reddish-green or yellowish-blue

Question 10

realized that any color can be created by combining the light waves of 3 primary colors

Answer 10

young-helmholtz trichromatic theory

Question 11

What is the place theory of hearing?

Answer 11

different hairs vibrate in the cochlea when they interpret different pitches

Question 12

frequency theory (hearing)

Answer 12

All the hairs vibrate, but at different speeds (the rate of nerve impulses travelling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense its pitch)

Question 13

which sense tells us where we are oriented, and where is it?

Answer 13

vestibular, tiny hairs in the semicircular canal of the inner ear

Question 14

Which of our senses keeps track of body parts, relative to each other, and where are its receptors?

Answer 14

kinesthetic : joints, muscles, tendons

Question 15

Gate Control Theory of Pain

Answer 15

the spinal cord has a neurological “gate” that can block or allow in pain signals

Question 16

Where are pain signals ultimately routed?

Answer 16

the anterior cingulate cortex, located along the fissure separating the frontal lobes

Question 17

Analysis that emphasizes the characteristics of the stimuli over our concepts and expectations

Answer 17

bottom-up processing

Question 18

top-down perception

Answer 18

analysis that emphasizes the perceiver’s expectations and other cognitive factors, rather than individual characteristics

Question 19

The ability to recognize the same object as remaining “constant” under changing conditions is called

Answer 19

perpetual consistency

Question 20

Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere is called

Answer 20

in-attentional blindness

Question 21

What is change blindness?

Answer 21

failing to notice change in the environment around us

Question 22

Failure to notice a change in a previously selected item is

Answer 22

choice blindness

Question 23

Gestalt psychology divides perceptual experience into

Answer 23

Figure and Ground

Question 24

What is perceptual set?

Answer 24

a readiness to detect a particular stimulus in a given situation

Question 25

The Gestalt principle that we tend to group similar objects together in our perceptions

Answer 25

Law of similarity

Question 26

Law of Proximity

Answer 26

Gestalt principle that we tend to group objects together when they are near each other

Question 27

Law of common Fate

Answer 27

the Gestalt principle that we tend to group similar objects together that share a common motion or destination

Question 28

Law of Pragnanz

Answer 28

The Gestalt principle which states that the simplest organization, requiring the least cognitive effort, will emerge as the figure

Question 29

Ability to focus one’s listening attention on a single talker among a mixture of conversations and background noise, ignoring other conversations

Question 30

What is the retinal disparity (binocular parallax)

Answer 30

refers to the fact that our eyes are about 6.3 centimeters apart on our face on average, and, as a result, each sees the world from a slightly different angle

Question 31

convergence

Answer 31

when watching an object close to us, our eyes point slightly inward

Question 32

if something is blocking our view, we perceive it as closer

Answer 32

interposition

Question 33

if we know that two objects are similar in size, the one that looks smaller is farther away

Answer 33

relative size

Question 34

relative clarity

Answer 34

we assume hazy objects are farther away

Question 35

Texture gradient

Answer 35

the coarser it looks the closer it is

Question 36

things higher in our field of vision look farther away

Answer 36

relative height

Question 37

linear perspective

Answer 37

parallel lines seem to converge with distance

Question 38

light and shadow

Answer 38

dimmer objects appear farther away because they reflect less light

Question 39

Phi phenomenon

Answer 39

an illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in succession