Unit 3 Flashcards
Sensation
Sensory receptors and nervous system receive stimulus energies
Perception
Organizing and interpreting sensory information
Bottom up processing
Sensory receptors and works up to brains integration of sensory information
Top down processing
Guided by higher level mental processes. Experience and expectations
Selective attention
Focus conscious on single stimulus
Inattentional blindness
Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere
Change blindness
Failing to notice change in environment
Transduction
Conversion of one form of energy into another. Sights sounds smells to neural impulses
Psychophysics
Physical characteristics of stimuli and psychological experience of them
Absolute threshold
Minimum stimulus energy needed to detect stimulus 50% of the time
Signal detection theory
No single absolute threshold and Varys depending on experience, expectations, motivation, alertness
Subliminal
Below ones absolute threshold
Priming
Activation of certain associations
Difference threshold
Minimum difference between 2 stimuli
Weber’s law
To be perceived different, two stimuli must differ by constant minimum percentage
Sensory adaptation
Diminished sensitivity consequence of constant stimulation
Perceptual set
Perceive one thing and not another
ESP
Perception can occur apart from sensory input
Parapsychology
Study of paranormal
Wavelength
Distance from peak to peak
Hue
Color determined by wavelength of light
Intensity
Amount of energy in a light wave or sound wave. Determined by amplitude
Pupil
Adjustable opening in center of eye
2
Iris
Ring of muscle tissue forming color portion of eye and control size of pupil
Lens
Transparent structure behind pupil, change shape to help focus
3
Retina
Light sensitive inner surface of eye. Receptor rods and cones
Accomodation
Eyes lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on retina
Rods
Detect black white and gray. Sensitive to movement. Peripheral and twilight vision
Cones
Fine detail and give rise to color sensation
Optic nerve
Nerve carrying neural impulses from eye to brain
Blind spot
Point where optic nerve leaves eye
Fovea
Central focal point in retina. Eyes comes cluster
Feature detectors
Nerve cells respond to specific features of stimulus
Shape angle movement
Parallel processing
Processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously
Three color theory
Retina has three different types of color receptors
When stimulated produce perception of color
Opponent process theory
Opposing retinal processes enable color vision
