Week 8 [The Senses: Principles & Measurement] Flashcards
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Sensation
The process by which sensory receptors detect stimuli from the environment.
Perception
The interpretation and organization of sensory information to make it meaningful.
Phenomenology
The study of subjective experience, particularly how individuals experience the world.
Psychophysics:
The study of the relationship between physical stimuli and the sensations and perceptions they produce.
Wavelength:
The distance between successive crests of a wave, determining the color of light or the pitch of sound.
Intensity
The amount of energy in a stimulus, often related to its brightness or loudness.
Absolute Threshold
The smallest amount of stimulus energy that can be detected by a sensory receptor.
Psychometric Function
A curve that describes the relationship between the intensity of a stimulus and the probability of it being detected or perceived.
Difference Threshold
The smallest difference between two stimuli that can be detected.
JND (Just Noticeable Difference)
The minimum difference in stimulus intensity that can be perceived.
Weber’s Law
A principle stating that the size of the JND is proportional to the initial intensity of the stimulus.
Weber Fraction
The constant ratio of the JND to the original stimulus intensity in Weber’s Law.
Sensory Adaptation
The reduction in sensitivity to a constant stimulus over time.
Sensory Sensitivity
The ability of a sensory system to detect stimuli.
Dark Adaptation
The process by which the eyes adjust to low light conditions, becoming more sensitive to dim light.
