psy200 exam #2

Perception

Processing, experiencing, and responding to information from senses

Sensors

Cells / organs that convert a physical signal from environment to nerve impulses

Retina

Layer of photoreceptors

Photoreceptors

Convert light-based signal into electrical signal

Vision

Light signal → retinal photoreceptors → change in ion channels → electrical signal

Oval Window

Membrane that responds to vibrations to open pathway to cochlea

Cochlea

Hollow structure filled with fluid that vibrates

Basilar Membrane

Contains hair cells / mechanoreceptors

Hair Cells

Or mechanoreceptors, sensitive to movement where membrane allows ions to pass

Hearing

Vibration → eardrum → oval window → cochlea / cochlear fluid → basilar membrane → hair cells / mechanoreceptors → change in ion channels → electrical signal

Short Cones

Blue light

Middle Cones

Green light

Long Cones

Red-yellow light

High Pitched Sound

Affects the basilar membrane closer to oval window on the narrow / stiff end

Low Pitched Sound

Affects the basilar membrane further from oval window on the wide / flexible end

Cochlear Implants

Microphone on head detects sound, electrical stimulator inside cochlea stimulate basilar membrane

Bottom-Up Information

Processed by senses

Top-Down Information

Processed by brain

Unconscious Inference

Interpreting sensory signal and filling in missing information based on assumption

Misperception

Perceiving things that aren’t there

Multistable Perception

Perceiving same thing in multiple ways

Gestalt Psychologists

How the mind organizes separate pieces of sensory information into a coherent perception

Good Continuation

Points that, when connected, result in a smooth curve are perceived as belonging together

Simplicity

Stimulus patterns are perceived in such a way that the resulting structure is as simple as possible

Similarity

Similar things appear to be grouped together, apart of a single, larger structure

Closure

When coherent shapes / objects are incomplete in the sensory input they are nevertheless perceives as complete

Dichotic Listening Experiment

Different audio in both ears, told to pay attention to one

Feature Integration Theory of Attention

Basic features don’t require attention but a combination of features does

Visual Search Experiment

Search for a target item among distractor items

Feature Search

Search for item defined by a single feature

Conjunction Search

Search for item defined by a combination of features

Transients

Sudden changes / movements

Bottom-Up Factors

Sensory inputs automatically drawing attention

Top-Down Factors

Purposeful direction of attention to inputs

Spatial Attention

Guided to attend to a direction

Feature-Based Attention

Guided to attend to a specific feature

Object-Based Attention

Guided to attend to a specific object

Balint’s Syndrome

Damage to both sides of parietal cortex causing trouble paying attention to multiple objects

Unilateral Neglect

Damage to one side of parietal cortex causing trouble paying attention to both sides of space

Memory

Retaining, retrieving, and using information after original information is no longer present

Declarative / Explicit Memory

Involves conscious memories a person is able to purposefully recall

Non-Declarative / Implicit Memory

Involves unconscious information a person uses but doesn’t purposefully recall

Episodic Memory

Specific personal experiences from a time / place

Semantic Memory

Various kinds of information / facts

Patient KC

Intact semantic memory, affected episodic memory

Semanticization of Memories

Episodic memories are lost but convert to semantic memories

Sensory Memory

Information from senses automatically stays in system for a while before disappearing

Whole-Report Condition

Briefly flashed grid of letters, participants are able to report ~35% of letters

Partial-Report Condition

Briefly flashed grid of letters, tone played after to indicate which row they should recall, participants are able to report >35% of letters

Clive Wearing

Cannot form long-term memories, once left working memory it is forgotten

Flashbulb Memories

When people report particularly vivid / detailed episodic memories of emotional events

Digit Span Test

Experimenter says digits, participants repeats as many as they can remember

Delayed-Response Task

Monkey sees two trays, one with food and one without, then is taken away (delay) and picks which one had the food on it

Anterograde Amnesia

Inability to form new memories

Retrograde Amnesia

Inability to remember old memories, worse closer to damage

Graded Amnesia

How closely the amnesia is to the damage done