Sensation and Perception

These flashcards cover key terms and definitions from the Sensation and Perception chapter, aiding in understanding the processes of sensation, perception, and their physiological mechanisms.

Sensation

The simple stimulation of a sense organ.

Perception

The organization, identification, and interpretation of a sensation to form a mental representation.

Transduction

The process by which sensory receptors convert physical signals from the environment into neural signals.

Absolute Threshold

The minimum intensity needed to just barely detect a stimulus in 50% of the trials.

Just Noticeable Difference (JND)

The minimal change in a stimulus that can just barely be detected.

Signal Detection Theory

The theory that response to a stimulus depends on a person's sensitivity to the stimulus in the presence of noise and their decision criterion.

Eyeball accommodation

The process whereby the eye maintains a clear image on the retina by changing the shape of the lens.

Photoreceptor Cells

Cells in the retina that convert light into neural impulses; includes rods and cones.

Blind Spot

An area in the visual field that produces no sensation on the retina due to the absence of photoreceptors.

Binocular Cues

Depth perception cues that require both eyes to judge distances.

Monocular Cues

Depth perception cues that can be perceived with one eye.

Haptic Perception

The active exploration of the environment by touching and grasping objects.

Gate-Control Theory of Pain

The theory suggesting that signals arriving from pain receptors can be stopped or gated by interneurons in the spinal cord.

Proprioception

The sense of body position and movement.

Olfaction

The sense of smell, which functions via airborne molecules that activate olfactory receptors.

Gustation

The sense of taste, which involves five basic tastes: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami.

Pheromones

Biochemical odorants emitted by other members of an animal's species that can affect behavior or physiology.