Psych100 Exam 3

Sensation

Process by which sensory receptors and the nervous system receive and represent stimulus energy.

Perception

Process of organizing and interpreting sensory information.

Bottom-up processing

Processing that starts with sensory input and builds toward recognition.

Top-down processing

Processing guided by expectations, experiences, and prior knowledge.

Absolute threshold

Minimum stimulation detected 50% of the time.

Difference threshold (JND)

Minimum difference between two stimuli detected 50% of the time.

Weber's law

The detectable difference between stimuli is a constant proportion of the original stimulus.

Sensory adaptation

Decreased sensitivity after constant stimulation.

Classical conditioning

Learning to associate two stimuli.

Operant conditioning

Learning through the consequences of behavior.

Positive reinforcement

Adding a desirable consequence to increase a behavior.

Negative reinforcement

Removing an unpleasant stimulus to increase a behavior.

Positive punishment

Adding an unpleasant consequence to decrease a behavior.

Negative punishment

Removing a desirable stimulus to decrease a behavior.