AP Psych Unit 3

Synesthesia

A condition where two senses are sensed simultaneously, with one type of stimulation evoking the sensation of another

Sensation

The process where the senses collect information from the environment and convert it into signals for the brain

Transduction

The conversion of stimulus energy into electrochemical energy of neural impulses, except for smell

Perception

The process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting sensory information to recognize meaningful objects and events

Bottom-Up Processing

Involves starting with an incoming stimulus and working upwards to form a representation of the object in our minds

Top-Down Processing

Forming perceptions starting with a larger object, concept, or idea before focusing on detailed information

Absolute Threshold

The smallest level of stimulus that can be detected at least half the time

Signal Detection Theory

Predicts how and when we detect faint stimuli amid background stimulation, considering experience, motivation, and fatigue

Difference Threshold

The amount something must change for a difference to be noticeable at least half the time

Weber’s Law

States that two stimuli must differ by a constant percentage to be perceived as different

Sensory Adaptation

Reduction in sensitivity to a constant stimulus after continuous exposure

Selective Attention

Focusing on important elements while other things go unnoticed or blend into the background

Divided Attention

Mental focus on multiple tasks or ideas simultaneously, reducing attention on each task

Cocktail Party Effect

Ability to focus on a particular sound while filtering out others

Inattentional Blindness

Failing to notice stimuli when focused on something else

Change Blindness

Missing changes in the immediate visual environment

Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic Theory

Explains color vision with three types of color receptors in the retina

Opponent-Process Theory

Describes retinal processes occurring in three sets of opponents for color vision

Feature Detectors

Specialized neurons in the visual cortex that respond to specific visual stimuli

Audition

The process by which ears process sound waves

Amplitude

The height of a sound wave, determining loudness

Frequency

The number of wavelength cycles in a unit of time, determining pitch

Pinna

The outer ear that collects sound waves

Tympanic Membrane

The eardrum that vibrates in response to sound waves

Cochlea

A fluid-filled tube in the inner ear where sound waves trigger nerve impulses

Figure-Ground Pattern

Tendency of the visual system to simplify a scene into the main object (figure) and the background (ground)

Grouping

Brain's tendency to organize stimuli into groups to process the complexity of the world

Depth Perception

Ability to perceive the world in 3D and judge the distance of objects

Binocular Cues

Depth cues requiring the use of both eyes to perceive depth or distance

Retinal Disparity

Difference in visual images perceived by each eye due to different viewing angles

Convergence

Eyes moving together to focus on close objects and apart for distant objects

Monocular Cues

Clues for depth perception using only one eye to form 3D from 2D

Linear Perspective

Depth cue where parallel lines appear to converge at a vanishing point

Interposition Overlap

Perception of objects as farther when one overlaps another

Relative Size

Farther objects appear smaller if similar in size to closer objects

Relative Height

Objects higher in visual field perceived as further away

Relative Clarity

Hazy objects perceived as farther than clear objects

Light and Shadow

Darkened objects may appear further than brightly lit ones

Texture Gradient

Distant objects have smoother texture than nearby objects

Relative Motion

Closer objects seem to move faster than distant objects

Perceptual Set

Predisposition to perceive things in a certain way

Perceptual Constancy

Tendency to perceive familiar objects with constant shape, size, and brightness

Color Constancy

Objects appear the same color under changing illumination

Lightness Constancy

Perceiving objects with constant lightness despite varying illumination

Shape Constancy

Perceiving objects with constant size despite changes in distance or viewing angle

Parapsychology

Study of paranormal phenomena like ESP and psychokinesis

ESP

Extrasensory perception, perception without specific sensory input, not supported by research