Psychology test 3

chapters 4 and 5

Sensation

the conversion of energy from the environment into a pattern of response by the nervous system

Perception

the interpretation of that information

Two functions of the nervous system

sensation, and perception

Stimuli

energies from the world around us that affect us in some way

(sensory) receptors

specialized cells that convert environmental energies into signals for the nervous system

Electromagnetic (radiation) spectrum

the continuum of all frequencies of radiated spectrum energy of radiated energy

• such as gamma rays,x-rays, very short wavelengths, through ultraviolet,visible light and infrared to radio and TV transmissions with very long wavelengths

Retina

a layer of visual receptors covering the back surface of the eyeball

Rods

adapted for vision in dim light

Cones

adapted for perceiving color and detail in bright light

Fovea

the central area of the human retina is adapted for detailed vision

Dark adaptation

gradual improvement in the ability to see in dim light

Optic nerve

a cable-like bundle of nerve fibers that connects the back of each eye to the brain to carry visual messages

Blind spot

the retinal area where the optic nerve exits

Sound waves

vibrations of the air, water, or other medium that vary in frequency

• adults humans hear soundwaves from 15-20 hertz to 15000-20000 Hz

Cochlea

the ear converts relatively weak sound waves into more intense waves of pressure in the fluid-filled canals of the snail-shaped organ which contains the receptors for hearing

Vestibular sense

detects the tilt and acceleration of the head and the orientation of the head with respect to gravity

Cutaneous senses

meaning the skin senses

• also known as somatosensory system

• pressure, cold,warmth ,pain, itch,vibration,movement across the skin and stretch of the skin

Endorphins

neurotransmitters that weaken pain sensations

Taste

detect chemicals on the tongue serves one function it governs eating and drinking

• taste receptors are taste buds

• 5 basic taste buds consists of sweet,sour,salty,bitter and umami

Smell

detects airborne molecules

• also known as olfaction

Gestalt psychology

emphasizes perception of overall patterns

• (the whole is greater than the sum of its parts)

• describes priniciple of how we organize perception into meaningful wholes

Visual constancy

our tendency to perceive objects as keeping their shape, size, and color despite distortions in the actual pattern reaching the retina

Induced movement

is apparent movement as opposed to real movement

Depth perception

the perception of distance enables us to experience the world in three dimensions

Retinal disparity

the difference in the apparent position of an object as seen by the left and right retinas

Binocular cues

depend on both eyes

Convergence

the degree to which both eyes turn in to focus in a close object

Monocular cues

enables you to judge depth and distance with just one eye or when both eyes see the same image as when you look at a picture

Linear perspective

as parallel lines stretch out toward the horizon they seem to converge

Detail

closer objects are sharper (have more detail) than futher objects

Interposition

nearby objects block our view of more distant objects

Motion parallax

closer objects move more quickly across the retina than distant objects

Optical illusion

a misinterpretation of a visual stimulus

Moon illusion

so convincing that many people have tried to explain it by referring to the bending of light rays by the atmosphere or other physical phenomena

Zygote

fertilizied egg cell

Fetus

unborn offspring of a animal or human that develops inside the womb after the major body organs have started to form

Fetal alcohol syndrome

a condition marked by malformations of the face,heart and ears and nervous system damage including seizures hyperactivity and impairments of learning,memory,problem solving,attention and moto coordination

Embryo

an early stage of development for a living organism such as a human, an animal or a plant right after fertilization or conception

Preembryo

the early stage of a fertilized egg before it implants into the wall of the uterus

Habituation

decreased response to a repeated stimulus

Dishabituation

when a change in a stimulus increases a previously habituated response

Paiget

swiss development psychologist and philsopher

investigated how children’s thinking changes as they develop

Schema

an organized way of interacting with objects

Assimilation

applying an old schema to new objects or problems

Accommodation

modifying an old schema to fit a new object or problem

Egocentric

young children often fail to understand other people’s point of view

Conservation

they fail to understand that objects conserve such properties as number, length,volume,area and mass after changes in the shape or arrangement of the objects

Sensorimotor stage

At this early age (the first 1 ½ ro 2 years) behavior is mostly simple motor response to sensory stimuli

• ex: the grasp reflex and the sucking reflex

Preoperational stage

(ages 2-7) child lacks operations which are reversible mental processes

• at this stage children think symbolically about objects but they reason based on intuition and superficial appearances

Concrete operations stage

(ages 7-11) children perform mental operations on concrete objects but still have trouble with abstract or hypothetical ideas

• at this stage children begin to think about and understand logical operations and they are no longer fooled by appearances

Formal operations stage

(ages 11 and onward) adolescents develop logical deductive reasoning and systemic planning

Object permanence

the idea that objects continue to exist even when we do not see or hear them

Vygotsky

russian psychologist he argued that educators should not wait for children to rediscover the principles of physics and mathematics

Zone of proximal development

the distance between what a child can do alone and what is possible with help

Theory of mind

an understanding that other people have a mind too and that each person knows some things that other people don’t know

Attachment

a feeling of closeness toward another person

Strange situation

Laboratory procedure designed to evaluate attachment style by observing one-year-olds reactions to being separated and then reunited with their primary caregiver