Psychology chapter 3; Unit 2 Sensation and Perc

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93 Terms

1

Sensation

The process through which we detect physical energy from the environment and code that energy into specific neural signs

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2

Perception

Process in which the brain selects, organizes, and interprets sensory information.

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3

Receptor cell

A cell in a sensory organ stimulated by energy, leading to sensation.

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Transduction

A process through which physical energy, such as light or sound, is converted into an electrical (neural) change.

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Psychophysics

The study of a relationship between physical characteristic of stimuli and the sensory experiences that accompany them.

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Absolute threshold

The smallest amount of energy needed to detect a stimulus (light, sound, pressure, taste, or odor) at least 50% of the time.

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Difference threshold

The minimum difference between two stimuli needed to detect the difference at least 50% of the time.

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Weber’s Law

Law in psychophysics; the difference between two objects varies proportionally to the initial size of stimulus

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9

Signal detection theory

A theory explaining differences in people’s responses to stimuli based on varying circumstances.

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10

Subliminal perception

When sensation falls below the absolute threshold

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Subliminal persuasion

Using subliminal techniques to influence people’s behaviors

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12

Subliminal adaptation

Occurs when your senses are exposed to an unchanging stimulus and eventually stop registering the existence of that stimulus

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13

Wavelengths

The distance between the peak of each wave of energy; measured in nanometers

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14

Hue

Color, which is derived from wavelengths of light that hits the eye.

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15

Brightness

A characteristic of color derived from the amplitude, or height of wavelengths

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Saturation

Refers to the richness of color

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17

Cornea

The protective cover over the eye; refracts light and focuses on objects

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18

Pupil

Small hole in the middle of the eye that allows light to enter.

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Iris

A colored muscle that dilates (gets bigger) or constricts (gets smaller) the pupil in response to light

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20

Lens

A flexible structure in the eye that changes shape to refract and focus light.

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21

Visual accommodation

A process that involves the lens of the eye changing shape to best refract and focus the light on the retina

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22

Presbyopia

A hardening of the lens of the eye that leads to blurred near vision, typically occurs around the ages of 35 and 60

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23

Retina

Multilayered tissue at the back of the eye responsible for visual transduction, or the conversion of light stimuli into neural communication leading to vision.

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Rods

Retinal receptors that respond to varying degrees of light and dark; work best in dimly lit conditions.

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Fovea

A depressed spot in the retina that occupies the center of the visual field.

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Cons

Visual receptors specializing in the perception of color; found primarily in the fovea

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27

Optic nerve

Nerve that carries the neural messages from the eye to the brain to be processed.

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28

Blind spot

Receptorless area at the back of the eye where the optic nerve exits; images focused on this part of the retina are not seen in the visual field.

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Optic chiasm

An area in the brain where a portion of both optic nerves cross over and continue to the visual cortex

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30

Feature detector

Neurons that respond to specific types of features in the visual field.

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31

Parallel processing

The ability of the brain to simultaneously perceive many aspects of an object at one time.

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32

Blindsight

Blindness in part of the visual field due to damage to the primary visual cortex; despite not being able to consciously see, individuals are often aware of the characteristics objects in the blind spot.

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Subtractive color mixture

When adding additional colors removes wavelengths of light, eventually resulting in black

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34

Additive color mixture

A process involving the mixing of light, where additional wavelengths are added together and reflected, eventually creating white light.

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35

Trichromatic theory of color vision

A theory that there are three different types of retinal receptors that are each sensitive to varying wavelengths of light, also called young Helmholtz theory of color vision.

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Short wavelength cones

Absorb up to 419-nm (blue cones)

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Medium wavelength cones

Absorb up to 531-nm (green)

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Long wavelength cones

Absorb up to 558-nm (red)

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39

After image

An image that remains in the visual field once the stimulus has been removed

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40

Negative after image

An after image where the colors seen are the opposite of those originally presented

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41

Opponent process theory

Theory of color vision stating there are three special visual receptors that work in pairs and in an opposing manner

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42

Microsaccades

Small, jerky movements of the eye, which allows neurons to reset therefore preventing exhaustion

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43

Soundwave

A change in air pressure caused by molecules of air or fluid colliding and moving apart.

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44

Frequency

The rate of a sound wave measured in cycles per second, or hertz (Hz), determines the pitch of sound.

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45

Timbre

Referring to sound; the purity and complexity of tone.

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46

Sound shadow

The absorption of sound by the head; sound waves hit one ear first, then are dampened by the head, which aids in location of sound.

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Eardrum

Part of the outer ear that vibrates in response to sounds in the environment.

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48

Cochlea

A fluid filled structure in the inner ear that receives vibrations from the small bones of the middle ear. (Hammer, anvil, stirrup)

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Basilar membrane

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Hair cell receptors

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Place theory

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Frequency theory

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Volley principle

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54

Sensorineural hearing loss

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Cochlear emplant

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Conductive hearing loss

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Mixed hearing loss

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Amplitude

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Olfaction

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Taste buds

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61

21 square feet

The amount of skin on body

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62

Gate control theory of pain

Theory suggesting information about pain in conveyed through two different nerve fibers (a thin fiber for pain and a thicker fiber relaying touch, pressure, and vibration) pain can be inhibited by activating large nerve fibers which closes the smaller pain gates.

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63

Proprioceptors

Sensory receptors that provide info about body position and movement

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64

Bottom up processing

Method of perception that involves processing information from the raw data, or environmental stimuli, up to the brain.

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65

Top-down processing

Perception that relies heavily on previous knowledge and experience; also known as knowledge based processing.

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66

Perceptual constancy

The perception of a stimulus remains the same even though some of its characteristics may have changed.

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Size constancy

The perception of an objects size doesn’t change, regardless of changes in distance.

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68

Color constancy

Recognizing that the color of an object doesn’t change even though the reflected wavelengths of light change in different environments; for example, knowing a red apple is red regardless of whether or not it is seen during the day or night.

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Shape constancy

Objects are perceived as the same shape even though the retinal image may change as a result of different view point.

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70

Perceptual set

The tendency for previous experiences and expectations to influence how situations or objects are perceived.

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71

Illusory contour

A visual illusion where lines or contours are perceived but do not exist.

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Proximity

Tendency to perceive objects close to one another as part of the same group

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Similarity

Tendency to perceive objects that are the same shape, size, or color as part of a pattern

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Closure

Gestalt (form or whole) principle of perception involving the tendency to perceive images as complete objects

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Continuity

Gestalt principle of perception involving the tendency to view intersecting lines as part of a continuous pattern rather than a series of separate lines.

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76

Depth perception

The ability to judge distances of objects and to see them in three dimension

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Oculomotor cues

Depth perception cues involving the activity within the eyes

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Convergence

Monocular cue of depth perception; the inward movement of the eyes that occurs when looking at something up close

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79

Monocular cues

Cues that indicate depth or distance that can be seen within just one eye

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80

Pictorial cues

Monocular cues that provide information about depth communicated through two dimensional pictures

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Linear perspective

A depth perception cue where covering parallel lines suggest distance

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82

Relative size

A pictorial cue based on size constancy suggesting that smaller objects are further away

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83

Relative height

A pictorial cue based on the principle of size constancy , suggesting that taller objects are further away

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84

Interposition

A depth perception cue, when an object or person blocks another, the one in the back is perceived to be further away

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85

Texture gradient

A pictorial cue that assumes that objects within visible structure appear closer than those with little or no texture

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86

Motion parallax

A depth perception cue, the sense that objects further away are moving more slowly

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87

Binocular cue

A depth perception cue that involves the use of both eyes

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88

Retinal disparity

Referring to the slightly different images seen by the right and left eye (due to distance between the two retinas) a primary binocular cue for depth perception

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89

Perceptual illusions

An experience where the perception of a stimulus is different than the actual evoking stimulus

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90

Literal visual illusions

Illusions that create images different from the objects or situations that make them

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91

Physiological illusions

Illusions that result from excessive stimulations to the eyes or brain

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92

Cognitive illusions

A type of visual illusion that involves higher order thinking, such as an individuals knowledge and assumptions about the world; examples include ambiguous or impossible pictures

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93

The MĂĽller-layer illusions

Perceptual illusion that has been shown to vary across cultures and as a result is one of the most well known and extensively researched perceptual illusions

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