sensation and perception 2025 AP

What is the difference between sensation and perception?

Sensation is the stimulation of sense organs, while perception is the selection, organization, and interpretation of sensory input.

What is the absolute threshold?

The minimum amount of stimulation that an organism can detect.

What does JND stand for in sensory processing?

JND stands for Just Noticeable Difference, which is the smallest difference in the amount of stimuli that an organism can detect.

According to Weber's Law, how is the size of the JND determined?

The size of the JND is constantly proportional to the initial stimulus.

What is transduction in the context of sensation?

Transduction is the process of converting one form of energy into another, specifically transforming stimulus energies into neural impulses.

Define sensory adaptation.

the gradual decline in sensitivity to a prolonged stimulus.

What is the main premise of Signal Detection Theory?

the detection of stimuli involves decision-making processes as well as sensory processes.

How does sensory adaptation relate to evolutionary development?

Sensory adaptation may be an evolutionary development that allows us to focus on changes in our environment rather than constant stimuli.

What are the two types of photoreceptors in the human retina?

Rods and cones.

What is the primary role of rods in the eye?

Rods are more sensitive to light and dark, contributing to peripheral vision.

How does color vision occur according to the Trichromatic theory?

Color vision occurs through three different types of cones each excited to a different wavelength: red, green, and blue.

What is the primary pathway for smell in the brain?

Smell activation bypasses the thalamus and goes directly to the primary smell cortex and limbic system.

What are the four distinct skin sensations identified by researchers?

pressure, warmth, cold, and pain.

What is the purpose of pain according to its adaptive value?

Pain serves to avoid injury and limit damage.

What is Gate-Control Theory in relation to pain?

Gate-Control Theory is a mechanism in the spinal cord that either accentuates or interrupts pain signals to the brain.

What are the five basic taste sensations?

Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.

How do expectations affect taste preferences?

Taste preferences include psychological factors like expectation, often leading to higher ratings for identical foods when labeled differently.

What is the physiological mechanism for smell?

Olfactory receptor cells in the olfactory epithelium send signals through the cribriform plate to the olfactory bulb, where transduction takes place.

What are the two components of auditory perception theory?

Place theory and frequency theory.

What is proprioception?

the sense of body position and movement, allowing awareness of body parts without looking.

What are otoliths and their function?

small structures in the inner ear that help maintain balance and respond to gravity.

Explain the difference between qualitative and quantitative differences in stimuli.

Qualitative differences refer to the distinct qualities of sensory experiences, while quantitative differences concern the degree of stimulus changes.

What role does the thalamus play in sensory processing?

it acts as a relay station for sensory information, except for smell, before it reaches the cerebral cortex.

What is sensory integration?

the process of combining information from different sensory modalities to create a coherent picture of the environment.

Define visual constancy.

the perception of objects as unchanging despite changes in sensory input related to distance, angle, or lighting.

What is the role of the fovea?

a small central pit in the retina that provides the clearest vision due to a high concentration of cones.

What is the function of the vestibular system?

it helps maintain balance and spatial orientation by detecting changes in head position and movement.

Describe the function of taste buds.

Taste buds are sensory organs found on the tongue that detect different taste sensations and send signals to the brain.

What are the three main types of sensory receptors in the human body?

mechanoreceptors, chemoreceptors, and photoreceptors.

How does transduction occur in the ear?

In the ear, transduction occurs when sound waves cause the vibrations of the basilar membrane, leading to hair cells generating neural impulses.

What is the role of the tympanic membrane in hearing?

The tympanic membrane, or eardrum, vibrates in response to sound waves, transmitting those vibrations to the ossicles in the middle ear.

Define sensory deprivation.

the intentional reduction or removal of stimuli from one or more of the senses, often used in experiments or therapies.

What is top-down processing in perception?

Top-down processing is interpreting sensory information based on existing knowledge, experiences, and expectations.

What is the function of the corpuscles of touch?

Corpuscles of touch, or Meissner's corpuscles, are specialized nerve endings responsible for sensitivity to light touch.

What is synesthesia?

a condition where stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory pathway.

How do pheromones affect human behavior?

Pheromones are chemical signals released by individuals that can influence the behavior and physiological responses of others.

What is the primary visual cortex's role?

it is responsible for processing visual information received from the eyes before it is sent to other areas for further processing.

Explain the role of ciliary muscles in vision.

Ciliary muscles adjust the shape of the lens to help focus light onto the retina, enabling clear vision at various distances.

What is the sensory pathway?

the route taken by sensory information from sensory receptors to the brain for processing.

What is the function of the optic nerve?

The optic nerve transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.

Describe the role of the cochlea in hearing.

The cochlea is a spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear that transforms sound vibrations into neural signals.

What is tactile sensation?

the perception of touch, pressure, and vibration.

What are the functions of the semicircular canals?

they help with balance and spatial orientation by detecting rotational movements of the head.

What do stimulus intensity and perception have in common?

The intensity of a stimulus affects the perception of that stimulus; stronger stimuli are typically perceived more readily.

Explain the role of neurons in sensory processing.

Neurons transmit sensory information through electrical impulses, relaying signals from receptors to the central nervous system.

What is auditory masking?

a phenomenon where the perception of one sound is affected by the presence of another sound.

Define visual acuity.

the clarity or sharpness of vision, which can be measured using an eye chart.

How do taste preferences develop?

Taste preferences develop through a combination of biology, individual experiences, and cultural influences.

What is the role of the limbic system in sensory processing?

The limbic system is involved in processing emotions and memories, and it connects sensory perception to emotional responses.

What is the difference between monocular and binocular depth cues?

Monocular depth cues involve one eye and include aspects like size and perspective, while binocular depth cues involve both eyes and include stereopsis (depth perception from the disparity between the two eyes).

How do sound waves vary in frequency?

The frequency of sound waves determines the pitch of the sound, with higher frequencies corresponding to higher pitches.

What is the function of the iris in vision?

The iris controls the size of the pupil, regulating the amount of light that enters the eye.

What does the term 'auditory processing' refer to?

Auditory processing refers to how the brain interprets and makes sense of sounds it hears.

What is the role of the olfactory bulb in the sense of smell?

The olfactory bulb processes signals from olfactory receptor cells and is key in the perception of odors.

What is the significance of depth perception?

Depth perception allows individuals to perceive the world in three dimensions and judge distances accurately.

What are nociceptors?

sensory receptors that respond to harmful stimuli, triggering the sensation of pain.

Explain the role of the somatosensory cortex.

The somatosensory cortex processes sensory information from the body, including touch, temperature, and pain.

What is kinetic depth perception?

the ability to perceive depth by detecting movement and changes in relative position.

what are ossicles?

Ossicles are the three small bones in the middle ear that transmit sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. The ossicles are the malleus, incus, and stapes.

what is threshold?

minimum difference in intensity between two stimuli that one can detect.

what does opponent-process theory state?

proposes that one member of the color pair suppresses the other color

motivation-decision model

the brain inplicitly calculates the value & cost of any action, actions that are more important than pain activate

mechanoreceptors

responding to mechanical stimuli, such as stroking, stretching, or vibration of the skin

thermoreceptors

responding to cold or hot temperatures

chemoreceptors

responding to certain types of chemicals either applied externally or released within the skin

dermis

outer layer that keeps pathogens out, is water resistant, & protects tissues from the elements

epidermis

inner layer of connective tissue. provides respiration to the dermis, contains nerve endings, blood vessels, & hair follicles

hypodermis

fatty layer that protects and insulated organs & tissues below

sensorineural loss

nerve deafness, most common form of hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea’s receptor cells or auditory nerve by age, heredity, or exposure

loudness

measured in decibels; zero = absolute threshold for hearing; 10 decibels = 10x increase in loudness

pitch

a tone’s experienced highness or lowness. measured in Hz

the lens focuses light on the receptor surface at the back of the eye called the _____

retina

cones

more sensitive to daylight vision

conductive loss

sound can’t reach your inner ear. It might be due to ear infections, blockages or structural abnormalities.

superadditive effect

response to multimodal stimuli is greater than the sum of the individual responses to separated stimuli