AP Psych Unit 3

top-down processing

expecting and recognizing what you see based on memorizes and experiences

bottom-up processing

sensory input that the brain processes

selective attention

focusing on one stimulus when many are being recieived

sensory adaptation

diminished sensitivity to stimuli because of constant stimulation

absolute threshold

the minimum amount of stimulus for you to detect a stimulus 50% of the time

weber’s law

2 stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percent to be able to tell the difference between them

paraspychology

the study of paranormal phenomena like ESP

ESP (extra sensory perception)

The controversial claim that awareness can occur apart from sensory input (clairvoyance, telepathy, precognition)

what does light wave amplitude determine?

brightness (great=bright; small=dull)

cornea

clear, protective layer where light first enters

pupil

small adjustable opening through which light passes

iris

the color; ring of muscle tissue that controls how much light enters

lens

structure that changes shape to help focus images

retina

inner surface that contains rods and cones that begin info processing

what happens in the retina?

rods and cones transduce light waves into neural impulses

rods

photoreceptors that detect black and white

cones

photoreceptors that detect fine detail and create color sensations

fovea

focus point of the retina

optic nerve

carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain

parallel processing

thinking about many aspects of a problem simultaneously (helps with facial recognition)

gestalt psychology

the whole may exceed the sum of its parts (formations of a picture based on pieces)

color constancy

an object has the same color even when in the shadows

what determines pitch?

frequency/wavelength

cochlear implant

device that converts sound into electrical signals

auditory canal

channel in the outer ear that funnels sound to the ear drum

ear drum

thin layer of tissue that vibrates from sound waves

ossicles

incus, malleus, stapes; transfer vibrations to the oval window of the cochlea

oval window

membrane covered opening of the cochlea; causes the fluid inside to move

cochlea

fluid filled tube that triggers nerve impulses

frequency theory

the brain reads pitch by monitoring the frequency of neural impulses traveling up the auditory nerve

gate control theory

the spinal cord blocks pain signals or allows them to pass

phantom pain

the misinterpretation and amplification of irrelevant central nervous system activity

five basic tastes

sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami

which two senses are chemical?

taste and smell

what is the sense that provides information through receptors in the muscles, tendons. and joints, enabling humans and other animals to control and coordinate their movements?

kinesthesis (kinesthetic sense)