AP Psych Unit 3

Sensation

Raw data, information we receive

Perception

Process of interpreting information obtained through a person’s five senses

Figure & Ground

Tendency of visual system to simplify what it sees into two categories with objects of focus as figures and background as ground

Continuation

Looking at an object a person will continue to view entire object and continue to next one

Closure

Incomplete object but brain fills it in

Similarity

Objects that are grouped or put in a specific pattern will appear as one object

Proximity

Objects placed close together will appear as one while objects that separate will appear as separate

Symmetry

Objects symmetrical to each other are perceived to be as one object

Binocular Cues

Require two eyes and when objects are near eyes move inward, when object is farther eyes will straighten

Monocular Cues

Only one eye and broken into 6 cues

Convergence (BC)

Objects are near, eyes will move inward, object is farther away eyes will straighten

Retinal Disparity (BC)

When looking at object, each eye sees differently giving depth

Relative Size (MC)

Allows person to determine how close an object is

Interposition (MC)

Allows person to understand how close an object is by seeing objects that are blocked

Relative Height (MC)

Allows person to understand distance of an object by using height

Shading & Contour (MC)

Allows person to understand distance of an object by looking at the form of an object

Texture & Gradient (MC)

Allows person to understand distance of an object by looking at clarity and detail

Linear Perspective (MC)

Allows person to understand distance of object by using parallel lines

Motion Parallax (MC)

Allows person to understand distance of an object by using motion

Sensory Transduction

Taking outside stimulus into senses which activates neurons causing sensation

Absolute Threshold

Minimum amount of stimulation needed to experience a stimulus

Hit

Signal present, respond yes

Miss

Signal present, respond no

False Alarm

Signal absent, respond yes

Correct Rejection

Signal absent, response no

Sensory Adaptation

Stimulus that is continuous and does not change

Habituation

Person is repeatedly exposed to a stimulus and starts to have a reduced response to stimulus

Difference Threshold

Minimum change between two stimuli that causes an individual to detect the change

Weber-Fechner Law

For person to notice difference between two stimuli, the stimuli must differ by a constant percent, not a constant amount…in other words, the bigger the values get, the more difference there needs to be in order to be able to detect it

Perceptual Constancy

Perceive objects and stimuli with familiar standard shape, size, color, and lightness even when changes are occurring

Size Constancy

Tendency of brain to perceive objects as same size

Color Constancy

Perception of color of an object remaining the same even if the lighting changes

Shape Constancy

Tendency of brain to perceive an object to have same shape when moving

Lightness Constancy

Perception of blackness, whiteness, and grayness of an object

Perceptual Set

Predisposition to notice and ignore certain visual cues in comparison to others

Schema

Cognitive framework based on an individual’s experiences that help guide an individual’s perceptual set and organize the world around them

Sclera

Outside layer of eye, white fibrous tissue protecting eye

Cornea

Transparent part of outside layer, protects eye and allows for light to bend

Iris

Ring shaped muscular membrane located behind cornea determining eye color and light entering eye

Pupil

Dark part of eye located between iris, light will pass through upon entering eye

Lens

Allows for eye to change focus, behind pupil and iris

Aqueous Humor

Made of water and salt, maintains pressure in eye, provides nourishment

Vitreous Humor

Clear gel-like fluid in vitreous cavity giving eye support and shape

Retina

In back of eye made of layers of light sensitive cells known as photoreceptors

Photoreceptors

Convert light into neural impulses allowing for brain to process what eye is seeing

Choroid layer

Blood vessels help keep retinal cells and other cells healthy by providing oxygen and nutrients, absorbs stray lights

Optic nerve

In back of eye, made of retinal ganglion axon, neural impulses travel and stop at thalamus then to primary visual cortex to occipital lobe

Cones

Fine details, clear vision allowing color

Rods

Visual receptors allowing to see in dim light

Astigmatism

Cornea is irregularly shaped and could impact ability to focus

Cataract

Lens of eye becomes cloudy causing vision to be blurry

Trichromatic Theory

Individuals are able to see color because different wavelengths of light stimulate combinations of three color receptors (red, green, blue)

Opponent Processing Theory

Information is from cones sent to ganglion cells causing some neurons to be excited and others inhibited creating opposite complementary color pairs

Achromatism

Only see black, white, and gray due to lacking cones

Dichromatism

Two or three types of cones leading to confusion between colors such as red-green color blindness

Trichromatism

Ability to see all of the colors

Synesthesia

One sense is stimulated resulting in stimulating another sense at the same time

Top-Down Processing

Using prior knowledge and information to interpret new bits and pieces

Bottom-Up Processing

Taking incoming stimuli and organizing it to interpret information complex and unfamiliar

Pinna

Outer part of ear made of cartilage, directing sound in

Auditory Canal

Entrance, tube funnels sound from pinna to eardrum

Tympanic Membrane/Eardrum

Once sound reaches, begins vibrations and sending to next bones in line

Malleus

Hammer, amplifies sound

Incus

Anvil, helps with amplifying sound from eardrum

Stapes

Stirrup, helps with amplifying sound as well

Oval Window

Located in opening in wall of cochlea, covered with membrane amplifying sounds and sending waves

Cochlea

Structure filled with fluid, has three canals, transduction occurs here

Organ of Corti

Located inside cochlea, sensory receptors for hearing

Semicircular Canals

Above cochlea, filled with fluid, helps with balance due to fluid movement sending signals to brain of orientation

Stereocilia

Tiny hairs from hair cells of organ of corti along basilar membrane, vibrate to create electrical impulses

Frequency of Sound Wave

Determines pitch, highness or lowness

Amplitude of Sound Wave

Strength, taking distance from peak or trough and measuring it from equilibrium

Place Theory

Certain hair cells respond to certain frequencies, hair cells at base detect higher pitches, hair cells near top detect lower pitches, hair cells at very top detecting even lower

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Person’s clarity, loudness, and range of sounds are no longer able to be heard as they once were

Conductive Hearing Loss

Sound waves cannot move through outer ear to middle ear, and inner ear because something is blocking outer ear or it was damaged

Cochlear Implant

Device that converts sounds into electrical signals stimulating auditory nerve and allowing for signals to be sent to brain

Hearing Aid

Simplifies hearing to allow an individual to hear different sounds around them

Olfactory Epithelium

Membranous tissue containing olfactory receptor cells helping with sense of smell

Olfactory Receptor Cells

Patch of skin that has receptor cells, neurons are what allows an individual to smell

Olfactory Bulb

Transduction of smell occurs

Olfactory Nerve

Electrical signals are sent to amygdala and hippocampus in brain

Gustation

Sensation of tasting

Papillae

Small structures known as taste buds, four different types

Five Basic Tastes

Sweet, Salty, Bitter, Sour, Umami

Epidermis

Outer layer of skin, gives barrier and skin color

Dermis

Made of two layers, connective tissue where blood vessels and nerve endings are

Nocireceptors

Pain receptors located in dermis, detect painful stimuli, temperatures, pressure, or chemicals

Hypodermis

Layer of fat that helps insulate person’s tissues and absorbs shocks

Phantom Limb Sensation

Individuals who have lost a body part have pain where the body part is supposed to be

Proprioceptors

Receptors located in various muscles and tendons that allow for brain to gain better sense of position and movement of our limbs

Vestibular Sense

Maintain balance, head moves causing fluid in vestibular canals in inner ear to shift

Sensory Interaction

Senses interact with another and influence each other