PSYC 101 Spring 2025 BQ2 Neuroplasticity and Sensation (5.1)

Neuroplasticity

The brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life.

Sensation

The detection of physical energy emitted or reflected by physical objects.

Perception

The process by which sensory impulses are organized and interpreted.

Synapse

The junction between two neurons where neurotransmitters are released.

Gray Matter

Neural tissue in the brain, less gray matter indicates a more mature cortex.

Absolute Threshold

The smallest amount of energy that can be detected 50% of the time.

Difference threshold (JND)

The smallest difference in stimulation that can be detected 50% of the time.

Weber's Law

The principle that bigger stimuli require bigger differences to be noticed.

Signal Detection Theory

A method to measure the ability to differentiate between signal and noise.

Photoreceptors

Cells in the retina that detect and convert light energy into neural signals.

Rods

Photoreceptors that are highly sensitive to light but do not detect color.

Cones

Photoreceptors responsible for color vision and function best in bright light.

Trichromatic Theory

Theory that human color vision is based on three types of cones: S-cones, M-cones, and L-cones.

Opponent Process Theory

Theory proposing that color vision is controlled by opposing pairs of colors.

Psychophysics

The study of the relationship between physical stimuli and the sensations they produce.

Synaptic Pruning

The process of eliminating unused synapses in the developing brain.

Sensitive Periods in Plasticity

Specific times during development when the brain is particularly receptive to learning.

Action Potential

A temporary reversal of the electrical polarization of the neuron that leads to neurotransmitter release.

Cortex

The outer layer of the brain responsible for complex functions such as perception and decision making.

Thalamus

The brain region that serves as a relay station for all sensory information.

Sense receptors

specialized cells that convert physical energy in the environment or the body to electrical energy that can be transmitted as nerve impulses to the brain.

doctrine of specific nerve energies

the principle that different sensory modalities exist because signals received by the sense organs stimulate different nerve pathways leading to different areas of the brain

synesthesia

a condition in which a sensation in one modality consistently evokes a sensation in another

sensory adaptation

the reduction or disappearance of sensory responsiveness when stimulation is unchanging or repetitious

sensory deprivation

the absence of normal levels of sensory stimulation which can lead to alterations in perception and cognition.

selective attention

the process of focusing on selected aspects of the environment while blocking out others

inattentional blindness

failure to consciously perceive something you are looking at because you are not attending to it