ap psych unit 3

sensation

raw data and info from senses

perception

interpreting info obtained from 5 senses

Gestalt princepals

continutation, figure/ground, closure, simularity, proximity, symmetry

What is the figure and ground principle in visual perception?

It refers to the ability to focus on objects (figure) while placing others in the background (ground).

How does the figure and ground principle help us?

It helps identify important information in our visual environment.

continutation princepal

The brain tends to perceive smooth, continuous patterns rather than broken or disconnected ones.

closure princepal

visual systems fill in gaps to complete objects that we see are not fully complete

What does the similarity principle state?

Objects that have similar characteristics are interpreted as a whole, not individually.

How are similar objects perceived according to the similarity principle?

They are looked at as one object even if patterns or colors are separate.

proximity princepal

when objects are close together, they are seen as 1 object, further apart are seen as separate

symmetry principal

separate objects that are organized around a center are perceived as 1 object

binocular cues

info received from both eyes, help inform brain abt the distance an object is from the person

monocular cues

info abt the distance of an object that only requires 1 eye

relative size

monocular cue, objects that r closer to us will appear larger, objects that are farther away will appear smaller

interposition

monocular cue, objects blocked by another object is most likley farther away/vice versa

relarive height cue

monocular cue, objects that are heigher appear to be farther away compared to objects that are lower

shading and contour

monocular cue, parts of an image that have less detail appear to be further away/objects more clear = closer

texture/gradient

monocular cue, objects that are clear/focus/detailed appear closer

linear prespective

monocular cue, when parallel lines appear to converge at a point in the distance, helps with positioning/depth

sensory transduction

outside stimulus activates sensory receptors that turns to electrical signals that send to the brain

sensory adaptation

when a stimulus is prolonged our bodies no longer responsive to it

example of sensory adaption

being around a smelling candle

habitutation

when a stimulus is repeated, effectiveness of the stimulus decreases

example of habitutation

continue using drug but has to use more and more of the drug for the same effect

difference threshold/just noticible difference

the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 percent of the time

What does the Weber-Fechner Law state about noticing differences between stimuli?

For us to notice a difference between two stimuli, they must differ by a constant percentage.

What does the Weber-Fechner Law depend on?

It depends on sensation and the intensity of the stimulus.

What type of difference is required for stimuli according to the Weber-Fechner Law?

A constant percentage difference, not a constant amount.

Is there a formula associated with the Weber-Fechner Law?

Yes, there is a mathematical formula related to it.

validity

accuracy

Reliability

consistency

size constancy

the tendency to interpret an object as always being the same actual size, regardless of its distance

color constancy

perception of the color of an object remaines the same even if the lighting changes

shape constancy

the tendency to interpret the shape of an object as being constant, even when its shape changes on the retina

lightness constancy

perception of blackness, whiteness and grayness of an object, the shading of an object

schema

basic knowledge that guides the perception of a situation

sclera

white tissue, protects eye, substance around eye

cornea

transparent, protects eye, bends light, helps focus

aqueous humor

made of water/salt, helps maintain pressure within eye, nourishes cornea/Lense

What shape is the iris?

Ring shaped

Where is the iris located?

Behind the cornea

What does the iris determine?

Eye color

What is the function of the iris?

Controls how much light enters the eye by contracting/relaxing muscles outside the pupil

pupil

dark part of eye where light passes through

lens

allows eye to change focus

vitreus humor

clear/gel like, gives eye support/shape

retina

back of eye, made of photoreceptors, turns light into nueroimpulses for sight

chroid

helps support retinal cells, provides oxygen and nutrients to eye

optic nerve

made up of retinal axon, transfers visual info to brain

rods

outer edge if retina, help us see in dim light, no color info

cones

small compressions, let us see fine details (color/texture)

astigimatism

cornea is irregularly shaped, impact a person's ability to focus

cataracts

lens of the eye becomes cloudy, blurry vision

achromatism

type of color blindness, person does not have any retinal cones, only sees black/white

Dichromotism

type of color blindness, missing 1 of the typical 3 cone pigments

trichromatism

normal color vision

pinna

cartilage, helps direct sound

external auditory canal

funnels sound into eardrum

tympanic membrane

causes sound to vibrate, makes eardrum vibrate

osallisbones

amplify sounds sent from eardrum to inner ear

malleus

hammer; first of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear

incus

anvil; middle of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear

stapes

stirrup; last of the three auditory ossicles of the middle ear

oval window

membrane, amplify sounds, send sound waves to inner ear

structures in inner ear

cochlea, vestibule, semicircular canals

semicircular canals

three fluid-filled canals in the inner ear responsible for our sense of balance

cochlea

a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear through which sound waves trigger nerve impulses

cochlear nerve

the branch of the auditory nerve that transmits auditory information from the cochlea to the brain

stereocilia

hairlike structures that come out of Corti-sensory receptors for hearing

place theory

placement of sterocilia on diff areas of basilar membrane results in brain interpreting diff pitch of sounds

sensorineural hearing loss

caused by cilia/auditory nerve damage

conductive hearing loss

something blocking sound from moving through outer, middle, inner ear

nasal cavity

smells oders

olfactory epithelium

membrane with olfactory receptor cells

olfactory recepter cells

nerve endings that help with the sense of smell

What is the cribiform plate?

The superior surface of the ethmoid bone.

What is the function of the foramina in the cribiform plate?

They allow passage of the olfactory nerves.

What sensory function do the olfactory nerves provide?

Sense of smell.

olfactory bulb

electrical signals that transfer smell to olfactory nerve then to brain

Papillae

taste buds

tastes of the tounge

sweet, sour, salty, bitter, savory

epidermis

protective outside layer of skin

dermis

gives skin color, has nerve endings, blood vessles, hair follicles

nociceptors

sensory receptors, transmit touch stimuli to brain, pain receptors

hypodermis

deepest layer of skin, has collagen/fat cells

kinesthesis

sensory info that allows us to control our movements through sensory receptors in muscles/joints

proprioceptors

sensory receptors in muscles, tendons, joints/sensitive to body movements

vestibular sense

sense of balance-enabled vestibular canals of ear

cross sectional research

studies ppl of different ages at the same point in time

longitutdinal research

follows same group of ppl over an extended period of time

teratogens

harmful substances that can (-) impact prenatal development

Examples of teratogens

drugs, genetic mutations, mentall illness, horomonal factors, enviornment

fine motor skills

smaller movements like grasping objects

gross motor skills

larger movements like crawling and walking

rooting reflex

infant turns its head when an object touches its cheek (helps locate food)

visual cliff expirement

performed a glass table and patterned sheet that matches the floor pattern, shows how babies can percieve depth

critical period

specfic window of time where a particular skill or behavior must be aquired

sensistive period

time which the brain is primed to develop a certain skill

imprinting

some animals will attach to the first object they encounter as a means of survival

adolescence

stage marked by puberty, growth spurt, continued development of primary and secondary sec characterstics