AP Pysch Unit 1B Vocab

Absolute threshold

smallest amount of simulation detected 50% of the time

just noticeable difference (JND)

smallest difference between two stimuli that can be noticed

sensory adaptation

decreased sensitivity to a constant stimulus

webers law

JND is a constant proportion of the original stimulus

sensory interaction

one sense affects another sense

synesthesia

one sense triggers and expierence in another sense

retina

light sensitive layer at the back of the eye

photosensitivity

ability of the eye to respond to light

transduction

converting sensory into to neural signals

blind spot

point where optic nerve leaves eye

lens

focuses light onto retina

accomidation

lens changes shape to focus on object

nearsightedness

nearby objects are clea, far is blurry

farsightednes

distant objects are clear, close is blurry

rods

recepetors for dim light and peripheral vision

cones

recetrichpetors for color and detailed vision

trichromatic theory

color vision uses three types of cones

opponent process theory

color vision uses opposing color pairs

photoreceptor cells

rods and cones that detect light

fovea

center of retina with sharpest vision

after images

images that remain briefly after looking at something

garglion cells

neurons that send visual information toward the brains

dischematism

having two functioning types of color receptors

monochromatism

having little or no color vision

prosopahnosia (face blindness)

difficulty recognizing firmiliar faces

blindsight

ability to respond to visual information without consciously seeing it

auditory system

system that allows us to hear sounds

loudness

how strong or intense a sound seems

wavelength

distance between sound waves, determines pitch

place theory

different areas of the cochlea respond to different pitches

volley theory

neurons work together to detect higher frequency sounds

frequency theory

pitch is determined by how quickly neurons fire

sound localization

determine where sound is coming from

conduction deafness

hearing loss caused by problems in the outer/ middle ear

sensorinal deafness

hearing loss caused by damage to inner ear or auditory nerve

pheromones

chemical signals that can affect other organism behavior

olfactory system

system responsible for smell

gustation

sense of taste

sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami

tastet categories

superstar

person who expierences taste especially strongly

Medium Taster

Person with average taste sensitivity.

nontaster

Person who experiences certain tastes less strongly.

gate control theory

The spinal cord can block or allow pain signals

phantom limb sensation

Feeling sensations in a missing limb.

vestibular sense

Sense of balance and head movement.

semicircular canals

Inner-ear structures that detect head rotation.

kinesthesis

Sense of body position and movement.

priming

Exposure to something influences later responses

perception

Organizing and interpreting sensory information.

internal factors

Personal influences on perception, like expectations.

external factors

Outside influences on perception, like surroundings.

top down processing

Using expectations and experience to interpret information.

bottom up processing

Building perception from sensory details.

schemas

mental frameworks for organizing information

context influence

Surroundings affect how something is perceived.

experience influence

Past experiences affect perception.

culture influence

Culture affects how people interpret information

gestalt psychology

We perceive things as organized wholes.

closure

Filling in gaps to see a complete image.

figure ground

Separating an object from its background.

proximity

Grouping objects that are close together.

similarity

Grouping objects that look alike.

cocktail party effect

Focusing on one conversation in a noisy place.

inattentional blindness

Missing something visible because attention is elsewhere.

change blindness

Failing to notice a change in the environment.

binocular depth cues

Depth cues that require both eyes.

retinal deparity

Each eye sees a slightly different image.

convergence

Eyes turn inward to focus on nearby objects.

monocular depth cues

Depth cues that require only one eye.

relative clarity

Hazy objects appear farther away.

relative size

Smaller-looking familiar objects seem farther away.

texture gradient

Distant textures look smoother and less detailed.

linear perpective

Parallel lines appear to meet in the distance.

interposition

An object blocking another appears closer.

perceptual constancy

Seeing objects as stable despite changes in viewing conditions.

apparent movement

Seeing motion when nothing actually moves.