Sensation and Perception - Vocabulary Flashcards

40 vocabulary flashcards covering sensation, perception, transduction, and senses (vision, hearing, smell, taste) with key terms and concise definitions.

Sensation

The process by which sensory receptors and the nervous system detect external stimuli and convert them into neural signals.

Perception

The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information to form a meaningful experience.

Transduction

The conversion of sensory stimuli into neural impulses that the brain can interpret.

Absolute threshold

The minimum stimulation required for a stimulus to be detected 50% of the time.

Just-noticeable difference

The smallest detectable difference between two stimuli.

Sensory adaptation

Diminished sensitivity to constant or unchanging stimuli over time.

Weber’s law

The perceived difference is proportional to the original stimulus intensity.

Sensory interaction

One sense influencing another (e.g., smell affects taste).

Synesthesia

Stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to automatic experiences in a second pathway.

Retina

The light-sensitive inner surface of the eye containing photoreceptors.

Blind spot

Retinal area where the optic nerve exits; no photoreceptors are present.

Visual nerve

The optic nerve; transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.

Lens

Transparent structure that focuses light onto the retina; accommodates by changing shape.

Accommodation

The process by which the lens changes shape to focus on objects at different distances.

Nearsightedness (myopia)

Distant objects appear blurry; eyeball is too long or cornea too curved.

Farsightedness (hyperopia)

Close objects appear blurry; eyeball is too short or cornea too flat.

Photoreceptors

Retina cells that detect light (rods and cones).

Rods

Photoreceptors for low-light and motion; provide black-and-white vision.

Cones

Photoreceptors for color and detail; concentrated in the fovea.

Trichromatic theory

Color vision based on three cone types (red, green, blue).

Opponent-process theory

Color vision based on opposing color channels; explains afterimages.

Fovea

Central retina region with high cone density for sharp vision.

Afterimages

Visual sensations that persist after a stimulus is removed.

Ganglion cells

Retinal neurons whose axons form the optic nerve and transmit signals to the brain.

Dichromatism

Color vision deficiency with two functioning cone types.

Monochromatism

Color vision deficiency with only one or no functioning cones.

Prosopagnosia

Inability to recognize familiar faces despite intact vision.

Blindsight

Responding to visual stimuli without conscious perception.

Wavelength

Distance between wave peaks; determines color for light and pitch for sound.

Pitch

Perceived high/low tone determined by frequency of sound waves.

Amplitude

Height of a sound wave; relates to loudness.

Loudness

Perception of the intensity of a sound.

Place theory

Different places in the cochlea respond to different frequencies.

Frequency theory

Pitch determined by the rate of firing of auditory neurons.

Volley theory

Groups of neurons fire in volleys to encode high frequencies.

Sound localization

Brain’s ability to locate a sound source using timing and intensity cues.

Conduction deafness

Hearing loss from outer or middle ear problems.

Sensorineural deafness

Hearing loss from inner ear or auditory nerve damage.

Olfactory system

System of smell; olfactory receptors in the nose.

Gustation

Sense of taste; receptors on the tongue detect flavors.