APP Sensation and Perception Vocab 2

Modules 17, 19-21

Max Wertheimer

one of three founders of Gestalt psychology

inner ear

the innermost part of the ear, containing the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs

basilar membrane

A structure that runs the length of the cochlea in the inner ear and holds the auditory receptors, called hair cells.

conduction hearing loss

hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea

sensorineural hearing loss

hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea's receptor cells or to the auditory nerves; also called nerve deafness

place theory

in hearing, the theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated

frequency theory

in hearing, the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense its pitch

sound localization

the process by which the location of sound is determined by comparing the timing and volume of signals between the two ears

dichotic listening

a task in which people wearing headphones hear different messages presented to each ear

cutaneous receptors

nerve receptors in the skin that respond to pressure, temperature, or pain

papillae

bumps on tongue which contain the taste buds

kinesthesia

the system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts

vestibular sense

a sensory system located in structures of the inner ear that registers the orientation of the head; also includes balance

embodied cognition

the influence of bodily sensations, gestures, and other states on cognitive preferences and judgements

figure-ground

the organization of the visual field into objects (the figures) and their surroundings (the ground)

visual cliff

a laboratory device for testing depth perception in infants and young animals

stroboscopic movement

a type of apparent movement based on the rapid succession of still images, as in motion pictures

perceptual adaptation

in vision, the ability to adjust to an artificially displaced or even inverted visual field

perceptual set

a mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another

audition

sense of hearing

Frequency

the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time; determines pitch of sound

decibels

A unit of measurement of loudness

middle ear

the chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) that concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochlea's oval window

cochlea

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

organ of corti

cells at the base of the hair cells in the cochlea; where transduction takes place for audition

cochlear implant

a device for converting sounds into electrical signals and stimulating the auditory nerve through electrodes threaded into the cochlea; treatment for sensorineural hearing loss

gate-control theory

the theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological "gate" that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain. The "gate" is opened by the activity of pain signals traveling up small nerve fibers and is closed by activity in larger fibers or by information coming from the brain.

olfaction

sense of smell

semicircular canals

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

sensory interaction

the principle that one sense may influence another, as when the smell of food influences its taste

gestalt

an organized whole - psychologists emphasized our tendency to integrate pieces of info into meaningful wholes

proximity

we group nearby figures together

continuity

we perceive smooth, continuous patterns rather than discontinous ones

closure

we fill in gaps to create a complete, whole object

depth perception

the ability to see objects in three dimensions although the images that strike the retina are two-dimensional; allows us to judge distance

binocular cues

depth cues, such as retinal disparity and convergence, that depend on the use of two eyes

retinal disparity

a binocular cue for perceiving depth; by comparing images from the two eyeballs, the brain computes distance - the greater the disparity (difference) between the two images, the closer the object

convergence

a binocular cue for perceiving depth; the extent to which the eyes converge inward when looking at an object

monocular cues

depth cues, such as interposition and linear perspective, available to either eye alone

relative size

a monocular cue for perceiving depth; if we assume that two objects are similar in size, we perceive the one that casts the smaller retinal image as farther away

interposition

a monocular cue for perceiving depth; if one object partially blocks our view of another, we perceive it as closer

relative height

a monocular cue for perceiving depth; we perceive objects higher in our field of vision as farther away

relative motion

a monocular cue for perceiving depth; as we move, stationary objects that are closer seem to move faster than stationary objects that are further away

linear perspective

a monocular cue for perceiving depth; parallel lines appear to converge with distance

light and shadow

a monocular cue for perceiving depth; a dimmer object seems farther away

phi phenomenon

an illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in quick succession

perceptual constancy

perceiving objects as unchanging even as illumination and retinal images change

color constancy

perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object

pitch

a tone's experienced highness or lowness; depends on frequency

oval window

membrane that covers the opening between the middle ear and inner ear

gustation

sense of taste

umami

one of 5 types of taste receptors; savory