Psychology Study Notes: Sensation, Perception, and Social Psychology

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering key concepts in psychology related to sensation, perception, and social psychology.

Sensation

The process by which our sensory systems and nervous system receive stimuli from the environment.

Just Noticeable Difference (JND)

The minimum amount by which two stimuli must differ for us to notice the difference 50% of the time.

Absolute Threshold

The smallest amount of sensory input required for a person to detect its presence.

Signal Detection Theory

Explains how detection of a stimulus depends on the strength of the signal and the individual’s physical and psychological context.

Cornea

The outer layer of the eye where light first enters.

Iris

The colored part of the eye that regulates the size of the pupil.

Pupil

The opening in the eye that controls the amount of light entering.

Lens

Focuses light onto the retina; becomes less flexible with age.

Retina

Contains photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) for vision.

Rods

Photoreceptor cells that detect black and white and are useful in low light.

Cones

Photoreceptor cells that detect color and respond quickly.

Trichromatic Theory

Proposes three types of cones (red, green, blue) that combine to produce color vision.

Opponent Process Theory

Suggests three pairs of cells in the retina that inhibit each other to explain color vision phenomena.

Monochromatism

A condition where a person has no functioning cones and only sees shades of gray.

Dichromatism

A condition where one type of cone is missing or defective, such as red-green color blindness.

Papillae

Small bumps on the tongue where taste buds are located.

Taste Buds

Barrel-shaped structures inside papillae that contain sensory cells for taste.

Perception

The process of organizing and interpreting sensory input to make it meaningful.

Bottom-Up Processing

Starts with raw sensory input and builds up to perception.

Top-Down Processing

Uses prior experience and expectations to interpret sensory information.

Attribution

An explanation for why someone behaves a certain way, which can be internal or external.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overemphasize personal characteristics and ignore situational factors when judging others.

Deindividuation

Loss of self-awareness and individual accountability in groups.

Central Nervous System

Comprises the brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing and transmitting information.

Medulla

Regulates breathing and heart rate, essential for survival.

Pons

Acts as a bridge connecting lower and upper brain structures, active during sleep and dreaming.

Cerebellum

Controls voluntary muscle movements and balance, and is affected by alcohol.

Limbic System

Responsible for emotional experiences; includes structures like the hypothalamus and amygdala.

Hypothalamus

Regulates stress, hunger, thirst, and maintains homeostasis.

Thalamus

Sensory relay station that directs sensory information to the cortex.

Amygdala

Central to fear and emotional responses.

Hippocampus

Forms new long-term memories and is affected by alcohol.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the brain, divided into hemispheres and lobes for processing different functions.

Corpus Callosum

Bundle of fibers connecting the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Neuron

A nerve cell that relays information throughout the nervous system.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses between neurons.

Neuroplasticity

The brain’s ability to change and adapt throughout life.

Sensation

The process by which our sensory systems and nervous system receive stimuli from the environment.

Just Noticeable Difference (JND)

The minimum amount by which two stimuli must differ for us to notice the difference 50% of the time.

Absolute Threshold

The smallest amount of sensory input required for a person to detect its presence.

Signal Detection Theory

Explains how detection of a stimulus depends on the strength of the signal and the individual’s physical and psychological context.

Cornea

The outer layer of the eye where light first enters.

Iris

The colored part of the eye that regulates the size of the pupil.

Pupil

The opening in the eye that controls the amount of light entering.

Lens

Focuses light onto the retina; becomes less flexible with age.

Retina

Contains photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) for vision.

Rods

Photoreceptor cells that detect black and white and are useful in low light.

Cones

Photoreceptor cells that detect color and respond quickly.

Trichromatic Theory

Proposes three types of cones (red, green, blue) that combine to produce color vision.

Opponent Process Theory

Suggests three pairs of cells in the retina that inhibit each other to explain color vision phenomena.

Monochromatism

A condition where a person has no functioning cones and only sees shades of gray.

Dichromatism

A condition where one type of cone is missing or defective, such as red-green color blindness.

Papillae

Small bumps on the tongue where taste buds are located.

Taste Buds

Barrel-shaped structures inside papillae that contain sensory cells for taste.

Perception

The process of organizing and interpreting sensory input to make it meaningful.

Bottom-Up Processing

Starts with raw sensory input and builds up to perception.

Top-Down Processing

Uses prior experience and expectations to interpret sensory information.

Attribution

An explanation for why someone behaves a certain way, which can be internal or external.

Fundamental Attribution Error

The tendency to overemphasize personal characteristics and ignore situational factors when judging others.

Deindividuation

Loss of self-awareness and individual accountability in groups.

Central Nervous System

Comprises the brain and spinal cord, responsible for processing and transmitting information.

Medulla

Regulates breathing and heart rate, essential for survival.

Pons

Acts as a bridge connecting lower and upper brain structures, active during sleep and dreaming.

Cerebellum

Controls voluntary muscle movements and balance, and is affected by alcohol.

Limbic System

Responsible for emotional experiences; includes structures like the hypothalamus and amygdala.

Hypothalamus

Regulates stress, hunger, thirst, and maintains homeostasis.

Thalamus

Sensory relay station that directs sensory information to the cortex.

Amygdala

Central to fear and emotional responses.

Hippocampus

Forms new long-term memories and is affected by alcohol.

Cerebral Cortex

The outer layer of the brain, divided into hemispheres and lobes for processing different functions.

Corpus Callosum

Bundle of fibers connecting the left and right hemispheres of the brain.

Neuron

A nerve cell that relays information throughout the nervous system.

Neurotransmitter

Chemical messengers that transmit signals across synapses between neurons.

Neuroplasticity

The brain’s ability to change and adapt throughout life.

Sensory Adaptation

A decrease in sensitivity to a constant stimulus over time.

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Consists of all nerves outside the brain and spinal cord, connecting the CNS to the rest of the body.

Dendrite

Branch-like extensions of a neuron that receive messages from other neurons.

Synapse

The junction between two neurons where neurotransmitters are exchanged.

Fovea

A small pit in the retina containing a high concentration of cones, responsible for sharp central vision.

Olfaction

The sense of smell, processed by olfactory receptors directly linked to the brain.