Sensation - AP Psychology

sensation

receive stimulus energy from environment

transduction

the conversion of incoming sensory stimuli into neural signals that the brain can understand

perception

the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events

absolute threshold

the minimum level of a stimulus required to be detected 50% of the time

just noticeable difference

the smallest detectable difference between two stimuli that a person can distinguish at least half the time

weber’s law

the smallest noticeable difference (the just-noticeable difference between two stimuli is proportional to the intensity of the original stimulus

synesthesia

“disorder” where your senses blend

sensory adaptation

diminished sensitivity as a result of constant stimulation; sensory receptors respond less

lens

focus light rays onto the retina

retina

acts as a screen, receiving and processing light focused by the lens; contains photoreceptors (rods/cones/ganglion cells)

fovea

densely packed with cones; responsible for sharp, detailed central vision; allows us to see fine details and colors clearly

rods

black/white, dark adaptation; peripheral vision

cones

color (red, green, blue), bright light

ganglion cells

responsible for transmitting visual information from the eye to the brain; receive signals from cells (retinal interneurons) and relay these signals through the optic nerve to the brain

blind spot

the area in the visual field where no light-detecting photoreceptor cells exist, specifically where the optic nerve enters the eye

accommodation

lens change curvature to focus images on retina

nearsightedness

better vision near; trouble seeing further away

farsightedness

better vision far; trouble seeing close up

trichromatic

three cones for receiving color

wave-length: blue

short waves

wave length: green

medium waves

wave length: red

long waves

opponent process

complementary colors are processed in ganglion cells—explains why we see an after image

after image

a visual phenomenon where a faint image persists after a visual stimulus has been remove

complementary color of red

green

complementary color of blue

yellow

complementary color of black

white

color deficiency

damage to, or missing cones or ganglion cells

common form of color deficiency

red/green

dichromatism

missing 1 cone

monochromatism

only have rods

wavelength

distance bw peaks; pitch

long waves = _________

low pitch

narrow waves = _________

high pitch

theories of hearing

all occur in the cochlea

place theory

location where hair cells bends determines sound (high pitched)

frequency theory

rate at which action potentials are sent determines sound (low pitches)

volley theory

groups of neurons fire action potentials out of sync

ear drum

vibrates in response to sound waves; vibrations then transferred to the three tiny bones of the middle ear

stirrup, anvil, hammer

three small bones in the middle ear, collectively called ossicles; amplifying and transmitting sound vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear

cochlea

transform mechanical vibrations from the middle ear into neural impulses, which are then transmitted to the brain via the auditory nerve

sound localization

which ear gets the waves first tells location of sound

conduction deafness

damage to bones of ear and ear drum causes hearing loss

sensorineural

damage to cochlea, hairs in cochlea, or nerve—usually due to old age and loud noises

vestibular

sense of balance (semicircular canals in the inner ear)

kinesthetic

sense of body position and movement without looking

gate control theory

we have a “gate” to control how much pain is experienced; pain is both mental and physical

gustation

taste

6 taste receptors

bitter, salty, sweet, sour umami, oleogustus

umami

savory

oleogustus

fatty/oily

what processes taste?

tongue, mouth, and brain

high density of taste receptors

super taster

average density of taste receptors

normal taster

low density of taste receptors

nontaster/does not taste much

what can create taste?

sensory interaction

how does smell affect taste?

without smell, taste is not as strong or is absent

smell (olfaction)

ONLY sense that does NOT route through the thalamus

what do pheromones produce for attraction?

chemical signals