topic 6 psych test

Retinal disparity

• binocular cue

• By comparing images from two eyes, the greater the distance de between two images, the closer the object

Convergence

• binocular cue 

• Muscles rotate inward when viewing an object nearby; the greater the inward strain, the closer the object 

Relative size

• monocular cue 

• If two objects are similar in size, we perceive the one that casts a smaller retinal image to be further away 

Interposition 

• monocular cue 

• Objects that block other objects tend to be perceived as closer 

Relative clarity 

• Monocular cue

• Because the light from distinct objects passes through more light, we perceive hazy objects as farther away than sharp clear objects

Texture gradient

• monocular cue

• A gradual change in appearance of objects from coarse to fine. The closer, the clearer the detail. The farther away, the smoother/less detailed 

Linear Perspective

• Monocular cues

• Parallel lines appear to converge in the distance. The greater perceived distance 

Height in the visual field

• monocular cue

• Refers to the principle that objects higher in our field of vision are perceived as being farther away

Sensation

• detects stimuli

absolute threshold

• detecting a stimulus

• the minimum amount to notice it

transduction

• converting physical energy (sound waves, etc.) into signals that the brain can use to interpret

just-noticeable difference

• detecting a change between two stimuli

energy transduced for vision

• light waves

energies transduced for touch

• Pain, Pressure, Temperature

Retina

• where transduction takes place for vision

Blind Spot (Optic disc)

• the light insensitive point where the optic nerve leaves the eyeball and there are no receptor cells

Visual/optic nerve

• carries visual information (impulses) from the retina to the thalamus/brain

Lens

• part of the eye that changes shape and focuses images on our retina

Ocular accommodation

• the ability of the lens to change shape and send light back to the retina

Presbyopia (age-related nearsightedness)

• a natural result of aging that occurs when lens of the eye hardens and becomes less flexible

Nearsightedness

• you are able to see up close

farsightedness

• you are able to see far away

Photoreceptors cells

• the name of the cells that do the actual transducing of light in the retina

Rods

• located in the outer edge of the retina and help with seeing black and white, in the dark, and objects in our peripheral vision

Cones

• located near the center of the retina and help with color vision

Blue

Green

Red

Fovea

• located in the retina and contains the highest concentration of cones, which leads to the clearest vision that we have

Trichromatic theory

• theory of color vision states are the three-color sensitive cones are sensitive to red, green, and blue

Opponent Process Theory

• opposing retinal processes enable color vision

Afterimages

• visual illusions that occurs when we continue to see an image even after it has been removed from our field of vision

Ganglion Cells

• neuron that relay the visual information than our retina to our brain within the optic nerve

Color Vision Deficiency

Dichromatism

Monochromatism

Prosopagnosia

• face blindness

• either damage to temporal lobe or can be genetic/inherited 

Blindsight

-ability to respond to visual stimuli w/o having a conscious awareness of seeing them

Occipital lobe

• lobe of the brain that process visual information

Primary visual cortex

Binocular depth cues

• 2 eyes

size constancy

• How we perceive objects moving to us

• Our retinas believe that objects grow in size, but we know that the object is only getting close to us.

shape constancy

• the phenomenon of perceiving an objects shape as consistent despite changes in its orientation or viewing angle 

Apparent movement

• term for a visual phenomenon where static images appear to be moving

• perception of motion when there is none

Stroboscopic motion

• type of apparent movement

• still images/ photos (quickly shown) are perceived as moving

Looming

• the phenomenon where objects are perceived as having the same size, regardless of their distance from the observer 

Phi Phenomenon

• visual illusion where stationary object appears to move

Closure

• type of gestalt grouping principle 

• The tendency for the brain to automatically fill in gaps to perceive incomplete shapes, lines, or patterns as a complete, unified whole. 

Figure-ground

• tendency of the visual system to simplify a scene into the main object we are looking at and everything else that forms the background

Proximity

• type of gestalt grouping principle 

• Tendency to perceive objects that are closer together as belonging to a single, unified group 

Similarity

• type of gestalt group principle

• tendency for people to perceive objects with shared visual characteristics as belonging to the same group

Parietal lobe

• body position

Gate control theory

• spinal cord either blocks or allows pain to be transmitted to the brain

Phantom limb sensation

• continuing to feel sensations after losing a limb 

A-delta fibers

• “first pain”

C-fibers

• “second pain”

Vestibular sense

• helps with balance, stability, and spatial orientation 

Semicircular canals

• they sense and relay information about movement of your head to the brain 

kinesthesia

• Allows the body to be aware of its position, movement, and actions 

Somatic Nervous System

• voluntary muscle movements

• Ex: “I want to walk around”

Sympathetic nervous system

• 
  prepares body for activity

• Ex: increase in adrenaline

“Flight, Fight, Freeze”

Depolarization

• Positive ions rushing into the neuron; the action potential occurring

Long-term potentiation

• Strength between neurons increase with repeated use (ex: language and muscle memory)

Medulla

• 
  inferior part of the brainstem

• regulates your breathing, heartbeat, and blood pressure

Cerebellum

• located in the back of the brain below the occipital and temporal lobes

• coordinated and precise movement

Hypothalamus

• associated with hunger, sleep, and body temperature

• part of limbic system

Hippocampus

• helps with the formation of new memories

• part of limbic system

Amygdala

• associated with emotion and feelings

• part of limbic system

Dopamine

Pleasure and reward (Joy), movement, attention, and learning

High Levels:

• Schizophrenia

Low Levels

• Parkinson’s disease