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Absolute threshold
The minimum intensity of a stimulus needed for detection 50% of the time. It represents the boundary between not perceiving a stimulus and perceiving it.
Adequate stimulation
The minimum level of intensity needed for a stimulus to be detected by a sensory system.
Bell-Magendie Law
States sensory nerves enter the spinal cord's dorsal side, while motor nerves exit through the ventral side.
Broca’s area
Brain region in the frontal lobe responsible for speech production and language processing. Damage can lead to expressive language difficulties.
Clinical method
Research technique that involves studying individuals or small groups in-depth to gain insights into psychological phenomena.
Differential threshold
The smallest amount by which two stimuli must differ for a person to perceive them as distinct.
The doctrine of specific nerve energies
Doctrine stating nerves carry specific signals regardless of stimulus; proposed by Johannes Müller in 19th century physiology.
Formal discipline
A concept in education positing that studying a subject for its own sake develops mental abilities, like logic or critical thinking.
Just noticeable difference (jnd)
The smallest change in a stimulus that can be detected by an observer. It is a key concept in psychophysics.
Kinesthesis
Refers to the sense of body movement and position, including the awareness of muscle movement, joint position, and overall body balance.
Method of adjustment
A technique in psychophysics where the subject adjusts a stimulus until it is perceived as equal to another stimulus.
Method of constant stimuli
Psychophysical method where stimuli are presented at different intensities randomly to determine perceptual thresholds.
Method of limits
A psychophysical method to determine thresholds by gradually increasing or decreasing stimuli until a participant detects a change.
Negative sensations
Unpleasant feelings or perceptions that can include pain, discomfort, or distress.
Panpsychism
Belief that all things possess a mind or soul
Suggests consciousness is a fundamental aspect of the universe
Perception (Helmholtz)
Theory that perception is a result of unconscious inference based on past experiences and knowledge.
Physiognomy
The practice of assessing a person's character or personality based on their facial features or expressions.
Principle of conservation of energy
The principle stating energy cannot be created or destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.
Psychophysics
The study of the relationship between physical stimuli and the sensations and perceptions they evoke in the mind.
Reaction time
The time it takes to respond to a stimulus. It is influenced by factors like age, experience, and complexity of the task.
Resonance place theory of auditory perception
Explains how different frequencies of sound stimulate different areas along the cochlea's basilar membrane, leading to pitch perception.
Sensation
Refers to the process of detecting stimuli from the environment through our senses such as sight, sound, taste, touch, and smell.
Two-point threshold
The smallest distance between two points on the skin where they are perceived as distinct stimuli. It's a measure of tactile acuity.
Unconscious inference
Process where the mind makes assumptions without awareness, influencing perception and decision-making.
Vitalism
Belief in a vital force separate from physical and chemical processes thought to be essential for life.
Weber’s law
States that the just noticeable difference between two stimuli is proportional to the magnitude of the stimuli.
Young-Helmholtz theory of colour vision
States that color perception is based on three types of cones sensitive to red, green, and blue light wavelengths.
