AP Psych: Intro to Sensation and Perception

synesthesia

synesthesia

a condition in which two senses are activated at the same time aka one stimulation evokes another sensation

sensation

the process by which our receptors and nervous systems receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment

Transduction

the transformation of stimulus energy to electrochemical energy of neural impulses excluding smell

Perception

the process by which we select, organize, and interpret sensory information into categories for the purpose of recognizing meaningful objects and events

Bottom Up Processing

involves starting with an incoming stimulus and working upwards until a representation of the object is formed in our mind

• does not rely on prior knowledge

Top Down Processing

Form our perception starting with a larger object, concept, or idea before working our way towards a more detailed information

Absolute Threshold

the smallest level of stimulus that can be detected, usually defined as at least half time

Signal Detection Theory

the theory that predicting how and when we detect faint stimulus amid background stimulation

Subliminal Stiumulation

When stimulus are below the absolute threshold for conscious awareness

Difference Threshold

the amount something can be changed in order for a difference to be noticeable

Weber’s Law

The principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimulus must differ by a constant minimum percentage

Sensory Adaptation

Reduction in sensitivity to a certain stimulation after repeated exposure

Selective Attention

Our ability to center our attention on certain important elements of our environment while other things blend into the background or pass us by completely unnoticed

Divided Attention

When mental focus in divided into multiple task/ideas at once

• Decreases amount of attention being placed on a singular task

Cocktail Party Effect

Ability to focus on a particular sound while partial filtering out other sounds

Inattention Blindness

When our focus is directed at one stimulus causing other stimuli to be overlooked

Change Blindness

The tendency people have to miss changes in their immediate visual environment

Sensory Interaction

the process by which our senses work with each other