sensation
sense detect visual, auditory, and other sensory stimuli to the brain
perception
sensory information is actively organized, interpreted by the brain
exteroceptors
goes from sensation to perception through exteroceptors into brain; external
interceptors
send internal messages to the brain (hunger, thirst etc.); internal
proprioceptors
receives stimuli from within the body in relation to position and movement
absolute threshold
difference between not being able to perceive stimulus and being just barely able to perceive it
difference threshold
measure of smallest increase/decrease in physical stimulus required to produce JND (smallest change in sensation)
signal detection theory
detecting sensory stimulus involves noticing stimulus against background "noise" and deciding whether stimulus is actually present
sensory receptors
detect, respond to one type of stimuli
transduction
sensory receptors change sensory stimulation
sensory adaptation
become less sensitive to unchanging sensory stimulus over time
cornea
transparent, protective covering front of eye, bends light rays inwards, through pupil
pupil
small dark opening in centre of iris
iris
coloured part of eye, muscles dilate and contract pupil through reflex
lens
suspended behind iris and pupil, composed of many thin layers, flattens when focusing on distant objects, bulges while focusing on close objects
nearsightedness
distance through eyeball too short or too long; see nearby objects clearly, distant objects blurry
farsightedness
focal image larger than eye can handle; see distant objects clearly, close objects blurry
rods
light sensitive receptors in retina, respond to black and white
cones
receptor cells in retina, see colour and fine detail, dont function well in dim light
fovea
small area of retina, clearest point of vision, receptors change light rays into neural impulses
optic chiasm
optic nerves from both eyes come together and nerve fibres cross to opposite sides of brain, helps depth perception
feature detectors
certain neurons in brain, respond only to specific visual patterns (lines or angles)
pinna
visible curved flap of cartilage and skin on the ear
auditory canal
leads to eardrum, lined with hairs
eardrum
thin flexible membrane, moves in response to sound waves
ossicles
inside chambers of middle ear, amplify sound
cochlea
produce electrical impulse transmitted to brain
olfaction
sensation of smell; a chemical sense
olfactory epithelium
patch of tissue at top of each nasal cavity, contains 10 million smell receptor cells
olfactory bulbs
2 matchstick sized structures above each nasal cavity, smell first registers in brain, messages relayed to different parts of brain
pheromones
chemicals excreted by humans and animals, elicits certain behaviour patterns
gustation
sense of taste
flavour
combined sensory experience of taste, smell, touch
gate control theory
pain signals can be transmitted or inhibited by "gate" in spinal cord
endorphins
block pain and produce feelings of well being
kinesthetic sense
feedback about movement and position of various body parts
vestibular sense
detects movement, provides information about body's orientation in space
gestalt principles of grouping
similarity, proximity, continuity, closure
convergence
eyes turn inward while focusing nearby objects; closer object, greater convergence
binocular disparity
difference between 2 retinal images, cues for depth and balance
interposition
perceive partially blocked object as further away
linear perspective
parallel lines appear to converge into distance
relative size
larger objects perceived as closer to viewer, smaller objects as farther away
texture gradient
nearby object to have sharply defined textures, similar objects appear smoother, appear fuzzier as fade into distance
atmospheric perspective
distant objects have bluish tint, distant objects appear more blurred than close objects
motion parallax
objects appear to be moving in different directions and different speeds, close objects appear to move faster than distant ones
real vs apparent motion
real - movements of objects through space apparent - psychological
ambiguous figures
2 different objects, figures seen alternately
impossible figures
parts appear to be 2 different places at same time
illusions
false perceptions of actual stimulus in environment
bottom up processing
individual components of stimulus detected by sensory receptors, information transmitted to areas of brain then combined, assembled into whole pattern person perceives
top down processing
past experience/knowledge of context plays role informing perceptions
consciousness
a continuous stream of thoughts, feelings, sensations, perceptions
circadian rhythms
controlled by the brain, within each 24hr period high to low points of bodily functions (ex. blood pressure, heart rate, appetite etc)
ultradian rhythms
more than once a day, (hunger patterns, eye blinks, heartbeats)
infradian rhythms
cycle exceeds 24hr period (female menstrual cycle)
suprachiasmatic nucleus
small structure in hypothalamus, acts as biological clock, responds to amount of life
NREM sleep
quiet sleep, heart rate and respiration slow, little body movement, blood pressure and brain activity at lowest points
REM sleep
active sleep, paralysis of large muscles, fast irregular heart and respiration rate, increased brainwave activity
microsleeps
2-3 second sleeps, due to deep sleep deprivation
REM rebound
increased amount of REM sleep, due to REM deprivation from sleep loss, alcohol, illness etc.
REM dreams
vivid dreams we remember, continuous during each REM period
NREM dreams
mental activity during NREM sleep, more thought-like in quality
short vs long sleepers
short - less than 6 hours, 20% of population long - more than 9 hours, 10% of population
parasomnia
sleep disturbances, behaviours, psychological states normally occur in waking state occur during sleep state
sleepwalking
eyes open, blank stare, shuffle, poor coordination, speech is unintelligible
sleep terror
often begins with piercing scream and panic, lasts 5-15 mins, often no memory of episode
nightmares
frightening dreams during REM sleep
sleeptalking
occurs during any sleep stage, more frequent in children
narcolepsy
incurable sleep disorder, excessive daytime sleepiness, uncontrollable attacks of REM sleep
sleep apnea
breathing stops during sleep, sleep is light, restless or poor
meditation
focus attention on object, word breathing or body movement to block out all distractions, altered state of consciousness
hypnosis
trance-like state of concentrated and focused attention; distortions in perceptions memories, thinking; aware of what is going on
psychoactive drugs
alter normal mental functioning, mood, perception, thought; controlled substances used medically; can trigger dopamine in brain's limbic system, involved in reward and motivation
factors that influence addictive potential of drug
how quickly effects are felt
how pleasurable effects are
how long pleasurable effects last
how much discomfort when drug discontinued
stimulants
speed up CNS, suppress appetite, feel more awake, alert, energetic
caffeine
mental alertness increases, stay awake, lifts mood, found in coffee, tea, cola, chocolate
amphetamines
increase arousal, relieves fatigue, suppresses appetite, gives energy
cocaine
gives euphoria then crash
hallucinogens
alter perceptions and mood, cause hallucinations
LSD
"trips" of 10-12 hours, vivid hallucinations and distortions, flashbacks
ecstasy
designer drug, joyous state, can impair cognitive functions
marijuana
relaxation and giddiness, perceptual distortions and hallucinations, amotivational syndrome
depressants
decrease activity in CNS, slow bodily functions, reduce sensitivity to outside stimulation (narcotics)
alcohol
relaxes then depresses CNS
narcotics
relieves pain, calming effects
dopamine
affects nucleus accumbens in brain's limbic system, role in reinforcement and reward
endorphins
opiates mimic effects of brain's endorphins, pain relieving properties
GABA
act on GABA receptors, slows CNS, calming sedating effect
learning
permanent change in behaviour, knowledge, capability, or attitude; acquired through experience
classical conditioning
response previously made to specific stimulus, made to another; association formed between 2 stimuli; involuntary form of learning
stimulus
any event or object in environment to which organism responds (ex. light, sound, touch)
reflexes
unlearned, automatic responses to environmental stimuli (ex. swallowing, coughing, blinking)
unconditioned reflex
involuntary response to stimuli (ex. eye blink to puff of air, salivation response to food)
conditioned reflex
learned involuntary responses
unconditioned response (UR)
automatic, unlearned response to US
unconditioned stimulus (US)
stimulus elicits UR
conditioned response (CR)
learned response to CS
conditioned stimulus (CS)
previously neutral stimulus; after repeated pairings with US, produces CR
extinction
weakening of learned response, eventual disappearance of learned response