Intro To Psychology Week 2-3

What is sensation?

The process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment.

What is perception?

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

What are the five main senses?

Sight, hearing, touch, taste, and smell.

What is the role of sensory receptors?

To detect and respond to specific types of stimuli, converting them into neural impulses.

What is the difference between bottom-up processing and top-down processing?

Bottom-up processing starts with sensory input, while top-down processing relies on prior knowledge and expectations to interpret sensory information.

What is threshold in sensation?

The minimum amount of stimulus energy needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time.

What is absolute threshold?

The smallest level of energy required by an external stimulus to be detected by the human senses.

What is difference threshold (just noticeable difference)?

The minimum difference in stimulation that a person can detect 50% of the time.

What is sensory adaptation?

Reduced sensitivity to stimulation after constant exposure to it.

What is selective attention?

The focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus while ignoring others.

What is the role of the retina in vision?

The retina contains photoreceptors that convert light into neural signals.

What are rods and cones?

Types of photoreceptors in the retina; rods are sensitive to low light levels, while cones are responsible for color vision.

What is the fovea?

The central focal point in the retina where vision is sharpest.

What is the role of the auditory system?

To detect sound waves, process auditory stimuli, and perceive sound.

What are the components of the ear?

The outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear.

What is the function of the cochlea?

To convert sound vibrations into neural signals.

What is the vestibular system?

A sensory system that contributes to our sense of balance and spatial orientation.

What is kinesthetic sense?

The sense of body position and movement.

What is the role of the olfactory bulb?

To process smell information received from the olfactory receptors.

What is gustation?

The sense of taste, involving taste buds that identify flavors.

What is the concept of perceptual set?

A mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another.

What is depth perception?

The ability to perceive the world in three dimensions and judge distances.

What are monocular cues?

Depth cues that can be perceived with one eye.

What are binocular cues?

Depth cues that require the use of both eyes.

What is illusion?

A misperception of a real stimulus or an incorrect interpretation of sensory input.

What is the role of schemas in perception?

Cognitive frameworks that help organize and interpret information.

What is feature detection?

The ability of the visual system to detect specific features of objects, such as edges, lines, and angles.

What is the signal detection theory?

A theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus amid background noise.

What is color constancy?

The ability to perceive colors of objects as relatively stable under varying illumination.

What is the doctrine of specific nerve energies?

The principle that different sensory modalities exist because signals received by the sense organs stimulate different pathways leading to the brain.

What is perceptual organization?

The process by which we structure and interpret sensory input into meaningful patterns.

What is the Gestalt principle?

The approach which suggests that we perceive whole objects rather than just the sum of their parts.

What is figure-ground perception?

The organization of the visual field into objects (the figures) that stand out from their surroundings (the ground).

What is perceptual adaptation?

The ability to adjust to changed sensory input, such as distorted visual fields.

What is the role of attention in perception?

Attention determines which sensory information we process and strengthen, influencing our perception.

What is the McGurk effect?

A perceptual phenomenon that demonstrates an interaction between hearing and vision in speech perception.

What is the Müller-Lyer illusion?

An optical illusion where two lines of equal length appear to be different lengths due to arrow-like figures at their ends.

What is motion parallax?

A depth cue whereby closer objects appear to move faster than those further away.

What is texture gradient?

A depth cue based on the gradual change in texture that occurs with distance.

What is the role of the thalamus in sensation?

To act as a relay station for sensory information before it reaches the cerebral cortex.

What is the principle of closure in Gestalt psychology?

The tendency to perceive incomplete shapes as complete figures.

What is depth perception influenced by?

Monocular and binocular cues, along with various environmental factors.

What is perceptual constancy?

The perception of objects as unchanging even as illumination and retinal images change.

What is a phi phenomenon?

An optical illusion that occurs when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in succession, creating the perception of movement.

What is the role of experience in perception?

Past experiences shape our interpretations of sensory information.

What is the role of culture in perception?

Cultural background can influence how we perceive and interpret sensory information.

What is color theory?

A framework that explains how colors interact, combine, and influence perceptions.

What are primary colors?

Colors that cannot be created by mixing other colors; red, blue, and yellow.

What are secondary colors?

Colors created by mixing equal parts of two primary colors; green, orange, and purple.

What are tertiary colors?

Colors formed by mixing a primary color with a secondary color; for example, red-orange.

What is the color wheel?

A circular diagram representing the relationships between colors.

What is complementary color?

Colors located opposite each other on the color wheel; they enhance each other when used together.

What is analogous color scheme?

A color scheme that uses colors next to each other on the color wheel for a harmonious effect.

What are warm colors?

Colors that evoke warmth, such as red, orange, and yellow; often associated with energy.

What are cool colors?

Colors that evoke a sense of calmness, like blue, green, and purple.

What is saturation in color?

The intensity or purity of a color; high saturation means vivid colors, low saturation means more gray.

What is value in color?

The lightness or darkness of a color; it is altered by adding white or black.

What is hue in color?

The actual color itself; it refers to the name of the color, such as red or blue.

What is color harmony?

The aesthetically pleasing arrangement of colors; it is key in graphic design.

What is a monochromatic color scheme?

A color scheme that uses variations of one hue, including its tints and shades.

What is the role of color in branding?

Colors convey emotions and messages, and they help create brand identity and recognition.

What is color psychology?

The study of how colors influence human behavior and feelings.

What is the RGB color model?

A color model using red, green, and blue light to create colors, primarily used for screens.

What is the CMYK color model?

A color model using cyan, magenta, yellow, and black; it is used for printing purposes.

What is color contrast?

The degree of difference between colors; high contrast makes elements stand out.

What is opacity in color design?

The level of transparency of a color; it determines how much of the background is visible.

What is the significance of black and white in design?

Black and white colors help define contrast, create emphasis, and can convey simplicity.