ap psych unit 3 sensation and perception

Synesthesia

Condition where two senses are sensed simultaneously

Sensation

Collection of information from the environment and conversion to neural signals

Transduction

Conversion of stimulus energy to neural impulses

Perception

Selection, organization, and interpretation of sensory information

Bottom-Up Processing

Building perceptions from incoming stimuli

Top-Down Processing

Forming perceptions based on prior knowledge and expectations

Prosopagnosia

Face blindness, deficiency in top-down processing

Absolute Threshold

Smallest level of stimulus detectable at least half the time

Signal Detection Theory

Predicts detection of faint stimuli amid background stimulation

Subliminal Sensation

Stimuli below the absolute threshold for conscious awareness

Difference Threshold

Smallest change needed for a difference to be noticeable

Weber's Law

Perceived difference between stimuli depends on a constant percentage

Sensory Adaptation

Reduction in sensitivity to a constant stimulus

Selective Attention

Focusing on important elements while filtering out others

Divided Attention

Mental focus on multiple tasks or ideas simultaneously

Cocktail Party Effect

Ability to focus on one sound while filtering out others

Inattentional Blindness

Failure to notice stimuli when attention is focused elsewhere

Change Blindness

Failure to notice changes in the visual environment

Cornea

Transparent structure at the front of the eye, provides focusing power

Pupil

Adjustable opening in the center of the eye that controls light entry

Iris

Ring of muscle that controls pupil size

Crystalline Lens

Transparent structure behind the pupil, changes shape for focusing

Retina

Light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye, contains photoreceptors

Photoreceptors

Convert light energy into neural impulses (rods and cones)

Cones

Light-detecting cells involved in color perception

Rods

Specialized photoreceptors for vision in low light conditions

Optic Nerve

Nerve that carries visual information from the eye to the brain

Blind Spot

Point where the optic nerve leaves the eye, no receptor cells

Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic Theory

Three types of cones responsible for color perception

Color-Deficient Vision

Lack of functioning red or green-sensitive cones

Opponent-Process Theory

Retinal processes that detect opposing colors

Afterimage

Continuation of visual sensation after stimulus removal

Feature Detectors

Neurons in the visual cortex that respond to specific visual stimuli

Parallel Processing

Simultaneous processing of multiple visual attributes

Audition

Biological process of processing sound waves

Sound Waves

Vibrations that travel through a medium (air)

Amplitude

Height of a sound wave, perceived as loudness

Frequency

Number of wavelength cycles per unit of time, perceived as pitch

Pinna

Visible part of the outer ear that catches sound waves

Tympanic Membrane

Eardrum, vibrates in response to sound waves

Middle Ear

Amplifies sound waves with auditory ossicles

Inner Ear

Contains the cochlea, where sound waves trigger nerve impulses

Cochlea

Coiled, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear, converts sound to nerve impulses

Place Theory

Perception of high-pitched sounds based on location of hair cell vibration

Frequency Theory

Perception of pitch based on rate of hair cell vibration

Sound Localization

Determining sound location based on intensity and timing differences

Conduction Hearing Loss

Hearing loss caused by structural damage in the ear

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Hearing loss caused by inner ear or auditory nerve dysfunction

Cochlear Implant

Device for converting sound into electrical signals for the auditory nerve

The McGurk Effect

Illusion caused by mismatched auditory and visual components

Taste (Gustation)

Perception of flavors through chemical reactions in the mouth and nose

Umami

Savory taste related to glutamate, elicits emotional response

Smell (Olfaction)

Perception of chemical molecules breathed in through the nose

Somesthetic Senses

Senses of touch, pressure, pain, cold, and warmth

Kinesthesis

Sensing the position and movement of individual body parts

Pain

Body's warning sign of potential harm or injury

Gate-Control Theory of Pain

Theory that a 'gate' in the spinal cord controls pain signals

Gestalt Psychologists

Psychologists who studied how the brain organizes sensory information

Figure-Ground Pattern

Perceiving objects as a figure against a background

Grouping

Organizing stimuli into meaningful groups

Depth Perception

Perceiving the world in three dimensions and judging distance

Binocular Cues

Cues that require the use of both eyes for depth perception

Retinal Disparity

Difference in visual images between the two eyes

Convergence

Inward movement of the eyes to focus on a close object

Monocular Cues

Cues for depth perception that can be perceived with one eye

Linear Perspective

Parallel lines appear to converge at a vanishing point

Interposition

When one object overlaps another, the overlapped object appears further

Relative Size

Objects of the same size appear smaller when farther away

Relative Height

Objects higher in the visual field appear further away

Relative Clarity

Hazy objects appear further away than clear objects

Light and Shadow

Shadows and lighting indicate depth and distance

Texture Gradient

Distant objects have a smoother texture than nearby objects

Relative Motion

Objects closer to us appear to move faster than distant objects

Perceptual Set

Tendency to perceive things in a certain way based on expectations

Perceptual Constancy

Perceiving objects as having constant shape, size, and brightness

Color Constancy

Perceiving objects as having constant color despite changing illumination

Lightness Constancy

Perceiving objects as having constant lightness despite varying illumination

Shape Constancy

Perceiving objects as having constant shape despite changes in viewing angle

Parapsychology

Study of paranormal phenomena, including ESP and psychokinesis