Sensations Vocabulary

sensation

the stimulation of sensory receptors and the transmission of sensory information to the brain

perception

the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information

absolute threshold

the smallest amount of a particular stimulus that can be detected

difference threshold

the minimum difference that an individual can detect between two stimuli

signal-detection theory

the idea that distinguishing sensory stimuli takes into account not only the strength of the stimuli but also such elements as setting and one’s physical state, mood, and attitudes

sensory adaptation

the process by which an organism becomes more sensitive to stimuli that are low in magnitude and less sensitive to stimuli that are constant

pupil

the opening in the center of the eye that adjusts to allow light to enter

lens

the transparent structure of the eye that focuses light on the retina

retina

the light-sensitive inner surface of the eye that contains the rods, cones, and neurons that process visual stimuli

photoreceptors

neurons that respond to light

blind spot

the part of the retina that contains no photoreceptors

visual acuity

keenness or sharpness of vision

complementary

the colors across from each other on the color circle

afterimage

the visual sensation that occurs after the original stimulus has been removed

cochlea

the fluid-filled structure of the inner ear that transmits sound impulses to the auditory nerve

auditory nerve

the cranial nerve that carries sound from the cochlea of the inner ear to the brain

conductive deafness

hearing loss caused by damage to the middle ear, thus interfering with the transmission of sound waves to the cochlea

sensorineural deafness

deafness that results from damage to the auditory nerve

olfactory nerve

the nerve that transmits information about odors from olfactory receptors to the brain

gate theory

the suggestion that only a certain amount of information can be processed by the nervous system at a given time

vestibular sense

the sense that provides information about the position of the body

kinesthesis

the sense that provides information about the position and movement of individual body parts