Exam 2

sensation

sensory receptor detection of stimuli

transduction

converting stimuli to neural signals

absolute threshold

minimum detectable amount of stimulus 50% of time

subliminal messages

stimuli below absolute threshold

difference threshold

minimum detectable stimulus difference

perception

processing sensory input

bottom-up processing

perception shaped by stimuli

top-down processing

perception shaped by experience and knowledge

sensory adaptation

reduced sensitivity to constant stimuli

inattentional blindness

ignoring obvious stimuli due to inattention

signal detection theory

detecting relevant stimuli amid distractions

amplitude

height from peak to trough

wavelength

distance between peaks

frequency

number of waves per second (hertz); inversely correlated with wavelength

visible light spectrum

visible range (380nm-740nm) of electromagnetic spectrum

roygbiv

visible light spectrum in descending order of wavelength

pitch

perception of sound frequency

decibel

logarithmic unit measuring sound intensity

cornea

transparent eye covering

pupil

opening for light; size inversely correlated with light intensity

iris

colored eye part; controls pupil size

lens

focuses light onto retina

fovea

retina indentation containing cones

cones

bright-light photoreceptors; high detail, color

rods

low-light photoreceptors; less detail, peripheral vision

trichromatic theory

color perception via red, green, and blue cone combinations

opponent-process theory

color perception via opposing pairs (black-white, yellow-blue, red-green)

afterimage

lingering visual perception after stimulus removal

depth perception

perception of three-dimensional space

binocular cues

visual cues involving both eyes

binocular disparity

difference in visual input between eyes

monocular cues

visual cues involving one eye

linear perspective

depth perception via converging parallel lines

pinna

outer visible ear

tympanic membrane

eardrum

ossicles

three middle ear bones (malleus, incus, stapes); regulate balance, transmit sound

cochlea

fluid-filled inner ear structure; stimulates hair cells

hair cells

auditory receptors; within basilar membrane

basilar membrane

cochlear tissue containing hair cells

temporal theory

neuron firing rate determines pitch perception

place theory

stimulated region (frequency-specific) of basilar membrane determines pitch perception

monaural cues

auditory cues involving one ear

binaural cues

auditory cues involving both ears

interaural level difference

sound louder in closer ear

interaural timing difference

sound reaches closer ear first

deafness

partial/complete hearing loss

congenital deafness

hearing loss from birth

conductive hearing loss

sound fails to reach cochlea

sensorineural hearing loss

cochlea-to-brain signal failure

cochlear implant

device directly stimulating cochlear nerve

taste buds

clusters of taste-receptors; hair-like extensions increase surface area for detection

olfactory receptors

detect odor molecules; send signals to olfactory bulb

olfactory bulb

processes olfactory signals; at frontal lobe tip

meissner’s corpuscles

detect light touch and vibrations; rapid adapting

pacinian corpuscles

detect high-frequency vibrations and pressure; rapid adapting

merkel’s disks

detect steady pressure and texture; slow adapting

ruffini corpuscles

detect skin stretch; slow adapting

inflammatory pain

signals tissue damage

neuropathic pain

exaggerated pain signals

congenital analgesia

inability to feel pain

vestibular sense

regulates balance and posture

proprioception

body position awareness

kinesthesia

body movement awareness

figure-ground

distinguishing something from background

proximity

grouping close things together

similarity

grouping similar things together

continuity

preferring continuous over broken lines

closure

perceiving incomplete things as whole

reflexes

automatic response to stimuli

instincts

innate behaviors triggered by stimuli

learning

lasting behavior/knowledge change from experience

associative learning

linking stimuli that occur together

latent learning

learning not exhibited until needed

observational learning

learning by watching others

models

demonstrate behavior

live model

demonstrates behavior in-person

verbal model

explains behavior

symbolic model

behavior shown in media

vicarious reinforcement

imitating rewarded behavior

vicarious punishment

avoiding punished behavior

classical conditioning

associating one stimulus with another

unconditioned stimulus

triggers reflexive response

unconditioned response

natural reaction to stimulus

neutral stimulus

no natural response

conditioned stimulus

elicits response after association with unconditioned stimulus

conditioned response

learned response to conditioned stimulus

higher-order conditioning

using conditioned stimulus to condition another stimulus

acquisition

learning association between neutral and unconditioned stimulus

extinction

weakening of conditioned response without unconditioned stimulus

spontaneous recovery

return of extinguished response after rest

stimulus discrimination

distinguishing similar stimuli

stimulus generalization

similar response to similar stimuli

operant conditioning

learning behavior-consequence associations

law of effect

desirable/undesirable consequences increase/decrease behavior

positive reinforcement

adding stimulus to increase behavior

negative reinforcement

removing stimulus to increase behavior

positive punishment

adding stimulus to decrease behavior

negative punishment

removing stimulus to decrease behavior

shaping

reinforcing successive steps toward desired behavior

primary reinforcer

innate reinforcement value