Perception and Consciousness

A collection of vocabulary flashcards related to perception and consciousness, ideal for exam preparation.

Perceptual set

A mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another.

Sensation

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

Signal detection theory

How individuals distinguish meaningful signals from background noise.

Bottom-up processing

When we encounter something new, our brain breaks down the stimulus into smaller components and analyzes each one.

Top-down processing

When we encounter something familiar, our brain uses previous models and expectations to interpret sensory information.

Context

The influences of environmental or cultural factors that affect our perception of a stimulus.

Perception

The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information.

Transduction

The process of converting physical energy into neural signals that the brain can interpret.

Selective attention

Our ability to focus our conscious awareness on a particular stimulus at a time.

Cocktail party effect

The ability to focus one's auditory attention on a particular stimulus while filtering out other stimuli.

Change blindness

Failure to notice changes that occur in the environment due to attention on something else.

Inattentional blindness

A failure to notice unexpected but perceptible stimuli in a visual scene.

Choice blindness

Lack of awareness of our own decisions and preferences.

Stroop effect

The phenomenon where naming the color of a word takes longer when it conflicts with the word itself.

Absolute threshold

The minimum amount of stimulation necessary to detect a particular stimulus.

Priming

When a stimulus falls below our absolute threshold but still influences perceptions.

Difference Threshold (JND)

The minimum difference between two stimuli necessary to detect a difference.

Weber’s Law

Two stimuli must differ by a constant percentage to be perceived as different.

Sensory adaptation

Reduced sensitivity to stimulation resulting from repeated presentations of that stimulus.

Extrasensory perception

The phenomenon of obtaining information independently of known senses.

Kinesthesia

Sensing the position and movement of individual body parts relative to each other.

Gate Control Theory

Theory proposing that the spinal cord contains neurological gates that block or allow pain signals to pass.

Figure-Ground relationship

The organization of the visual field into objects that stand out from their surroundings.

Proximity

We group nearby figures together.

Continuity

We perceive smooth, continuous patterns rather than discontinuous ones.

Closure

Our brain fills in gaps to create a complete object.

Depth perception

The ability to perceive objects in three dimensions.

Parallel Processing

The brain's ability to process multiple stimuli simultaneously.

Retinal disparity

The difference between retinal images from two eyes used to compute distance.

Wavelength

The distance between consecutive peaks of a wave, determining color or sound perception.

Amplitude

The height of a wave, corresponding to physical intensity.

Convergence

Eyes move slightly inward to perceive depth.

Relative height

We perceive higher objects as further away.

Relative motion

As we move, closer objects appear to move in the opposite direction.

Relative size

Familiar objects that appear smaller are further away.

Linear perspective

Parallel lines appear to meet at a convergence point.

Interposition

An object blocking another is perceived as closer.

Consciousness

Awareness in sensory, inner awareness, and sense of self.

Preconscious

A level of consciousness where information can be recalled.

Unconscious

A level of consciousness with little sensory awareness.

Nonconscious

A level of consciousness with no awareness of sensory experiences.

Hypnosis

A social interaction where one person suggests perceptions or behaviors to another.

Dissociation

A split in consciousness allowing simultaneous thoughts and behaviors.

Sensory awareness

Awareness of the sights, sounds, and other sensory inputs in our environment.

Inner awareness

Awareness of feelings and imagination.

Sense of self

Awareness of one's own identity and individual characteristics.

Gestalt

A form or whole image.

Stroboscopic vision

Interpreting motion in the absence of motion.

Perceptual constancies

The ability to perceive objects as unchanging despite changes in illumination.

Phi phenomenon

An optical illusion where stationary objects appear to move in rapid succession.

Cornea

The outer covering of the eye that helps bend light to provide focus.

Pupil

The adjustable opening through which light enters the eye.

Iris

The ring of muscle tissue that controls the size of the pupil's opening.

Lens

The transparent structure behind the pupil that helps focus images on the retina.

Retina

Light-sensitive inner surface of the eye containing rods and cones.

Rods

Retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray, necessary for peripheral vision.

Cones

Retinal receptor cells that function best in daylight and detect fine details and colors.

Optic nerve

The nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain.

Fovea

The central focus point of the retina with the greatest concentration of cones.

Blind spot

The point where the optic nerve leaves the eye with no photoreceptors.

Feature detection

Nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of a stimulus.

Eardrum

The membrane that vibrates when struck by sound waves.

Hammer, Anvil & Stirrup

Bones in the middle ear that vibrate with sound.

Cochlea

Coiled structure in the inner ear that generates nerve impulses in response to sound.

Oval window

The area where the stirrup connects to the cochlea.

Basilar membrane

Structural element that separates liquid-filled tubes in the cochlea.

Auditory nerve

The nerve that sends auditory information to the thalamus.

Conduction hearing loss

Hearing loss caused by problems with conducting sound to the cochlea.

Sensorineural hearing loss

Hearing loss caused by malfunctioning hair cells in the cochlea.

Circadian rhythm

The biological clock regulating bodily rhythms on a 24-hour cycle.

REM sleep

Rapid eye movement sleep where vivid dreams occur.

Sleep

A periodic, natural, and reversible loss of consciousness.

Electroencephalogram (EEG)

A machine that measures electrical activity in the brain.

NREM1

The first sleep stage where brain activity slows down.

Hypnagogic sensations

Brief moments of feeling like you are falling, causing a body jerk.

NREM2

The second sleep stage where intermittent bursts of brain activity occur.

NREM3

The third stage of sleep with very slow brain activity and deepest level of sleep.

REM Rebound

Increased depth and intensity of REM sleep following deprivation.

Insomnia

The inability to fall asleep and remain asleep.

Narcolepsy

A disorder where individuals suddenly fall into REM sleep.

Sleepwalking and Sleep Talking

Behaviors occurring during NREM3 sleep, often in children.

Night Terrors

Episodes causing children to sit up or walk around without full awakening.

Sleep Apnea

Repeated awakenings due to lack of oxygen during sleep.

Delta waves

Large, slow brain waves associated with deep sleep.

Theta waves

Slow frequency brainwaves during deep meditation and light sleep.

Freud’s Wish Fulfillment Theory

The idea that dreams have manifest (remembered) and latent (real) content.

Information Processing Theory

Suggests dreams help consolidate memories of daily events.

Cognitive Development Theory

The content of dreams reflects the dreamer's cognitive development.

Activation-Synthesis Theory

Suggests that REM sleep triggers random visual memories.

Physiological Function Theory

Regular brain stimulation during REM sleep aids neural pathway development.

Manifest content

The remembered content of a dream.

Latent content

The underlying meaning of a dream.

Vestibular sense

Sensing the position and movement of body parts.

Sensory interaction

The influence of one sense on another.

Proprioceptors

Receptors providing feedback about body position and force.

Psychoactive drugs

Chemicals that alter perceptions, mood, and consciousness.

Tolerance

Diminished psychoactive effects after repeated use.

Withdrawal

Painful symptoms from the absence of a drug.

Addictions

Compulsive cravings for drugs or behaviors despite adverse consequences.

Depressants

Drugs that slow brain and nerve function.