Psychology Flashcard Set

Unit 2

Sensation

Organs transforming physical energy into neurological impulses the brain knows as the 5 senses.

Perception

The brain gives information meaning through emotions, memories, etc. (Top down processing).

Absolute Threshold of Sensation

The minimum intensity of a stimulus that a person can detect half the time.

Signal Detection Theory

Investigates the effects of distractions and interferences we experience while perceiving the world.

Sensory Adaptation

When our senses become less responsive to constant or unchanging stimuli.

Weber’s Law

The principle that the smallest detectable difference between two stimuli depends on the intensity of the original stimulus.

Rods and Cones

Rods detect light for night vision; Cones detect color for daytime vision.

Thalamus

A brain structure that relays sensory information (except smell) to the proper part of the brain for processing.

Occipital Lobe

The part of the brain that processes visual information.

Wavelengths

The distance between waves of light or sound, affecting color (light) or pitch (sound).

Auditory Cortex

The part of the brain that processes sound information.

Five Tastes

The basic tastes we can sense: sweet, salty, sour, bitter, and umami (savory).

Synesthesia

A condition where stimulation of one sense causes automatic experiences in another sense.

Chemical Senses

The senses of smell (olfaction) and taste (gustation) that detect chemicals in the environment.

Blind Spot

The area in the retina where the optic nerve leaves the eye; no visual receptors, so no image is detected.

Olfactory Bulb

A brain structure that processes smells.

Kinesthesis

The sense that lets you feel the position and movement of your body parts.

Vestibular Sense

The sense of balance and spatial orientation, controlled by the inner ear.

Perceptual Set

The tendency to perceive things in a certain way based on expectations, experiences, or context.

Context (Perception)

The surroundings or situation influencing how we perceive something.

Culture (Perception)

How cultural background influences perception, like interpretations of gestures.

Gestalt Principles

Principles describing how we perceive visual elements as unified wholes.

Binocular Cues

Depth perception cues that depend on both eyes; includes retinal disparity.

Monocular Cues

Depth perception cues that can be perceived with one eye, such as size, motion, light, and shadow.