Chapters 4–7: Sensation, Perception, Learning & Memory

82 fill-in-the-blank flashcards covering key concepts from Chapters 4–7 on sensation, perception, learning, and memory.

The process by which our sense organs receive information from the environment is called __.

Sensation

The brain's interpretation of sensory information is known as __.

Perception

The smallest proportional difference you can detect between two stimuli is the __ (JND).

Just Noticeable Difference / Weber’s Law

The __ threshold is the minimum stimulus intensity needed to detect a sensation 50% of the time.

Absolute

In Signal Detection Theory, correctly reporting a present signal is a __.

Hit

In Signal Detection Theory, falsely reporting a signal when none is present is a __.

False Alarm

A tendency to say “yes” or “no” regardless of stimulus presence is called __.

Response Bias

Diminished sensitivity to constant stimulation is termed __.

Sensory Adaptation

Focusing on one stimulus among many is known as __.

Selective Attention

Hearing your name in a noisy room illustrates the __ effect.

Cocktail Party Effect

Failing to notice an obvious object because attention is elsewhere is called __.

Inattentional Blindness

Failing to notice changes in a scene is termed __.

Change Blindness

Converting sensory input into neural signals is called __.

Transduction

The outer ear structure that collects sound waves is the __.

Pinna

Sound waves travel down the __ to reach the eardrum.

Ear Canal

The membrane that vibrates in response to sound is the __.

Eardrum

The three tiny bones that amplify and transmit vibrations are collectively called the __.

Ossicles

Balance is primarily handled by the __ canals.

Semicircular

The __ converts vibrations into neural signals in the inner ear.

Cochlea

Neural signals from the ear reach the brain via the __ nerve.

Auditory

Hearing loss caused by problems in the outer or middle ear is called __ loss.

Conductive

Inner ear or nerve damage results in __ deafness.

Nerve

Long-term exposure to loud sounds can cause __-induced hearing loss.

Noise

According to __ theory, different areas of the cochlea respond to different high frequencies.

Place Theory

__ theory states that low-pitched sounds are coded by the rate of nerve impulses.

Frequency Theory

For intermediate frequencies, __ theory proposes that groups of neurons fire in rapid succession.

Volley Theory

The transparent front part of the eye that helps focus light is the __.

Cornea

Light enters the eye through the adjustable opening called the __.

Pupil

The colored muscle that controls pupil size is the __.

Iris

The light-sensitive inner surface of the eye containing rods and cones is the __.

Retina

Photoreceptors responsible for color vision are called __.

Cones

Photoreceptors that detect light and dark are __.

Rods

Visual information leaves the eye via the __ nerve.

Optic

The __ theory of color vision proposes three types of cones sensitive to red, green, and blue.

Trichromatic

The __ theory explains color vision with opposing pairs such as red-green and blue-yellow.

Opponent-Process

In __ a person can respond to visual stimuli without conscious awareness.

Blindsight

An inability to recognize objects despite normal vision is called __ agnosia.

Visual

Difficulty recognizing faces despite normal vision is called __.

Prosopagnosia

The __ control theory suggests that non-painful input can block pain signals.

Gate

Experiencing sensations in an amputated limb is known as __ limb syndrome.

Phantom

The Gestalt principle that near objects are grouped together is __.

Proximity

Filling in missing information to see a complete object exemplifies the principle of __.

Closure

Grouping based on shared characteristics illustrates the principle of __.

Similarity

Preferring balanced images reflects the principle of __.

Symmetry

Perceiving an object as separate from its background relates to __ distinction.

Figure-Ground

Seeing smooth, continuous patterns rather than discontinuous ones is the Gestalt principle of __.

Continuity

Recognizing objects as having constant size, shape, and color despite changes in perception is called perceptual __.

Constancy

A decreased response to a repeated stimulus is called __.

Habituation

In classical conditioning, a previously neutral stimulus becomes a __ stimulus after pairing with the unconditioned stimulus.

Conditioned

The disappearance of a conditioned response when the conditioned stimulus is presented alone is called __.

Extinction

Responding similarly to stimuli that resemble the conditioned stimulus is known as stimulus __.

Generalization

Distinguishing between the conditioned stimulus and similar stimuli is stimulus __.

Discrimination

The reappearance of a conditioned response after a pause is __ recovery.

Spontaneous

In operant conditioning, __ increases the likelihood of a behavior.

Reinforcement

A schedule in which reinforcement follows a set number of responses is a __ ratio schedule.

Fixed

Slot machines pay out on a __ ratio schedule.

Variable

Pop quizzes are given on a __ interval schedule.

Variable

A stimulus that signals that a response will be reinforced is called a __ stimulus.

Discriminative

Food and water are examples of __ reinforcers.

Primary

Money functions as a __ reinforcer.

Secondary

Classical conditioning mainly involves the __ nervous system.

Autonomic

Operant conditioning primarily involves the __ nervous system.

Somatic

Learning that occurs without immediate demonstration and later shows up is called __ learning.

Latent

Learning by watching others is __ learning.

Observational

A sudden solution to a problem illustrates __ learning.

Insight

The Atkinson-Shiffrin model lists three stages: sensory, short-term, and __ memory.

Long-Term

Visual sensory memory is called __ memory.

Iconic

Auditory sensory memory is known as __ memory.

Echoic

Grouping information into meaningful units to aid short-term memory is called __.

Chunking

Repeating information over and over without adding meaning is __ rehearsal.

Maintenance

Linking new information to existing knowledge is __ rehearsal.

Elaborative

According to Miller's magic number, short-term memory capacity is about __ ± 2 items.

7

Memory of facts and events that can be consciously recalled is __ memory.

Explicit

Skill memory such as riding a bike is an example of __ memory.

Procedural

The tendency to remember the first and last items in a list best is called the __ position effect.

Serial

Retrieving information without cues, such as on an essay test, is __.

Recall

Identifying previously learned information from options, as on a multiple-choice test, is __.

Recognition

Strengthening of synapses based on recent patterns of activity is called long-term __.

Potentiation

In __ amnesia, new memories cannot be formed.

Anterograde

In __ amnesia, memories from before the injury are lost.

Retrograde

Highly detailed, emotional memories that may be inaccurate are called __ memories.

Flashbulb

Misleading information presented after an event can distort memory in the __ effect.

Misinformation