AP PSYCH UNIT 2.1 and 1.6 terms

What is the absolute threshold?

The minimum intensity of a stimulus that can be detected 50% of the time.

What does the term 'just-noticeable difference' refer to?

The smallest change in stimulus intensity that can be detected.

What is sensory adaptation?

The process by which sensitivity to a constant stimulus decreases over time.

What is synesthesia?

A condition where stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory pathway.

What is the function of photoreceptors in the retina?

They convert light into electrical signals for visual processing.

What is the opponent-process theory?

A theory of color vision that suggests color perception is controlled by the activity of two opponent systems: a blue-yellow mechanism and a red-green mechanism.

What is the cochlea's role in hearing?

It is a spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear that converts sound vibrations into neural signals.

What is the vestibular sense?

The sensory system that contributes to balance and spatial orientation.

What is the function of the basilar membrane?

It vibrates in response to sound waves and plays a crucial role in the process of hearing.

What is the difference threshold?

The minimum difference in stimulation that a person can detect 50% of the time.

What is transduction in sensory processing?

The conversion of physical energy from stimuli into neural signals.

What does Weber's law state?

The principle that the difference threshold is a constant proportion of the original stimulus.

What is the function of cones in the retina?

Cones are photoreceptor cells responsible for color vision and function best in bright light.

What is the trichromatic theory of color vision?

The theory that color perception is based on the activity of three types of cones sensitive to red, green, and blue light.

What is the role of the optic nerve?

The optic nerve transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.

What is auditory frequency?

The number of sound wave cycles that occur in a second, measured in Hertz (Hz).

What is sensorineural deafness?

Hearing loss caused by damage to the inner ear or the auditory nerve.

What is the function of the olfactory system?

The olfactory system is responsible for the sense of smell.

What are pheromones?

Chemical signals released by an individual that can affect the behavior or physiology of others of the same species.

What is the gate control theory?

The theory that pain sensations are processed and blocked by gating mechanisms in the spinal cord.

What is the term for the ability to perceive the intensity of stimuli?

Amplitude

What phenomenon occurs when a person perceives a sensation after the stimulus has been removed?

Afterimages

What is the term for the inability to recognize faces, often referred to as face blindness?

Prosopagnosia

What is the function of ganglion cells in the retina?

Ganglion cells transmit visual information from the retina to the brain.

What is the role of the semicircular canals in the inner ear?

The semicircular canals are responsible for maintaining balance and spatial orientation.

What is the term for the perception of sound frequency based on the location of stimulation along the cochlea?

Place theory

What is the theory that explains how we perceive pitch based on the rate at which neurons fire?

Frequency theory

What are supertasters known for?

Supertasters have a heightened sensitivity to taste, particularly bitter flavors.

What is the term for the inability to see in the area where the optic nerve leaves the retina?

Blind spot

What is the phenomenon called where individuals can respond to visual stimuli without conscious visual perception?

Blindsight

What is the term for the adjustment of the eye's lens to focus on objects at different distances?

Accommodation

What are the sensory receptors in the retina responsible for detecting light?

Rods

What is the term for the perception of sound frequency, which is related to the pitch of the sound?

Pitch

What is the term for the ability to determine the location of a sound source?

Sound localization

What is the sense of taste called, which involves the detection of flavor through taste receptors?

Gustation

What is the theory that explains how multiple neurons can fire in a sequence to encode the frequency of a sound?

Volley theory

What is the term for the sensation of a limb that is no longer physically present?

Phantom limb

What are the sensory receptors that respond to changes in temperature?

Warm/cold receptors

What is intensity in the context of sensation?

Intensity refers to the strength or magnitude of a sensory stimulus.

What is sensory interaction?

Sensory interaction is the process by which different sensory modalities influence each other.

What does wavelength refer to in sensory perception?

Wavelength is the distance between successive peaks of a wave, affecting how we perceive different colors in vision.

What is dichromatism?

Dichromatism is a type of color blindness where individuals can only perceive two colors.

What is farsightedness?

Farsightedness, or hyperopia, is a vision condition where distant objects are seen clearly, but close ones are blurry.

What is the function of the lens in the eye?

The lens focuses light onto the retina, allowing for clear vision.

What is monochromatism?

Monochromatism is a condition where individuals can only perceive one color due to a lack of color receptors.

What is nearsightedness?

Nearsightedness, or myopia, is a vision condition where close objects are seen clearly, but distant ones are blurry.

What role does the retina play in vision?

The retina converts light into neural signals, which are sent to the brain for visual processing.

What is audition?

Audition is the sense or act of hearing.

What is conduction deafness?

Conduction deafness is a type of hearing loss caused by problems in the outer or middle ear that prevent sound from being conducted to the inner ear.

What is the inner ear responsible for?

The inner ear is responsible for converting sound vibrations into neural signals and maintaining balance.

What is kinesthesis?

Kinesthesis is the sense that provides information about the position and movement of body parts.

What is oleogustus?

Oleogustus is a proposed basic taste that detects fatty acids.

What are taste receptors?

Taste receptors are specialized cells that detect the five basic tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami.

Sensation

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

Middle ear

The air-filled cavity located between the outer ear and the inner ear, containing the ossicles that transmit sound vibrations.

Apparent movement

The perception of motion when there is none, often due to the sequential presentation of visual stimuli.

Attention

The cognitive process of selectively concentrating on one aspect of the environment while ignoring others.

Binocular depth cues

Visual information taken in by two eyes that enables the perception of depth.

Bottom-up processing

A type of processing that starts with the sensory input and builds up to the final perception.

Change blindness

The failure to notice large changes in a visual scene.

Closure

The tendency to perceive incomplete figures as complete.

Cocktail party effect

The ability to focus on a single conversation in a noisy environment.

Convergence

The inward turning of the eyes when focusing on a nearby object, providing depth perception.

Figure and ground

The organization of visual fields into objects (the figures) that stand out from their surroundings (the ground).

Gestalt psychology

A psychological approach that emphasizes that the whole of anything is greater than its parts.

Inattentional blindness

The failure to notice a fully visible but unexpected object because attention was engaged on another task.

Interposition

A monocular cue for depth perception that occurs when one object overlaps another, causing the overlapped object to be perceived as further away.

Linear perspective

A monocular cue for depth perception that is based on the convergence of parallel lines as they recede into the distance.

Monocular depth cues

Depth cues that can be perceived with one eye.

Perceptual Constancy

The tendency to perceive objects as unchanging despite changes in sensory input.

Perceptual set

A mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another.

Proximity

A Gestalt principle stating that objects that are close together are perceived as a group.

Relative clarity

A monocular cue for depth perception based on the clarity of objects; clearer objects are perceived as closer.

Relative size

A monocular cue for depth perception that refers to the size of an object compared to others; smaller objects are perceived as further away.

Retinal disparity

A binocular cue for depth perception that arises from the difference in the images seen by the left and right eyes.

Schema

A cognitive framework or concept that helps organize and interpret information.

Selective attention

The process of focusing on a particular object in the environment for a certain period.

Similarity

A Gestalt principle stating that objects that are similar are perceived as a group.

Texture gradient

A monocular cue for depth perception based on the gradual change in texture that occurs with distance.

Top-down processing

A type of processing that starts with the brain and applies prior knowledge to interpret sensory information.