1.6

ap psychology module 1.6

Sensation

Sensation

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

Psychophysics

The study of the relationship between physical stimuli and the sensations and perceptions they produce.

Sensory Receptors

Specialized cells that detect and respond to specific types of sensory stimuli.

Signal Detection Theory

A theory that explains how we detect signals amidst noise, considering both sensitivity and decision-making processes.

Absolute Threshold

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

Just-Noticeable Difference (Difference Threshold)

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

Weber’s Law

A principle stating that the just-noticeable difference is a constant proportion of the original stimulus.

Sensory Adaptation

The diminished sensitivity to a stimulus as a consequence of constant exposure to that stimulus.

Sensory Interaction

The principle that one sense may influence another, such as taste and smell.

Synesthesia

A condition in which one sense is simultaneously perceived as if by one or more additional senses.

Embodied Cognition

The theory that cognitive processes are deeply rooted in the body's interactions with the world.

Subliminal

Below the threshold of conscious awareness.

Priming

The activation of certain associations, thus predisposing one's perception, memory, or response.

Wavelengths

The distance between successive peaks of a wave, which determines the color in light and pitch in sound.

Hue

The dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light.

Intensity

The amount of energy in a light or sound wave, which influences brightness or loudness.

Cornea

The transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris and pupil and helps to focus light.

Pupil

The adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters.

Iris

The colored part of the eye that controls the size of the pupil.

Retina

The light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye that converts light into neural signals.

Blind Spot

The point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a spot with no receptor cells.

Visual Nerve (optic nerve)

The nerve that carries visual information from the retina to the brain.

Lens

The transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina.

Accommodation

The process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus near or far objects.

Nearsightedness

A condition where close objects are seen clearly, but distant objects appear blurry.

Farsightedness

A condition where distant objects are seen clearly, but close objects appear blurry.

Fovea

The central focal point in the retina, around which the eye's cones cluster.

Photoreceptors

Cells in the retina that convert light into neural signals; includes rods and cones.

Transduction

The process of converting one form of energy into another, such as light into neural signals.

Rods

Photoreceptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and night vision.

Cones

Photoreceptors that detect color and are concentrated in the fovea.

(Young-Helmholtz) Trichromatic Theory

A theory that suggests the retina contains three types of color receptors (red, green, blue).

Opponent-Process Theory

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

Feature Detectors

Neurons in the brain that respond to specific features of a stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement.

Afterimages

Visual sensations that remain after the original stimulus has been removed.

Ganglion cells

Neurons in the retina that receive input from photoreceptors and transmit visual information to the brain.

Dichromatism

A color vision deficiency where individuals can only perceive two colors.

Monochromatism

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

Prosopagnosia

A neurological condition characterized by the inability to recognize faces.

Blindsight

A condition in which a person can respond to visual stimuli without consciously perceiving them.

Parallel Processing

The ability of the brain to process multiple aspects of a stimulus simultaneously.

Frequency

The number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time, related to pitch in sound.

Pitch

The perceived frequency of a sound, determining how high or low it sounds.

Amplitude

The height of a wave, which determines the loudness of a sound.

Middle Ear

The air-filled space between the