Chapter 5: Sensation & Perception Psychology Study Guide

Vocabulary flashcards generated from Chapter 5 Sensation & Perception study guide.

Sensation

The process by which sensory receptors and specialized neurons detect stimuli from the environment.

Transduction

The conversion of sensory information into neural signals that can travel through neurons and be processed by the nervous system.

Perception

The way sensory information is organized, interpreted, and consciously experienced.

Hearing (audition)

Detecting and interpreting sound.

Smell (olfaction)

Detecting odors.

Taste (gustation)

Detecting tastes.

Touch (somatosensation)

Detecting information such as pressure and temperature through the body.

Vestibular sense

Balance and awareness of body position/movement.

Nociception

Detection of pain.

Proprioception

Awareness of body position.

Kinesthesia

Awareness of body movement.

Thermoception

Detection of temperature.

Absolute threshold

The minimum amount of stimulus energy needed for a stimulus to be detected $50\%$ of the time.

Subliminal message

A message presented below the absolute threshold, so it is not consciously noticed.

Just noticeable difference (JND) / difference threshold

The minimum difference in stimulation required to detect a difference between two stimuli.

Signal detection theory

The ability to detect a stimulus when it is embedded in a distracting background; what you are looking/listening for can affect detection.

Inattentional blindness

Failing to notice something that is completely visible because attention is focused on something else.

Sensory adaptation

Reduced perception of a stimulus that remains relatively constant over a prolonged period of time.

Bottom-up processing

Begins with basic sensory information and builds toward a complete perception.

Top-down processing

Uses prior knowledge, experiences, expectations, and context to interpret sensory information.

Visible spectrum

The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that humans can see.

Wavelength

The distance between successive wave peaks; different wavelengths of visible light are perceived as different colors.

ROYGBIV

Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet.

Trichromatic theory

Color vision depends on three types of cones in the retina that are most sensitive to red, green, and blue wavelengths.

Color blindness

Reduced or altered ability to distinguish certain colors, often involving red-green color discrimination; it is more common in males than females.

Frequency

The number of wave cycles per second; frequency is related to pitch.

Decibels (dB)

A logarithmic unit used to measure sound intensity/loudness.

Human hearing range

Approximately $20\,Hz$ to $20,000\,Hz$ ($20\,kHz$), although individual limits vary.

Normal conversation loudness

About $60\,dB$.