Perceptual adaptation
Adjusting to changed sensory input, like an inverted visual field.
Science
Systematic study of the natural world through observation and experiment.
Phenomena
Observed facts or situations with uncertain causes.
Gait
Individual's walking style.
Neurodegenerative
Related to nervous system cell deterioration.
Prosopagnosia
Inability to recognize familiar faces due to brain injury.
Phonagnosia
Inability to recognize familiar voices.
Mnemonic
Memory technique aiding information recall.
Neuron
Cell transmitting nerve impulses.
Sensation
Encoding environmental energy into neural signals.
Sensory receptors
Nerves detecting stimuli and sending signals to the brain.
Perception
Organizing and interpreting sensory information.
Bottom-up processing
Sensory info interpretation from receptors to the brain.
Top-down processing
Using prior knowledge to interpret stimuli.
Schema
Mental framework based on life experiences.
Cognitive construct
Evolving mental framework for experiences.
Selective attention
Focusing on a specific object while ignoring others.
Selective inattention
Chronic disregard for specific stimuli.
Inattentional blindness
Missing visible objects due to focus on other tasks.
Inattentional deafness
Reduced auditory perception due to visual focus.
Change blindness
Failure to notice visual changes due to information overload.
Change deafness
Missing auditory changes under certain conditions.
Transduction
Conversion of stimuli into neural impulses.
Psychophysics
Measuring stimulus strength and observer sensitivity.
Threshold
Point where a change or experience begins.
Absolute threshold
Minimum stimulation detectable 50% of the time.
Theory
Well-substantiated explanation of natural phenomena.
Supposition
Idea lacking solid proof, an educated guess.
Signal Detection Theory
Stimulus detection influenced by intensity and state.
Subliminal
Stimuli below the detection threshold.
Hit
Identifying a present stimulus.
Miss
Failing to identify a present stimulus.
False alarm
Assuming a stimulus is present when it's not.
Correct rejection
No stimulus present and not identified.
Discrimination threshold
Minimum detectable difference in stimulation.
Just Noticeable Difference
Synonym for discrimination threshold.
Decibel
Unit measuring sound loudness.
Difference threshold
Minimum difference between stimuli for detection.
Discrepancy
Difference between two stimuli.
Subliminal sensation
Behavior change from subliminal message processing.
Subliminal persuasion
Behavior change from subliminal message influence.
Priming
Unconscious activation influencing perception or response.
Fact
Repeatedly confirmed observation accepted as true.
Law
General description of natural behavior under conditions.
Weber's Law
Perceiving stimuli differences by a constant percentage.
Sensory adaptation
Reduced sensitivity due to constant stimulation.
Emotion adaptation
Expecting repeated emotions in new situations.
Perceptual set
Mental tendencies affecting perception.
Extrasensory perception (ESP)
Perception beyond sensory input, like telepathy.
Telepathy
Thought communication beyond known senses.
Clairvoyance
Perceiving remote events.
Weber-Fechner Law
Mathematical expression of Weber's Law by Fechner.
Precognition
Perceiving future events, like a political leader's death or a sports outcome.
Parapsychology
Study of phenomena inexplicable by regular science.
Daryl Bem
Cornell Psychology Professor known for controversial ESP experiments.
Saunter
Walking slowly and relaxed without hurry.
Sleep Deprivation
Psychological torture by depriving sleep.
In Tandem
Working alongside each other; together.
Homophonic
Related to words sounding the same but with different meanings.
Reciprocal Phenomenon
Second event accompanying another, both needing study.
Transduce
Convert physical energy to electrical signals for brain interpretation.
Path of Visual Transduction
Sequence from cornea to occipital lobe for visual processing.
Wavelength
Distance between wave crests determining hue.
Hue
Color dimension based on light wavelength.
Amplitude
Wave's maximum displacement determining intensity.
Intensity
Energy in a wave perceived as brightness or loudness.
Frequency
Number of wavelengths passing a point in time.
Cornea
Clear eye surface allowing light entry.
Pupil
Adjustable eye center opening controlling light entry.
Iris
Muscle ring around pupil controlling its size.
Lens
Transparent structure behind pupil focusing images on retina.
Retina
Light-sensitive eye surface processing visual info.
Accommodation
Eye lens curvature change for focusing.
Rods
Retinal receptors detecting black, white, gray for peripheral vision.
Cones
Retinal receptors detecting colors and details in daylight.
Myopia
Near vision ability without far vision.
Bipolar Cells
Retinal neurons connecting rods, cones with ganglion cells.
Retinal Ganglion Cells
Axons forming optic nerve from ganglion cells.
Axon
Neuron extension carrying impulses away from cell body.
Dendrite
Neuron extensions receiving and conducting messages.
Optic Nerve
Carries neural impulses from eye to brain.
Thalamus
Brain part receiving sensory info and passing it to cortex.
Blind Spot
Optic nerve exit point lacking receptor cells.
Photoreceptors
Eyes' light-sensitive rods and cones.
Fovea
Central retina point with high cone density.
Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic Theory
Retina color receptors theory (red, green, blue).
Monochromatic
Color vision deficiency seeing spectrum as gray shades.
Dichromatic
Having two functioning photoreceptors.
Trichromatic
Having three photoreceptor types (blue, red, green).
Color Blind
Genetic color vision disorder affecting males more.
Blind Sight
Indicating visual stimuli direction without conscious perception.
After Image
Visual experience continuing post-stimulation.
Opponent Color
Retinal opposite color pairs sharing channels.
Opponent-Process Theory
Retinal opposing processes enabling color vision.
Cerebral Cortex
Gray matter layer covering cerebral hemispheres.
Frontal Lobe
Cortex region for movement, thinking, planning.
Temporal Lobe
Cortex area receiving auditory information.
Occipital Lobe
Cortex region processing visual data.
Parietal Lobe
Cortex region processing tactile sensory info.
Feature Detectors
Occipital lobe cells responding to visual patterns.