sensation and perception flashcards

What do our senses allow us to do with stimuli?

Convert stimuli into electrical signals sent to the brain.

What is the absolute threshold?

A minimum level of stimulation needed to detect a weak sensory signal.

What does the signal detection theory predict?

How and when a person will detect a weak stimulus based on their surroundings.

According to Weber's Law, how do we perceive differences?

On a logarithmic scale rather than a linear scale.

What is the difference threshold?

The minimum difference in stimulation that a person can detect.

What is transduction in the context of sensation?

The process by which sensory receptors convert energy from stimuli into neural signals.

What determines the hue we see in colors?

The wavelength and frequency of light.

What does amplitude in light waves determine?

Brightness or intensity of the light.

What does chromostereopsis refer to?

The effect where pure colors at the same distance appear at different depths.

What are the two types of photoreceptor cells in the retina?

Rods and cones.

What is the function of the optic nerve?

To carry visual information from the eye to the brain.

What are monocular cues in depth perception?

Depth cues that can be perceived using one eye.