Psychology 1110 - Ch. 5, 6 Mastery Training Terms

absolute threshold

the smallest amount of stimulus that can be detected

audition

the sense of hearing

auditory nerve

nerve carrying sound information from the cochlea to the brain

basilar membrane

membrane in the cochlea on which the organ of Corti is located

binocular cue

a depth cue that requires the use of both eyes

bottom-up processing

perception based on building simple input into more complex perceptions

cochlea

the structure in the inner ear that contains auditory receptors

cone

a photoreceptor in the retina that processes color and fine detail

cornea

the clear surface at the front of the eye that begins the process of directing light to the retina

depth perception

the ability to use the two-dimensional image projected on the retina to perceive three dimensions

difference threshold

the smallest detectable difference between two stimuli

fovea

an area of the retina that is specialized for highly detailed vision

gate theory

the theory that suggests that input from touch fibers competes with input from pain receptors, possibly preventing pain messages from reaching the brain

gustation

the sense of taste

iris

the brightly colored circular muscle surrounding the pupil of the eye

lens

the clear structure behind the pupil that bends light toward the retina

monocular cue

a depth cue that requires the use of only one eye

olfaction

the sense of smell

olfactory bulb

one of two structures below the frontal lobes of the brain that receive input from the olfactory receptors in the nose

olfactory nerve

one of two structures below the frontal lobes of the brain that receive input from the olfactory receptors in the nose

opponent process theory

a theory of color vision that suggests we have a red-green color channel and a blue-yellow color channel in which activation of one color in each pair inhibits the other color

optic nerve

the nerve exiting the retina of the eye

optic tracts

nerve pathways traveling from the optic chiasm to the thalamus, hypothalamus, and midbrain

optic tracts

nerve pathways traveling from the optic chiasm to the thalamus, hypothalamus, and midbrain

organ of Corti

a structure located on the basilar membrane that contains auditory receptors

papillae

small bumps on the tongue that contain taste buds

perception

the process of interpreting sensory information

psychophysics

the study of relationships between the physical qualities of stimuli and the subjective responses they produce

pupil

an opening formed by the iris

retina

layers of visual processing cells in the back of the eye

retinal disparity

the difference between the images projected onto each eye

rod

a photoreceptor specialized to detect dim light

sensation

the process of detecting environmental stimuli or stimuli arising from the body

sensory adaptation

the tendency to pay less attention to a nonchanging source of stimulation

signal detection

the tendency to pay less attention to a nonchanging source of stimulation

somatosensation

the body senses, including body position, touch, skin temperature, and pain

taste bud

a structure found in papillae that contains taste receptor cells

top-down processing

a perceptual process in which memory and other cognitive processes are required for interpreting incoming sensory information

transduction

the translation of incoming sensory information into neural signals

trichromatic theory

a theory of color vision based on the existence of different types of cones for the detection of short, medium, and long wavelengths

vestibular system

the system in the inner ear that provides information about body position and movement

vision

the sense that allows us to process reflected light

addiction

a compulsive physical or psychological dependence on a substance or activity that continues in spite of negative consequences

alpha wave

a waveform of 9 to 12 cycles per second recorded by electroencephalogram that usually indicates relaxed waking

beta wave

a waveform of 15 to 30 cycles per second recorded by electroencephalogram that usually indicates alert waking

biological clock

an internal mechanism that provides an approximate schedule for various physical processes

circadian rhythm

a daily biological rhythm

coma

a state of deep unconsciousness resulting from brain damage or illness

conciousness

a state of awareness

delta wave

a waveform of 1 to 4 cycles per second recorded by electroencephalogram that usually indicates deep non–rapid eye movement sleep

dreaming

a mental state that usually occurs during sleep that features visual imagery

gamma wave

a waveform of more than 30 cycles per second recorded by electroencephalogram that indicates attention to sensory input

hallucinogen

a drug that stimulates the experience of false perceptions

hypnosis

an altered state of consciousness characterized by relaxation and increased suggestibility

insomnia

a sleep disorder characterized by an inability to either initiate or maintain normal sleep

lucid dreaming

conscious awareness of dreaming accompanied by the ability to control the content of the dream

major depressive disorder with seasonal pattern

a mood disorder in which depression occurs regularly at the same time each year, usually during the winter months; formerly known as seasonal affective disorder (SAD)

meditation

a voluntary alteration of consciousness characterized by positive emotion and absence of thought

narcolepsy

a sleep disorder characterized by the intrusion of rapid eye movement phenomena into waking

near-death experience

an altered state of consciousness reported by people who were close to death because of cardiac or other medical problems that features out-of-body experiences, light-at-the-end-of-a-tunnel perceptions, and a state of calmness

non-rapid eye movement (N-REM) sleep

the components of sleep characterized by theta and delta wave activity, as recorded by electroencephalogram, and deep physical relaxation

psychoactive drug

any drug with the capability of altering a person’s state of consciousness

rapid eye movement (REM) sleep

the component of sleep characterized by waveforms resembling waking, as measured by electroencephalogram, accompanied by rapid motion of the eyes, muscular paralysis, and sympathetic nervous system activation

restless legs syndrome (RLS)

disorder characterized by the involuntary movement of an extremity, usually one leg

seizure

an abnormal level of brain activation with a sudden onset

self-awareness

the special understanding of the self as distinct from other stimuli

sleep

a normal state of consciousness characterized by reduced awareness of external stimuli

sleep apnea

a sleep disorder in which the person stops breathing while asleep

sleep terror

a sleep disorder occurring in non–rapid eye movement sleep in which the sleeper wakes suddenly in great distress but without experiencing the imagery of a nightmare

stimulant

any drug that increases the activity of the nervous system

sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

a sleep disorder in which an otherwise healthy infant dies while asleep

theta wave

a waveform of 4 to 7 cycles per second recorded by electroencephalogram that is characteristic of lighter stages of non–rapid eye movement sleep

tolerance

the need to administer greater quantities of a drug to achieve the same subjective effect

vegetative state (VS)

an abnormal state following brain injury featuring wakefulness without consciousness

waking

a normal state of consciousness characterized by alertness and awareness of external stimuli

withdrawal

physical responses to the removal of some habitually administered drugs