AP Psychology Sensation and Perception

Flashcards covering essential concepts from the AP Psychology lecture on sensation and perception.

What is the McGurk Effect?

A categorical change in auditory perception induced by incongruent visual speech.

What does 'priming' refer to in sensory processing?

When exposure to one stimulus influences the response to another stimulus.

What are the three main parts of the ear?

Outer ear, middle ear, and inner ear.

What is the function of the ossicles in the middle ear?

To amplify sound waves.

What is the cochlea involved in?

Hearing.

What is 'transduction' in the context of hearing?

The process by which sound waves cause the basilar membrane to vibrate, bending hair cells and sending a neural message to the brain.

Explain Place Theory in terms of pitch perception.

Different pitches are heard because different sound waves trigger activity at different locations along the cochlea's basilar membrane.

What is the difference between conduction hearing loss and sensorineural hearing loss?

Conduction hearing loss is caused by damage to the mechanical system conducting sound waves, while sensorineural hearing loss is caused by damage to the cochlea's receptor cells or the auditory nerves.

What activates pain according to the pain pathway?

Intense stimuli activating free nerve endings in the skin, muscles, or internal organs.

What does the Gate-Control Theory state about pain?

Psychological factors can affect the experience of pain, and there are 'gates' in the spinal cord that can block pain messages from being sent to the brain.

What is the role of nociceptors?

They are sensory receptors that detect hurtful temperatures, pressure, or chemicals.

What is the vestibular sense responsible for?

The sense of equilibrium located in the inner ear.

How does olfaction (smell) work?

Molecules in the air bind to sensory receptors in the nasal passages, sending action potentials to the brain via olfactory nerves.

What are the four basic taste categories?

Sweet, sour, salty, and bitter.

What does the term 'accommodation' refer to in vision?

The ability of the lens to change shape to focus images on the retina.

What is the primary difference between rods and cones in the retina?

Rods detect black, white, and gray in low light, while cones detect color and fine detail in well-lit conditions.

What is synesthesia?

The production of a sense impression relating to one sense or part of the body by stimulation of another sense or part of the body.

What is 'depth perception'?

The ability to see objects in three dimensions, allowing us to judge distance.

What are binocular cues for depth perception?

Interplay of two eyes, including retinal disparity and convergence.