Psychology: Sensation, Perception, Learning, and Memory Key Concepts Save Groups

Sensation

Detecting sensory info from environment

Perception

Interpreting sensory info

Bottom-up processing

Starts with sensory input

Top-down processing

Guided by experience or expectations

Absolute threshold

Minimum detectable stimulus

Difference threshold (JND)

Smallest change detected

Signal detection theory

Detecting depends on signal + attention

Stroop effect

Interference when word and color differ

Inattentional blindness

Miss visible object when focused elsewhere

Sensory adaptation

Decreased sensitivity after constant exposure

Retina

Light-sensitive part of eye

Rods

Detect low light

Cones

Detect color/detail

Blind spot

No photoreceptors

Trichromatic theory

3 color receptors: red, green, blue

Opponent process theory

Opposing colors: red-green, blue-yellow

Cochlea

Inner ear; sound to neural signal

Sound localization

Based on intensity/timing differences

Pain control

Endorphins reduce pain

Taste buds

Detect six taste qualities

Olfactory bulb

Smell center; links to memory/emotion

Kinesthetic sense

Body position awareness

Vestibular sense

Balance and spatial orientation

Learning

Change in behavior from experience

Behaviorism

Study of observable behavior

Classical conditioning

Learning by association

Neutral stimulus

No response before conditioning

Unconditioned stimulus

Naturally triggers response

Conditioned stimulus

Learned trigger

Conditioned response

Learned reaction

Acquisition

Learning initial association

Extinction

CR weakens when CS not paired

Spontaneous recovery

Reappearance of CR after rest

Stimulus generalization

Similar stimuli trigger CR

Stimulus discrimination

Only specific CS triggers CR

Operant conditioning

Learning by consequences

Law of effect

Rewarded acts repeated

Reinforcement

Increases behavior

Positive reinforcement

Add pleasant stimulus

Negative reinforcement

Remove unpleasant stimulus

Punishment

Decreases behavior

Positive punishment

Add unpleasant stimulus

Negative punishment

Remove pleasant stimulus

Continuous reinforcement

Every response reinforced

Partial reinforcement

Sometimes reinforced

Shaping

Rewarding small steps toward goal

Learned helplessness

Giving up after repeated failure

Observational learning

Learning by watching others

Bandura's Bobo doll

Children imitate aggression

Memory

Encoding, storing, retrieving info

Encoding

Taking in info

Storage

Retaining info

Retrieval

Accessing stored info

Attention

Focusing on certain stimuli

Selective attention

Focus on one thing

Divided attention

Multitasking

Sustained attention

Long focus period

Levels of processing

Shallow to deep learning

Elaboration

Adding detail/connections

Sensory memory

Brief sensory storage

Short-term memory

Holds ~7 items briefly

Chunking

Grouping info

Maintenance rehearsal

Repeating info

Long-term memory

Permanent storage

Explicit memory

Conscious recall (facts/events)

Implicit memory

Unconscious skills/responses

Episodic memory

Personal experiences

Semantic memory

Facts and knowledge

Procedural memory

Skills and habits

Working memory

Temporary mental workspace

Serial position effect

Recall first/last best

Proactive interference

Old info blocks new

Retroactive interference

New info blocks old

Tip-of-the-tongue

Partial retrieval failure