Psych - Sensation Unit

absolute threshold

The minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time.

accommodation

the focus of the eye is changed to allow near or distant objects to form sharp images on the retina.

afterimages

A visual image that persists after a stimulus is removed.

sweet, sour, salty, bitter, umami, oleogustus

six taste types

blindspot

The point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating an area in which no visual information can be detected because no receptor cells are located there.

conduction deafness

Hearing loss caused by physical damage; in 1 or 2 ears

cones

center of the retina; detect fine detail and see color

dichromatism

eye contains only two types of cone photopigment; Red

farsightedness

the image of close objects to be blurred because the focal point of one or both eyes lies behind, rather than on, the retina

frequency theory

The rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense its pitch.

ganglion cells

The last layer of photoreceptors within the retina that sends signals to the brain resulting from visual stimulation.

gate control theory

Spinal cord blocks pain signals; opens when priority

gustation

sense of taste

just

noticeable difference

kinesthesis

sense of the location of body parts in relation to the ground and each other.

lens

The transparent part that changes shape to help focus images on the retina (accommodates)

loudness

determined by amplitude; higher amplitude means louder sounds, smaller amplitude means quieter sounds

medium tasters

average ability tasters

monochromatism

the eye contains only one type of cone photopigment

nearsightedness

retinal image is blurred because the focal point of one or both eyes lies in front of the retina.; this allows you to see what is near you, but struggles with items far away

nontasters

someone who has less taste perception; usually require more seasoning to make it taste good.

oleogustus

the unique taste of fat, recently identified as separate from other distinct tastes

olfactory system

The sense of smell

opponent

process theory

phantom limb

The feeling that an amputated limb is still present, often as a tingling or painful sensation in the area of the missing limb.

pheromones

Olfactory chemical messages that are released outside the body by members of a species and that influences the behavior of other members of the species. For, example, it may serve to attract a mate or to act as an alarm.

pitch

A tone's experienced highness or lowness; depends on frequency; high frequency means higher pitch

place theory

Links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated

prosopagnosia

Inability to recognize familiar faces.

retina

back of the eye, containing rods and cones; location of transduction for vision

rods

Retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary of peripheral vision and low

semicircular canals

three looped tubular channels in the inner ear that detect movements of the head and provide the sense of dynamic equilibrium that is essential for maintaining balance.

sensation

receive stimuli

sensorineural deafness

Hearing loss in BOTH ears caused by damage to the cochlea's hair cells or to the auditory nerves; also called nerve deafness.

sensory adaptation

Diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation; "get used to it"

sensory interaction

one sense may influence another, as when the smell of food influences its taste.

sound localization

identify the position and changes in position of sound sources based on auditory info

supertaster

perception of taste sensations is the most intense

synesthesia

When one kind of sensory stimulus evokes the subjective experience of another; ex/ colors experienced as sounds

thalamus

The brain's sensory switchboard; it directs messages to the correct brain part; all senses but smell are processed here.

transduction

Conversion of one form of energy into another

trichromatic theory

retina contains 3 color receptors

umami

protein, "savory" taste

vestibular sense

sense of body movement and position, including the sense of balance.

volley theory

groups of neurons of the auditory system respond to a sound by firing action potentials slightly out of phase with one another so that when combined, a greater frequency of sound can be encoded and sent to the brain to be analyzed.

warm/cold receptors

thermoreceptors on our skin; Cold receptors are free nerve endings with thin myelinated fibers, whereas the warm receptors are free nerve endings with unmyelinated axons with low conduction speeds

Weber's law

difference of a stimulus is a constant proportion despite variations in intensity; if original stimulus is weak, only need a slight change to notice; if original stimulus is strong, need a strong change to notice

blindsight

people who are blind have some spared visual capacities in the absence of any visual awareness.

Red

long waves of light.

Green

medium waves of light.

fovea

The central focal point in the retina, around which the eye's cones cluster.

blue

short waves of light