AP PSYCH- unit 4 modules 16-21

sensation

the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment

perception

the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events

Bottom-up processing

analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain’s integration of sensory information

Top-down processing

information processing guided by higher-level mental processes (as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations)

selective attention

the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus

inattentional blindness

failing to see visible objects when our attention id directed elsewhere

change blindness

failing to notice changes in the environment

transduction

conversion of one form of energy into another

psycho physics

the study of relationships between the physical characteristics stimuli, such as their intensity, and our psychological experience on them

absolute threshold

the minimum stimulation necessary to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time

signal detection theory

a theory predicting how and when we predict the presence of a faint stimulus (signal) amid background stimulation(noise)

subliminal

below ones absolute threshold for conscious awareness

priming

the activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing ones perception, memory, or response

difference threshold

the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time- just noticeable different

webers law

the principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage

sensory adaptation

diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation

perceptual set

a mental disposition to perceive one thing and not another

wavelength

the distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next

hue

the dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light

intensity

the amount of energy in a light or sound wave, which we perceive as brightness or loudness, as determined as by the waves amplitude

pupil

adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters

cornea

outer covering of the eye

iris

ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening

lens

the transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina

accommodation

the process by which the eye's lens change shape to focus near or far objects in the retina

retina

the light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor pods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual information

rods

retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray. necessary for peripheral vision

cones

retinal receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina. responsible for color

optic nerve

the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain

blind spot

the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a "blind" spot

fovea

the central focus point in the retina, around which the eye's cone cluster

feature detectors

nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement

parallel processing

the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously

Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory aka three color theory

the theory that the retina contains three different color receptors (red, green, and blue)which, when stimulated in combination can produce the perception of any color

opponent-process theory

the theory that opposing retinal processes enable color vision aka after image

gestalt

an organized whole

figure ground

the organization of the visual field into objects that stand out from their surrounding

grouping

the perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups

depth perception

the ability to see objects in 3 dimensions although the image that strike the retina are 2-dimensional, this allows us to judge a distance

visual cliff

a laboratory device for testing depth perception in infants and young animals

binocular cues

depth cues that depend on the use of 2 eyes, such as retinal disparity

retinal disparity

a binocular cue for perceiving depth, by comparing images from the retinas in the 2 eyes, the brain compute distance

monocular cues

depth cues available to either eye alone. including: relative height, relative size, interposition, linear perspective, relative motion, light and shadow

phi phenomenon

an illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in quick succession

perceptual constancy

perceiving objects as unchanging even as illuminated and retinal images change

color constancy

perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object

perceptual adaptation

in vision, the ability to adjust to an artificially placed or even inverted visual field

audition

the sense or act of hearing

frequency

the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point ina given time

pitch

a tone's experienced highness or lowness, (dependent upon frequency)

middle ear

the chamber between the ear drum and cochlea containing three tiny bones that concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochlea's oval window

inner ear

the innermost important part of the ear, containing the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs.

cochlea

a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear

sensorineural hearing loss

loss caused by damage to the cochlea's receptors or to the auditory nerves

conducting hear loss

hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea

cochlear implant

a device for converting sounds into electrical signals and stimulating the auditory nerve through electrodes threaded into the cochlea

place theory

in hearing, the theory that links pitch we hear with the place the cochlear's membrane is stimulated

frequency theory

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

gate control theory

the theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological gate that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass onto the brain.

kinesthesis

the system

vestibular sense

the sense of body movement and position, including the sense of balance (semicircular canals)

sensory interaction

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

embodied cognition

in psychological science, the influence of bodily sensations, gestures, and other states of cognitive preferences and judgements