GenPsych Chapter 5 Review

Sensation =

when sensory information is detected by a sensory receptor

Perception =

the organization, interpretations, and experience of stimuli

Transduction =

conversion from sensory stimulus energy to action potential

Absolute Threshold =

the boundary at which a stimulus is detected 50% of the time

Just Noticeable Difference (JND) =

the smallest noticeable difference between stimuli

Bottom-up processing =

system in which perception are built from sensory input

Top-down processing =

interpretation of sensation is influenced by available knowledge, experiences, and thoughts

Sensory adaptation =

causes us to stop perceiving unchanging stimuli after extended exposure to them

Inattentional Blindness =

when we don’t notice something totally visible because we’re actively attending to something else

Change Blindness =

when we fail to detect changes to the visual details of a scene because they are inconsequential to its meaning

Signal Detection Theory =

change in stimulus as a function of current mental state

What are the sensory stimuli involved in vision?

Light waves

Amplitude =

determines its brightness

Wavelength =

determines its color

Cornea =

a transparent covering that reflects light entering the eye

Pupil =

a black circle in the center of the eye is the opening through which light passes

Iris =

the colored portion of the eye dilated or contracts the pupil to change the amount of light passing through it

Lens =

a curved, transparent structure that provides additional focuse for light entering the eye

Retina =

the lining of the eye that converts light to neural signals

Optic Nerve =

carries visual information from the retina to the brain

Optic Chiasm =

X-shaped structure; represents the optic nerves merging from the two eyes and the separation of information

Rods =

function in low light; involved with peripheral vision

Cones =

function in bright light; handle acute detail and color

Trichomatic theory =

there are cones that detect blue-violet, green, and yellow-red

Opponent process theory =

color is coded in pairs as opposed receptor neurons

Figure-ground =

we organize the visual world into figure and ground

Multistability =

we perceive images with multiple interpretations as multiple images in an altering manner

Proximity =

things that are closer together are grouped together

Similarity =

things that are alike are grouped together

Continuity =

our visual system avoids sudden changes in direction

Closure =

perceptions are organized into complete objects rather than a series of parts

Depth Perception =

the ability to perceive the world in three dimensions and perceive distance

Monocular depth cue =

requires one eye

Binocular =

requires two eyes

Linear Perspective =

parallel lines converge as they recede into the distance

Texture gradient =

the elements of a uniformly patterned surface grow smaller as the surface recedes into the distance

Interposition =

an object blocked by another object is farther away

Relative Height =

closer objects are lower in your visual field

Motion Parallax =

objects that are closer appear to move faster than objects that are farther away

Convergence =

your eyes angle towards each other when looking at an object that’s getting closer

Binocular Disparity =

the greater the disparity between the location on each retina where an image is projected, the closer the object

What are the sensory stimuli involved in audition?

Sound waves

Sound waves =

changes in air pressure unfolding over time

Frequency =

determines its pitch

Amplitude =

determines its volume

Complexity =

determines its timbre, or purity

How does sound move through the ear?

1. Sound moves through the auditory canal

2. Sound then vibrates the eardrum

3. Vibration of eardrum causes ossicles to move

4. The stirrup presses into the oval window

5. Pressure on the oval window causes fluid in the cochlea to move

Temporal Theory =

frequency is coded by the activity level of a sensory neuron (only explains perception of low frequencies)

Place Theory =

Each frequency stimulated a different part of the basilar membrane (better for explaining perception of high frequencies)

What are the sensory stimuli involved in the body senses?

Receptors under the skin transduce body sensations into neural signals

Inflammatory Pain =

signals tissue damage

Neuropathic pain =

results from damage to neurons of the CNS and PNS

What are the two ways signals arriving from pain receptors can be stopped according to the gate-control theory of pain?

1. Pleasurable activation of skin receptors

2. Modulating the activity of pain-transmission neurons

What are the sensory stimuli involved in olfaction?

airborne molecules

How do olfactory stimuli interact with our noses?

Olfactory receptor cells in the nose are activate by airborne molecules

Relation between odors and attraction =

PET scans showed activation of the hypothalamus after:

• Straight women and Gay men smelled testosterone

• Straight men and Lesbian women smelled estrogen

What are the sensory stimuli involved in gustation?

Molecules in food and beverages

How do gustatory stimuli interact with our tongues?

Taste receptors on the tongue are activated by these molecules

What are the six taste sensations covered in the lecture?

1. Salty

2. Sour

3. Bitter

4. Sweet

5. Fatty

6. Umami