Sensory Perception and Processing

This set of flashcards covers key vocabulary related to sensory perception, focusing on vision and hearing, as well as taste and smell.

Light

A measurable form of electromagnetic radiation that travels in wavelengths.

Color Perception

The subjective interpretation of different wavelengths of light as distinct colors.

Rods

Photoreceptor cells in the retina responsible for vision in low light and motion detection.

Cones

Photoreceptor cells in the retina responsible for color vision and detail, concentrated in the macula and fovea.

Blind Spot

An area in the visual field where no image is detected due to the absence of photoreceptors at the optic nerve exit.

Saccadic Eye Movements

Rapid small movements of the eye that occur when scanning the environment.

Visual Pathway

The neural pathway that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain.

Sound Waves

Vibrations of air particles that create physical waves we perceive as sound.

Frequency

The number of cycles per second of a sound wave, measured in Hertz (Hz).

Decibel (dB)

A unit used to measure the intensity or amplitude of sound.

Cochlea

A spiral-shaped organ in the inner ear containing hair cells that transduce sound vibrations into nerve signals.

Umami

A savory taste, recognized as the fifth primary taste involving amino acids.

Olfaction

The sense of smell, which detects airborne chemicals via olfactory receptors.

Chemoreceptors

Sensory receptors that respond to chemical stimuli, such as taste buds and olfactory cells.

Taste Buds

Neurons on the tongue that act as chemoreceptors for taste, responding to different chemicals.

Papillae

The visible bumps on the tongue that contain taste buds.

Neurons

Specialized cells that transmit nerve signals; the building blocks of the nervous system.

Auditory Nerve

The nerve that carries sound information from the cochlea to the brain.

Balance

The ability to maintain bodily stability, which is affected by the semicircular canals in the ear.