Intro to Psychology Chapter 3 - Sensation and Perception Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering sensory receptors, perceptual processes, color vision theories, auditory mechanics, somatic senses, and sensory processing disorders from Chapter 3.

The stimulation of sensory receptors, such as light stimulating retinal cells or sound vibrations stimulating hair cells.

Sensation

The process of becoming aware of sensory input and interpreting its meaning through collaboration between multiple brain areas.

Perception

Sensory receptors in the retina sensitive to light that function better in lower light but are not very useful for color vision.

Rods

Sensory receptors in the retina responsible for color perception.

Cones

Sensory receptor cells located in the cochlea of the inner ear that bend to convert mechanical pressure waves into perceived sound.

Hair cells

The detection of light energy, perceived as sight or vision.

Photoreception

The detection of chemical stimuli, perceived as taste or smell.

Chemoreception

A perceptual failure where a person fails to see visible objects because their focus is elsewhere.

Inattentional blindness

A perceptual failure where a person fails to notice changes in the environment.

Change blindness

A theory operating at the photoreceptor level (retina) stating that three types of cones, maximally sensitive to red (long), green (medium), and blue (short) wavelengths, combine activation to produce color perception.

Trichromatic theory of color vision

A theory proposed by Edwald Hering operating at high visual processing levels stating that color vision is processed by three opposing retinal pathways/channels.

Opponent process theory of color vision

The perceptual quality of sound determined by wave frequency.

Sound pitch

The perceptual quality of sound determined by wave amplitude.

Sound volume

A somatic sense that detects body position and muscle movement.

Kinesthetic sense

A somatic sense located in free nerve endings in skin layers that signals warmth and cold variations.

Temperature sense

A somatic sense that monitors balance and head motion.

Vestibular sense

Widespread free nerve endings located in skin and internal organs that detect tissue damage risks.

Pain receptors

Receptors located in the epidermis and dermis skin layers that detect pressure, texture, and vibration.

Touch receptors

A condition where the brain struggles to properly organize and respond to sensory signals, making it difficult to function across various environments.

Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD)

An extreme or higher-than-normal sensitivity to a particular substance, condition, or sensory input.

Hypersensitivity

A lower-than-normal sensitivity to sensory stimuli.

Hyposensitivity

Sensory receptors located inside the nasal passage epithelium that respond to chemicals and project signals to the olfactory bulb first.

Olfactory receptors

Sensory receptors located on the tongue, inside of cheeks, and back of the throat that respond to chemicals and project signals to the thalamus first.

Taste buds