perception midterm 1

perception

conscious sensory experience, the experiences that result from stimulation of the senses

Sensation

elementary processes that occur at the beginning of a sensory system

Perceptual Process

A sequence of steps leading from the environment to perception of a stimulus, recognition of the stimulus, and action with regard to the stimulus.

Perceptual process step 1

distal stimulus

Perceptual process step 2

proximal stimulus

Perceptual process step 3

receptor processes

Perceptual process step 4

neural processing

Perceptual process step 5

perception

Perceptual process step 6

recognition

Perceptual process step 7

action

behavioral responses

perception, recognition, action

distal stimulus

an object or event in the outside world

proximal stimulus

In perception, it is the information our sensory receptors receive about the object.

principle of transformation

stimuli and responses created by stimuli are transformed, or changed, between the environmental stimulus and perception

principle of representation

everything a person perceives is based not on direct contact with stimuli but on representations of stimuli that are formed on the receptors and on activity in the person's nervous system

sensory receptors

Specialized cells unique to each sense organ that respond to a particular form of sensory stimulation.

Transduction

conversion of one form of energy into another

Transmit

signals from the receptors to the brain and then within the brain

change (or process)

these signals as they are transmitted

neural processing

operations that transform electrical signals within a network of neurons or that transform the response of individual neurons

primary receiving area

Area in the cortex that is the first to receive inputs from one of the senses. For example, the occipital cortex is the primary receiving area for vision.

cerebal cortex

outside of cerebrum that controls highest functions like reasoning, memory, consciousness, speech, voluntary muscles movement, vision, hearing, sensation, etc. - part of brain therefore part of central nervous system

occipital lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information

temporal lobe

hearing

parietal lobe

A region of the cerebral cortex whose functions include processing information about touch.

frontal lobe

part of the cerebral cortex involved in reasoning, motor control, emotion, and language; contains motor cortex

recognition

the ability to match a piece of information or a stimulus to a stored image or fact

visual form agnosia

the inability to recognize objects by sight

knowledge

any information that the perceiver brings to a situation

rat-man demonstration

The demonstration in which presentation of a "ratlike" or "manlike" picture influences an observer's perception of a second picture, which can be interpreted either as a rat or as a man. This demonstration illustrates an effect of top-down processing on perception.

top-down processing

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

categorize

Placing objects into categories, such as "tree," "bird," "car."

bottom-up processing

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

data-based processing

Another name for bottom-up processing. Refers to processing that is based on incoming data, as opposed to top-down, or knowledge-based, processing, which is based on prior knowledge.

top-down processing

Processing that involves a person's knowledge or expectations. This type of processing has also been called knowledge-based processing.

oblique effect

Enhanced sensitivity to vertically and horizontally oriented visual stimuli compared to obliquely oriented (slanted) stimuli. This effect has been demonstrated by measuring both perception and neural responding.

stimulus-behavior relationship

The relationship between stimuli and behavioral responses, where behavioral responses can be perception, recognition, or action.

Psychophysics

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

grating acuity

the narrowest spacing of a grooved surface on the skin for which orientation can be accurately judged

stimulus-physiology relationship

the relationship between stimuli and physiological responses

physiological-behavior relationship

relationship between physiology responses and behavioral responses

absolute threshold

the weakest amount of a stimulus that a person can detect half the time

thresholds

The minimum stimulus energy necessary for an observer to detect a stimulus.

classical psychophysical methods

The methods of limits, adjustment, and constant stimuli, described by Fechner, that are used for measuring thresholds.

method of constant stimuli

A stimulus is presented at different intensities along with a standard stimulus, and the observer reports if it appears to be greater than, less than, or equal to the standard.

method of adjustment

the participant observes a stimulus and adjusts a knob that directly controls the intensity of the stimulus

difference threshold

The minimum amount of difference that can be detected between two stimuli

magnitude estimation

a psychophysical method in which the participant assigns values according to perceived magnitudes of the stimuli

perceived magnitude

A perceptual measure of stimuli, such as light or sound, that indicates the magnitude of experience.

reaction time

the amount of time taken to respond to a specific stimulus

phenomenological report

Method of determining the relationship between stimuli and perception in which the observer describes what he or she perceives.

electomagnetic spectrum

displays forms of energy that can travel through space as wavelengths

Neurons

specialized nerve cells that generate and conduct nerve impulses

cell body

Largest part of a typical neuron; contains the nucleus and much of the cytoplasm

Dendrites

Branchlike parts of a neuron that are specialized to receive information.

Axon (nerve fiber)

the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands

resting potential

The difference in electric charge between the inside and outside of a neuron's cell membrane

action potantial

brief reversal of electric polarization, action potential produces the nerve impulse, and in the muscle cell it produces the contraction required for movement.

propogated response

once the response is triggered, it travels all the way down the axon without decreasing in size

refracotry period

a period of inactivity after a neuron has fired

spontaneous activity

nerve firing that occurs in the absence of environmental stimulation

Ions in action potential

Sodium comes in, a certain type of calcium channel opens leading up to threshold, after that a large amount of calcium comes in until it reaches it's peak, then causing potassium channels to open and bring back to resting.

permeability

a property of a membrane that refers to the ability of molecules to pass through it. If the permeability to a molecule is high, the molecule can easily pass through the membrane

depolarization

The process during the action potential when sodium is rushing into the cell causing the interior to become more positive.

rising phase of action potential

In the axon, or nerve fiber, the decrease in negativity from -70 mV to +40 mV (the peak action potential level) that occurs during the action potential. This increase is caused by an inflow of Na+ ions into the axon.

Hyperpolarization

The movement of the membrane potential of a cell away from rest potential in a more negative direction.

falling phase of action potential

In the axon, or nerve fiber, the increase in negativity from +40 mV back to -70 mV (the resting potential level) that occurs during the action potential. This increase in negativity is associated with the flow of positively charged potassium ions (K+) out of the axon.

synapse

the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron

Neurotransmitters

chemical messengers that cross the synaptic gaps between neurons

receptor sites

holes in the surface of the dendrites or certain cells of the muscles and glands, which are shaped to fit only certain neurotransmitters

excitatory response

the response of a nerve fiber in which the firing rate increases

Inhibitory reponse

Occurs when a neurons firing rate decreases due to inhibition from another neuron

sensory coding

Sensory receptors translate the physical properties of stimuli into patterns of neural impulses

specific coding

representation of a specific stimulus by firing of specifically tuned neurons specialized to just respond to a specific stimulus

grandmother cell

A hypothesized type of neuron that responds only to a very specific stimulus, such as a person's grandmother.

sparce coding

when a particular object is represented by a pattern of firing of only a small group of neurons, with the majority of neurons remaining silent

population coding

representation of a particular object by the pattern of firing of a large number of neurons

Phrenology

the detailed study of the shape and size of the cranium as a supposed indication of character and mental abilities.

Modularity

a cognitive science theory about how the human mind is organized within the structures of the brain

module

A structure that processes information about a specific behavior or perceptual quality. Often identified as a structure that contains a large proportion of neurons that respond selectively to a particular quality, such as the fusiform face area, which contains many neurons that respond selectively to faces.

Broca's area

Controls language expression - an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.

Wernicke's area

controls language reception - a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe

Neuropsychology

The study of functions and behaviors associated with specific regions of the brain.

brain imaging

a range of experimental techniques that make brain structures and brain activity visible

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

brain-imaging method using radio waves and magnetic fields of the body to produce detailed images of the brain

functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI)

an imaging technique used to examine changes in the activity of the working human brain by measuring changes in the blood's oxygen levels

distributed representation

occurs when a specific cognition activates many areas of the brain

structural connectivity

the brain's "wiring diagram" created by nerve axons that connect different brain areas

functional connectivity

the extent to which multiple brain regions function at the same time, which improves during adolescence

task-related fMRI

the fMRI response that occurs in response to a specific cognitive task

task-related fMRI

the fMRI response that occurs in response to a specific cognitive task

resting connectivity

A method in which resting-state fMRI is used to determine functional connectivity

seed location

The area of the brain associated with carrying out a specific cognitive or motor task that serves as the reference area the resting-state functional connectivity method.

test location

Resting-state fMRI measured at a location other than the seed location.

mind-body problem

A fundamental psychological issue: Are mind and body separate and distinct, or is the mind simply the physical brain's subjective experience?

wavelength

For light energy, the distance between one peak of light wave and the next peak

visible light

Electromagnetic radiation that can be seen with the unaided eye

pupil

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

Retina

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

Photoreceptors

respond to light