ap pysch modules 20-25

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102 Terms
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sensation

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

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sensory receptors

sensory nerve endings that respond to stimuli

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perception

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

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bottom-up processing

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

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top-down processing

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

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selective attention

the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus

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cocktail party effect

ability to attend to only one voice in a sea of other voices

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divided attention

the ability to carry out multiple tasks at once; interfere if overlapping

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inattentional blindness

failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere

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change blindness

failing to notice alterations in our environment, ex: choice blindness

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transduction

conversion of one form of energy into another

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Psychophysics

the study of relationships between the physical properties of stimuli and our psychological experience

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absolute threshold

the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time

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signal detection theory

a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus amid background stimulation

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4 reasons for signal detection theory

experience, expectations, motivation, and alertness

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subliminal

below one's absolute threshold for conscious awareness

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priming

the activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, predisposing one's perception, memory, or response

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difference threshold

the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 percent of the time

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webers law

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

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sensory adaptation

diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation

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perceptual set (ps)

a mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another

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ps context effects

stimuli affected by whats around it

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ps motivation

motivation changes from one thing after seeing another

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ps emotion

feelings about the world make you see your emotions everywhere

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esp

extrasensory perception; the claim that perception can occur apart from sensation

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telepathy

mind to mind communication

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clairvoyance

the ability to see remote events

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precognition

the ability to predict the future

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parapsychology

the study of paranormal phenomena

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Wavelength

the distance from peak to peak of a wave; determines color in lightwaves

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hue

the dimension of color that is determined by wavelength; red, blue, green, magenta, yellow, cyan

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intensity

the amount of energy in a wave as determined by the waves amplitude (height)

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cornea

a clear protective layer that covers the iris and pupil

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aqueous humor

a gel layer between the iris and pupil

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pupil

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

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iris

a ring shaped colored muscle that controls the size of the pupils opening

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lens

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

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accomodation

the process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus on images near and far

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retina

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

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rods

receptors in the retina that detect gray scale and movement and provide peripheral and twilight vision

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cones

receptors in the retina that detect fine detail and color in daylight or well-lit conditions

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optic nerve

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

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blind spot

the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a spot with no retinal receptors

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fovea

the focal point in the retina around which the eyes cones cluster

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feature detectors

nerve cells in the brain's visual cortex that respond to specific features of a stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement

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Young-Helmholtz trichromatic 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.

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opponent-process theory

the theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable color vision

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gestalt

an organized whole; necker/impossible cube

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figure-ground

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

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grouping

the perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups

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depth perception

the ability to see objects in three dimensions although the images that strike the retina are two-dimensional; allows us to judge distance

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visual cliff

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

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binocular cues

depth cues that use both eyes

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retinal disparity

by comparing retinal images from each eye the brain can judge distance

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monocular cues

depth cues using one eye

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Interposition

objects that are partially blocked are perceived as farther away than complete objects

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relative height

we perceive objects higher in our field of vision as farther away

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relative motion (motion parallax)

As we move, objects that are actually stable may appear to move; close objects appear to move backwards, objects in the distance appear to move slowly with us

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relative size

assuming objects are similar in size, the object that is larger is perceived to be closer

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linear perspective

parallel lines appear to converge with distance; the sharper the angle of convergence, the greater the perceived distance

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lights and shadows

shading produces a sense of dept, consistent with our assumption that light comes from above

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phi phenomenon

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

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perceptual constancy

perceiving objects as unchanging even as sensation changes

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shape constancy

perceiving the shape of an object as unchanging even as retinal images of the shape change

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color constancy

perceiving the color of an object as unchanging even as retinal images of the color change

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brightness constancy

perceiving an object as having unchanging brightness even as reflective wavelengths of light alter

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ames room

an optical illusion

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perceptual adaptation

the ability to adjust to changing sensory input

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audition

the sense or act of hearing

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frequency

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

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pitch

a tones perceived highness or lowness as determined by frequency

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timbre

the quality or a sound distinct from its pitch and loudness

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outer ear

the ear cartilage and ear canal; funnels soundwaves towards the middle ear and inner ear

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middle ear

ear drum(tympanic membrane), malleus (the hammer) the incus (anvail, stirrup) function- helps concentrate vibrations of the ear drum on the cochleas oval window

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inner ear

contains the cochlea, semi circular canals, and the vestibular sacs; processing sound begins

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conductive/conduction hearing loss

hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical systems that conduct sound waves to the cochlea

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sensory neural hearing loss

caused by damage to the cochleas receptor cells or auditory nerve

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cochlea

a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear through which sound waves trigger nerve impulses

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cochlear implant

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

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perception of sound (timbre)

frequency determines pitch, amplitude determines loudness or volume (dB decibels)

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place theory (basilar membrane)

the theory that links the pitch we hear with the spot where the cochleas basilar membrane is stimulated (high frequencies not low)

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frequency theory

the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone (low frequencies not high)

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volley principle

the theory that the nerve impulses of the auditory nerve are combined

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touch

a sensation within your skin

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