Untitled Flashcards Set

Flashcard #5
Term: Top-Down Processing
Definition: Information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, like experiences and expectations.

Flashcard #6
Term: Transduction
Definition: Conversion of one form of energy into another, such as converting stimuli into neural signals.

Flashcard #7
Term: Psychophysics
Definition: The study of the relationship between physical stimuli and the sensations and perceptions they produce.

Flashcard #8
Term: Gustav Fechner
Definition: A psychologist who founded psychophysics and explored how physical stimuli relate to mental sensations.

Flashcard #9
Term: Absolute Threshold
Definition: The minimum stimulation needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time.

Flashcard #10
Term: Signal Detection Theory
Definition: Predicts how and when we detect a faint stimulus amid background noise, influenced by experience and expectations.

Flashcard #11
Term: Subliminal
Definition: Stimuli below the absolute threshold for conscious awareness.

Flashcard #12
Term: Priming
Definition: The unconscious activation of certain associations, influencing perception or memory.

Flashcard #13
Term: Difference Threshold
Definition: The minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time, also called the "just noticeable difference."

Flashcard #14
Term: Ernst Weber
Definition: A psychologist known for Weber’s Law, which quantifies the perception of changes in a stimulus.

Flashcard #15
Term: Weber’s Law
Definition: The principle that to perceive a difference, two stimuli must differ by a constant proportion, not a constant amount.

Flashcard #16
Term: Sensory Adaptation
Definition: Reduced sensitivity to a constant stimulus over time.

Flashcard #17
Term: Wavelength
Definition: The distance between peaks of a light or sound wave, determining color or pitch.

Flashcard #18
Term: Hue
Definition: The dimension of color determined by wavelength (e.g., red, blue).

Flashcard #19
Term: Intensity
Definition: The amount of energy in a wave, perceived as brightness or loudness.

Flashcard #20
Term: Cornea
Definition: The eye’s clear, outer covering that protects the eye and begins focusing incoming light.

Flashcard #21
Term: Pupil
Definition: The adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters.

Flashcard #22
Term: Iris
Definition: The colored part of the eye that controls the size of the pupil.

Flashcard #23
Term: Lens
Definition: The transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to focus images on the retina.

Flashcard #24
Term: Retina
Definition: The light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing rods, cones, and neurons for processing visual information.

Flashcard #25
Term: Accommodation
Definition: The process by which the lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina.

Flashcard #26
Term: Rods
Definition: Photoreceptors in the retina that detect black, white, and gray, and are sensitive to dim light.

Flashcard #27
Term: Cones
Definition: Photoreceptors in the retina that detect color and function best in bright light.

Flashcard #28
Term: Optic Nerve
Definition: The nerve that carries visual information from the retina to the brain.

Flashcard #29
Term: Blind Spot
Definition: The point where the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a spot with no receptor cells.

Flashcard #30
Term: Fovea
Definition: The central focal point in the retina, where cones are concentrated for detailed vision.

Flashcard #31
Term: Young–Helmholtz Trichromatic (Three-Color) Theory
Definition: The theory that the retina contains three types of color receptors (red, green, blue) that combine to produce all colors.

Flashcard #32
Term: Opponent-Process Theory
Definition: The theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, blue-yellow, black-white) enable color vision.

Flashcard #33
Term: David Hubel and Torsten Wiesel
Definition: Researchers who discovered feature detectors in the brain, specialized for processing specific visual information.

Flashcard #34
Term: Feature Detectors
Definition: Neurons in the visual cortex that respond to specific features of a stimulus, such as shape or movement.

Flashcard #35
Term: Parallel Processing
Definition: The brain’s ability to process many aspects of a problem (e.g., color, motion, form) simultaneously.

Flashcard #36
Term: Audition
Definition: The sense of hearing.

Flashcard #37
Term: Frequency
Definition: The number of sound wave cycles per second, determining pitch.

Flashcard #38
Term: Pitch
Definition: A tone’s highness or lowness, determined by frequency.

Flashcard #39
Term: Middle Ear
Definition: The chamber between the eardrum and cochlea, containing tiny bones that amplify sound vibrations.

Flashcard #40
Term: Cochlea [KOHK-lee-uh]
Definition: A spiral-shaped, fluid-filled structure in the inner ear where sound waves are converted to neural signals.

Flashcard #41
Term: Inner Ear
Definition: Contains the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs, involved in hearing and balance.

Flashcard #42
Term: Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Definition: Hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea or auditory nerve.

Flashcard #43
Term: Conduction Hearing Loss
Definition: Hearing loss caused by damage to the middle or outer ear, impeding sound conduction.

Flashcard #44
Term: Cochlear Implant
Definition: A device that converts sounds into electrical signals to stimulate the auditory nerve directly.

Flashcard #45
Term: Place Theory
Definition: The theory that pitch is determined by where the cochlea’s membrane is stimulated.

Flashcard #46
Term: Frequency Theory
Definition: The theory that pitch is determined by the frequency of nerve impulses matching the sound wave’s frequency.

Flashcard #47
Term: Gate-Control Theory
Definition: The theory that the spinal cord contains a “gate” that controls the transmission of pain signals to the brain.

Flashcard #48
Term: Gustation
Definition: The sense of taste.

Flashcard #49
Term: Olfaction
Definition: The sense of smell.

Flashcard #50
Term: Kinesthesis [kin-ehs-THEE-sis]
Definition: The sense of body movement and position, including joint and muscle awareness.

Flashcard #51
Term: Vestibular Sense
Definition: The sense of balance and spatial orientation, controlled by structures in the inner ear.

Flashcard #52
Term: Sensory Interaction
Definition: The principle that one sense may influence another, such as smell enhancing taste.

Flashcard #53
Term: Embodied Cognition
Definition: The influence of bodily sensations, gestures, and other physical states on cognitive preferences and judgments.

Flashcard #54
Term: EEG (Electroencephalogram)
Definition: A test that measures electrical activity in the brain using electrodes placed on the scalp, often used to study brain waves during sleep or seizures.

Flashcard #55
Term: MEG (Magnetoencephalography)
Definition: A technique that measures the magnetic fields produced by neural activity in the brain, providing precise timing and spatial details of brain function.

Flashcard #56
Term: CT (Computed Tomography) Scan
Definition: A medical imaging method that uses X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body or brain, often used to detect injuries or abnormalities.

Flashcard #57
Term: PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Scan
Definition: A brain imaging technique that tracks the movement of a radioactive tracer injected into the body to measure metabolic activity and visualize brain function.

Flashcard #58
Term: MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
Definition: A non-invasive imaging technique that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images of soft tissues, such as the brain.

Flashcard #59
Term: fMRI (Functional MRI)
Definition: A type of MRI that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow, showing which brain areas are active during specific tasks.

Flashcard #60
Term: Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)
Definition: A small cluster of neurons in the hypothalamus that serves as the brain’s master clock, regulating circadian rhythms, including sleep-wake cycles, in response to light cues.Flashcard #5
Term: Top-Down Processing
Definition: Information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, like experiences and expectations.

Flashcard #6
Term: Transduction
Definition: Conversion of one form of energy into another, such as converting stimuli into neural signals.

Flashcard #7
Term: Psychophysics
Definition: The study of the relationship between physical stimuli and the sensations and perceptions they produce.

Flashcard #8
Term: Gustav Fechner
Definition: A psychologist who founded psychophysics and explored how physical stimuli relate to mental sensations.

Flashcard #9
Term: Absolute Threshold
Definition: The minimum stimulation needed to detect a stimulus 50% of the time.

Flashcard #10
Term: Signal Detection Theory
Definition: Predicts how and when we detect a faint stimulus amid background noise, influenced by experience and expectations.

Flashcard #11
Term: Subliminal
Definition: Stimuli below the absolute threshold for conscious awareness.

Flashcard #12
Term: Priming
Definition: The unconscious activation of certain associations, influencing perception or memory.

Flashcard #13
Term: Difference Threshold
Definition: The minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time, also called the "just noticeable difference."

Flashcard #14
Term: Ernst Weber
Definition: A psychologist known for Weber’s Law, which quantifies the perception of changes in a stimulus.

Flashcard #15
Term: Weber’s Law
Definition: The principle that to perceive a difference, two stimuli must differ by a constant proportion, not a constant amount.

Flashcard #16
Term: Sensory Adaptation
Definition: Reduced sensitivity to a constant stimulus over time.

Flashcard #17
Term: Wavelength
Definition: The distance between peaks of a light or sound wave, determining color or pitch.

Flashcard #18
Term: Hue
Definition: The dimension of color determined by wavelength (e.g., red, blue).

Flashcard #19
Term: Intensity
Definition: The amount of energy in a wave, perceived as brightness or loudness.

Flashcard #20
Term: Cornea
Definition: The eye’s clear, outer covering that protects the eye and begins focusing incoming light.

Flashcard #21
Term: Pupil
Definition: The adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters.

Flashcard #22
Term: Iris
Definition: The colored part of the eye that controls the size of the pupil.

Flashcard #23
Term: Lens
Definition: The transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to focus images on the retina.

Flashcard #24
Term: Retina
Definition: The light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing rods, cones, and neurons for processing visual information.

Flashcard #25
Term: Accommodation
Definition: The process by which the lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina.

Flashcard #26
Term: Rods
Definition: Photoreceptors in the retina that detect black, white, and gray, and are sensitive to dim light.

Flashcard #27
Term: Cones
Definition: Photoreceptors in the retina that detect color and function best in bright light.

Flashcard #28
Term: Optic Nerve
Definition: The nerve that carries visual information from the retina to the brain.

Flashcard #29
Term: Blind Spot
Definition: The point where the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a spot with no receptor cells.

Flashcard #30
Term: Fovea
Definition: The central focal point in the retina, where cones are concentrated for detailed vision.

Flashcard #31
Term: Young–Helmholtz Trichromatic (Three-Color) Theory
Definition: The theory that the retina contains three types of color receptors (red, green, blue) that combine to produce all colors.

Flashcard #32
Term: Opponent-Process Theory
Definition: The theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, blue-yellow, black-white) enable color vision.

Flashcard #33
Term: David Hubel and Torsten Wiesel
Definition: Researchers who discovered feature detectors in the brain, specialized for processing specific visual information.

Flashcard #34
Term: Feature Detectors
Definition: Neurons in the visual cortex that respond to specific features of a stimulus, such as shape or movement.

Flashcard #35
Term: Parallel Processing
Definition: The brain’s ability to process many aspects of a problem (e.g., color, motion, form) simultaneously.

Flashcard #36
Term: Audition
Definition: The sense of hearing.

Flashcard #37
Term: Frequency
Definition: The number of sound wave cycles per second, determining pitch.

Flashcard #38
Term: Pitch
Definition: A tone’s highness or lowness, determined by frequency.

Flashcard #39
Term: Middle Ear
Definition: The chamber between the eardrum and cochlea, containing tiny bones that amplify sound vibrations.

Flashcard #40
Term: Cochlea [KOHK-lee-uh]
Definition: A spiral-shaped, fluid-filled structure in the inner ear where sound waves are converted to neural signals.

Flashcard #41
Term: Inner Ear
Definition: Contains the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs, involved in hearing and balance.

Flashcard #42
Term: Sensorineural Hearing Loss
Definition: Hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea or auditory nerve.

Flashcard #43
Term: Conduction Hearing Loss
Definition: Hearing loss caused by damage to the middle or outer ear, impeding sound conduction.

Flashcard #44
Term: Cochlear Implant
Definition: A device that converts sounds into electrical signals to stimulate the auditory nerve directly.

Flashcard #45
Term: Place Theory
Definition: The theory that pitch is determined by where the cochlea’s membrane is stimulated.

Flashcard #46
Term: Frequency Theory
Definition: The theory that pitch is determined by the frequency of nerve impulses matching the sound wave’s frequency.

Flashcard #47
Term: Gate-Control Theory
Definition: The theory that the spinal cord contains a “gate” that controls the transmission of pain signals to the brain.

Flashcard #48
Term: Gustation
Definition: The sense of taste.

Flashcard #49
Term: Olfaction
Definition: The sense of smell.

Flashcard #50
Term: Kinesthesis [kin-ehs-THEE-sis]
Definition: The sense of body movement and position, including joint and muscle awareness.

Flashcard #51
Term: Vestibular Sense
Definition: The sense of balance and spatial orientation, controlled by structures in the inner ear.

Flashcard #52
Term: Sensory Interaction
Definition: The principle that one sense may influence another, such as smell enhancing taste.

Flashcard #53
Term: Embodied Cognition
Definition: The influence of bodily sensations, gestures, and other physical states on cognitive preferences and judgments.

Flashcard #54
Term: EEG (Electroencephalogram)
Definition: A test that measures electrical activity in the brain using electrodes placed on the scalp, often used to study brain waves during sleep or seizures.

Flashcard #55
Term: MEG (Magnetoencephalography)
Definition: A technique that measures the magnetic fields produced by neural activity in the brain, providing precise timing and spatial details of brain function.

Flashcard #56
Term: CT (Computed Tomography) Scan
Definition: A medical imaging method that uses X-rays to create detailed cross-sectional images of the body or brain, often used to detect injuries or abnormalities.

Flashcard #57
Term: PET (Positron Emission Tomography) Scan
Definition: A brain imaging technique that tracks the movement of a radioactive tracer injected into the body to measure metabolic activity and visualize brain function.

Flashcard #58
Term: MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
Definition: A non-invasive imaging technique that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to produce detailed images of soft tissues, such as the brain.

Flashcard #59
Term: fMRI (Functional MRI)
Definition: A type of MRI that measures brain activity by detecting changes in blood flow, showing which brain areas are active during specific tasks.

Flashcard #60
Term: Suprachiasmatic Nucleus (SCN)
Definition: A small cluster of neurons in the hypothalamus that serves as the brain’s master clock, regulating circadian rhythms, including sleep-wake cycles, in response to light cues.