AP Psychology Unit 3 Vocab Sensation/Perception

Bringing in stimuli from the environment (to the brain)

Organization & interpretation of sensory information

"Cross Talk" of the senses.

the minimum amount of energy needed to detect the presence of a stimulus (one factor)

minimum amount of energy needed to detect change in the intensity of a stimulus (notice the difference)

JND is a fixed proportion (%) of the intensity of the stimulus(as the initial intensity increases, the JND will also increase

Theory predicting our ability to detect if a stimulus "signal" is present (accuracy) amid background noise and the factors that influence it

the subject responded affirmative when a signal was present

Stimulus is present but no response

Stimulus is not present yet there is a response

No Stimulus present and no response

1. Noise - Random Neural firings(distractions) 2.Physical Ability (sensitivity)

2. Expectations

3. Where attention is directed

4. Willingness/relevance (response Criterion)

Processing information without awareness Subliminal Stimuli-below threshold (unaware)

Occurs when exposure to a stimulus (Consciously or Unconsciously) influences perception

Decline in sensitivity to stimulus that are presented at a constant level.

converting energy into neural impulses Steps: Sensory Stimuli from the environment, Accessory structure, transduction at sensory receptors, Thalamus(except smell), Appropriate part of the cerebral cortex

Changes in neuron activity, rates, or timing

Physical location of neural activity

Brightness/Sensitivity

Color/Hue

Saturation

Light Wave - Cornea(outer protective layer) - Iris + Pupil (colored muscle that adjusts pupil) - Lens(Focuses images on retina) - Image is inverted onto retina - Retina(transduction) - Photoreceptors(responsible for transduction) - Bipolar Cells - Ganglion Cells - Bundle together to form optic nerve - optic disk(blind spot) - Thalamus - Occipital lobe(visual cortex)

The ability of the lens to bend light rays in order to focus the image (based on the objects location) on the retina

occurs when the lens bends too much. The image falls in front of the retina. Can see near

Occurs when the lens doesn't bend too much or enough. The image falls behind retina. Able to see far.

sensory receptors for vision ~ responsible for transduction

Color vision; help us see in daytime/brighter light; located on center of retina

Center of retina; contains highest concentration of cones; greatest visual activity(detail)

Black & White (&shades of gray); help us see in dark/dim light; locates on the outside of the retina, so they are responsible for peripheral vision

Receive visual signals from photoreceptors(rods & cones); help see contrast & edges

Signals sent from bipolar cells to the ganglion cells. Axons of the ganglion cells bundle together to form the optic nerve

The optic nerve leaves the eye at the optic disk

Where optic nerve leaves the eye, there are no rods & cones; which creates a blind spot

Location where the optic nerve of each eye crosses over to the other hemisphere of the brain

A specific place in the Thalamus that processes visual information *Signal now goes to the visual cortex in the Occipital

Specialized cells that respond selectively to specific features of more complex stimuli (edges, lines, angles)

processing visual information is done simultaneously (as opposite to senial processing).

Visual agnosia-The inability to recognize objects The inability to recognize human faces(face blindness)

Light: as you mix light waves together the color gets lighter; all together=White

Paints: as you mix colors together the color gets darker; all together=Black

There are three types of receptors(cones) with differing sensitivities to different wavelengths that can create all colors; Red, Green, Blue

Lack of one of the three (or more in rare cases) types of cones. Care able to discriminate fewer colors than other people. Few people are void of all cones. Supports the YHT theory of color vision

Color perception is determined by the activity of 3 opponent systems; yellow-blue, red-green, black-white

an image continuing to appear in one's vision after the exposure to the original image has ceased. Supports the OP theory of color vision

Organization of the visual field into objects that stand out from their surroundings. Attention.

The tendency to perceive stimulus in a particular way (guided by prior experiences, expectations, surroundings, context, current mood, etc.)

Failure to see visible objects or events(or a change in one's environment) because one's attention is focused elsewhere(or we've stopped processing due to top-down processing.)

Using details/features/characteristics of a stimulus to guide perception

Using prior experiences, expectations, context, to guide perception(little evidence)

Grouping

Objects closer to each other are grouped together

Filling in the gaps to perceive a completed image

Grouping based on like characteristics

We tend to perceive the simplest form of a stimulus

Continuous Lines

Grouping by boundaries

The apparatus used to test depth perception in infants

2 eyes

Depth perception guided by the different Images seen by each eye (the larger the disparity, the closer the object is perceived).

sensing the eyes converging toward each other as they focus on closer objects

1 eye

Parallel line "converge" in the distance

More detail = closer

Closer objects partially block (overlap) objects further away

Larger on retina = closer

Near objects = lower in visual field

3d

Objects closer to us speed across our visual field more quickly than objects farther away

Illusion of movement created by presenting visual stimuli in rapid succession

As image expand on our retina we perceive the object as approaching us

Tendency to experience a stable perception despite changing sensory input.

Loudness/Intensity/volume (decibles)

Pitch(hertz)

Timbre(unique quality of sound)

Sound wave > Pinna (outer ear)~ Accessory structure for audition > Ear Canal > Tympanic membrane(ear drum~vibrations occur) > 3 little bones (malleus-Hammer, Incus-anun, Stapes-Strip) > Oval Window > Cochlear *where transduction occurs > Basilar Membrane lined w/ cilia hairs *responsible for transduction(sensory receptors) > Auditory Nerve > Thalamus > Temporal Lobe(auditory cortex)

Perception of pitch corresponds to the vibration of different portions, or locations/places, along the basilar membrane. [Spatial Code]. High-Frequency Sounds

Perception of pitch corresponds to the firing rate, or frequency, at which the basilar membrane vibrates (or firing rates of neurons of the auditory nerve) [Temporal Code]. Low frequency sounds

Problems/damage to the three little bones or the tympanic membrane. (may e corrected with hearing aids)

Problems/damage to the cilia(haircells) or auditory nerve. (may be corrected with a cochlear or auditory nerve implant). This is the type of hearing loss that results from too much loud noise.

*Papillae/taste buds contain sensory receptors for taste *There are 4 tastes; Sweet/Sours/Bitter/Salty *Taste Buds are most sensitive to 1 or 2 tastes & weak to others.

Detection of smell. Cilia choir cells in the nose.

Cilia in the nose send signals to the olfactory bulb in the brain. *Does not go through Thalamus. (part of timbre system.)

Part of the nose that detects pheromones

Chemicals that shape the behavior/physiology of animals

Pressure, Pain, Temperature

Carry quick, localized, sharp pain signals

Carry chronic(longer lasting), dull, less-localized, aches & burning pain signals

Pain can be blocked at the spinal cord. Other sensory information, aside from the pain signals, can take over the pain pathway.

The inability to feel pain(when pain should be present)

Something that blocks pain signals from being sent to the brain

Sensory system providing info about spatial orientation (position of head & body in space) as well as our sense of balance

Sensory System providing info about where parts of your body are in relationship to each other, sense of coordination.