AP Psych Unit 3

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

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

the use of preexisting knowledge to organize individual features into a unified whole

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

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

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

a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus (signal) amid background stimulation (noise). Assumes there is no single absolute threshold and that detection depends partly on a person's experience, expectations, motivation, and alertness.

when stimuli are below one's absolute threshold for conscious awareness

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

the principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than a constant amount)

tendency of sensory receptor cells to become less responsive to a stimulus that is unchanging

conversion of one form of energy into another. In sensation, the transforming of stimulus energies, such as sights, sounds, and smells, into neural impulses our brains can interpret.

the dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light; what we know as the color names blue, green, and so forth

the amount of energy in a light or sound wave, which we perceive as brightness or loudness, as determined by the wave's amplitude

The clear tissue that covers the front of the eye

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

a ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening

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

Light sensitive layer of the eye; contains rods and cones

Retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray

retinal receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions. The cones detect fine detail and give rise to color sensations.

the process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina

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

the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a "blind" spot because no receptor cells are located there

the central focal point in the retina, around which the eye's cones cluster

nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement

the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain's natural mode of information processing for many functions, including vision. Contrasts with the step-by-step (serial) processing of most computers and of conscious problem solving.

theory of color vision that proposes three types of cones: red, blue, and green

the theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable color vision. For example, some cells are stimulated by green and inhibited by red; others are stimulated by red and inhibited by green

the theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated

theory of pitch that states that pitch is related to the speed of vibrations in the basilar membrane

hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea

deafness that results from damage to the auditory nerve

the system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts

the sense of body movement and position, including the sense of balance

three canals within the inner ear that contain specialized receptor cells that generate nerve impulses with body movement

the theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological "gate" that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain. The "gate" is opened by the activity of pain signals traveling up small nerve fibers and is closed by activity in larger fibers or by information coming from the brain.

the principle that one sense may influence another, as when the smell of food influences its taste

an organized whole. Gestalt psychologists emphasized our tendency to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes.

the organization of the visual field into objects (the figures) that stand out from their surroundings (the ground).

the perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into meaningful groups

things that are close together are often perceived as belonging together as a part of a group.

Assumption that all human beings perceive natural events in fundamentally the same way

Stimuli that appear to create a continuous form and are perceived to belong together. Ex: the under armor logo, is understood as one logo not two separate symbols.

Gestalt grouping principle; when objects uniform (in color or texture) are linked (no space exists between them) we perceive them as a single unit

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

process to tell if a baby has a sense of depth

depth cues, such as retinal disparity, that depend on the use of two eyes

images from the two eyes differ, and the closer the object the larger the disparity

depth cues, such as interposition and linear perspective, available to either eye alone

the illusion of movement created by presenting visual stimuli in rapid succession

perceiving objects as unchanging (having consistent lightness, color, shape, and size) even as illumination and retinal images change

perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object

a predisposition or readiness to perceive something in a particular way

an ability to gain information by some means other than the ordinary senses

the study of paranormal phenomena

a failure to perceive objects that are not the focus of attention

failing to notice changes in the environment

the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus