AP Psych Unit 3

Sensation

the process of receiving stimulus energies from the external environment through our sense organs and transforming those energies into neural communication.

Perception

the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information in our brain to make meaning of our experience.

Bottom-up Processing

Starts at the sensory receptors and works up to higher levels of processing.

Absolute Threshold

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

Difference Threshold

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

Weber's Law

states that two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage to be perceived as different.

Signal Detection Theory

Predicts how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus. Dependent upon experience, motivation, alertness, and expectations.

Bottom-up Attention

Selective attention filter (automatic).

Cocktail Party Effect

Ability to concentrate on one voice amongst a crowd (effortful).

Selective Attention

The focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus (non-conscious).

Divided Attention

Concentrating on more than one activity at the same time.

Alternating Attention

The ability to move or alternate attention back and forth from one stimulus to another.

Sustained Attention

The ability to maintain attention to a selected stimulus for a prolonged period of time (conscious).

Top-down Processing

Constructing perceptions based on our experiences and expectations.

Perceptual Sets

A mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another.

Context Effect

The tendency to recover information more easily when the retrieval occurs in the same setting as the original learning of the information.

Photoreception

Detection of light.

Mechanoreception

Detection of pressure, vibration, and movement.

Chemoreception

Detection of smell and taste.

Wavelengths

The distance between the arrival of peaks of a light wave. Perceived as color or hue in the eye and frequency or pitch (hertz) in the ear.

Amplitude

Height of a wave. Perceived as brightness in the eye or loudness (decibels) in the ear.

Purity

Mixture of wavelengths. Perceived as saturation in the eye or tone in the ear.

Rods

Retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray.

Cones

retinal receptor cells that detect fine detail and give rise to color sensations.

Fovea

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

Blind Spot

The point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye.

Trichromatic Theory

Idea that color vision is based on our sensitivity to three primary colors.

Opponent Process Theory

The theory that opposing retinal processes enable color vision. When one is retracted, the other one takes over.

Afterimage

A visual image that persists after a stimulus is removed.

Convergence

The extent to which the eyes converge inward when looking at an object. (controls depth)

Place Theory of Pitch Perception

Different portions of the basilar membrane are sensitive to sounds of different frequencies.

Frequency Theory of Pitch Perception

Nerve impulses sent to the brain match the frequency of the sound wave.

Sensory Adaptation

Diminished sensitivity to environmental stimuli as a consequence of constant stimulation.

Eye to Brain Pathway

Retina, optic nerve, thalamus, occipital lobe.

Ear to Brain Pathway

Auditory canal, eardrum, cochela, auditory nerve.

Thermoreceptors

Temperature receptors.

Olfactory Epithelium

A thin layer of tissue, within the nasal cavity, that contains the receptors for smell.

Kinesthetic

The sensation of movement or strain in muscles, tendons, and joints.

Vestibular

The sense of body movement and position, including the sense of balance (semicircular canals in the ear).

Figure-ground

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

Proximity

Objects that are close together are more likely to be perceived as belonging in the same group.

Similarity

Objects that are similar in appearance are more likely to be perceived as belonging in the same group.

Continuity

Objects that form a continuous form are more likely to be perceived as belonging in the same group.

Connectedness

Objects positioned together or moving together will be perceived as belonging to the same group.

Closure

Objects that make up a recognizable image are more likely to be perceived as belonging in the same group even if the image contains gaps that the mind needs to fill in.

Retinal Disparity

A binocular cue for perceiving depth; the differences between the images stimulating each eye.

Relative Size

A monocular cue for perceiving depth; the smaller retinal image is farther away.

Interposition

A monocular visual cue in which two objects are in the same line of vision and one partially conceals the other, indicating that the first object concealed is further away.

Relative Clarity

A monocular cue for perceiving depth; hazy objects are farther away than sharp, clear objects.

Texture Gradient

A monocular cue for perceiving depth; a gradual change from a coarse distinct texture to a fine, indistinct texture signals increasing distance. objects far away appear smaller and more densely packed.

Motion Parallax

a monocular depth cue in which the relative movement of elements in a scene gives depth information when the observer moves relative to the scene.

Linear Perspective

A monocular cue for perceiving depth; the more parallel lines converge, the greater their perceived distance.

Relative Brightness

A monocular cue, objects up close appear brighter than objects farther away.

Relative Height

A monocular cue for perceiving depth; objects higher in our field of vision are perceived as farther away.

Size Contancy

The tendency to interpret an object as always being the same actual size, regardless of its distance.

Shape Constancy

The tendency to interpret the shape of an object as being the same, even when its shape changes on the retina.

Brightness Constancy

The tendency to perceive the apparent brightness of an object as the same even when the light conditions change.

Color Constancy

The ability to recognize colors despite changes in lighting.

Touch

Receptors --> spinal cord --> thalamus --> somatosensory cortex of the parietal lobe.

Papillase

The bumps on your tongue, where taste buds are located.

Transduction

receive→transform→deliver

The Order Light Passes Through

RCBG: Rods→Cones→Bipolar Cells→Ganglion Cells

Gate-Control Theory

Spinal cord has a gate that controls whether or not pain signals get sent to the brain or not.

Iris

Colored part of the eye that controls the pupil.

Pupil

Controls the amount of light the goes into the eye.

Lens

Transmits lights and focuses it on the retina.

Retina

Captures light and translates it into images.

Anterior Chamber

Helps maintain pressure in the eye and positions the retina.

Cornea

Lets light rays enter the eye and converges them

Vitreous Humor

Provides nutrients to the eye and helps keep the eye in its shape.

Macula

Translates light that enters the eye into the images you see.

Pinna

Collects sound waves and channels them to the ear canal.

Eustachian Tube

Equalizes air pressure between the atmosphere and the middle ear.

Auditory Nerves

Connect the ear to the brain and sends sound signals that translate into sound.

Semicircular Canals

Keep your balance.

Cochlea

Plays a role in the sense of hearing and participates in the process of auditory translation.

Ossicles (Hammer, Anvil, Stirrup)

Transfer and amplify air vibrations into the inner ear.

Eardrum

Sends vibrations to the inner ear.

Ear Canal

Functions as an entryway for sound waves.