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Perception PSY 312
Final Exam Vocab (8, 9, 10)
113
Psychology
Undergraduate 4
05/07/2012

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Term
Motion aftereffect(MAE)
Definition
the illusion of motion of a stationary object that occurs after prolonged exposure to a moving object
Term
- Apparent motion
Definition
the illusory impression of smooth motion resulting from the rapid alternation of objects that appear in different locations in rapid succession
Term
- Correspondence problem
Definition
in motion detection, the problem faced by the motion detection system of knowing which feature in frame 2corresponds to a particular feature in frame 1
Term
- Aperture problem
Definition
the fact that when a moving object is viewed through an aperture (or receptive field) the direction of motion of a local feature or part of the object may be ambiguous
Term
- Aperture
Definition
an opening that allows only a partial view of an object
Term
- Middle temporal area(MT)
Definition
an area of the brain thought to be important in the perception of motion
Term
- Interocular transfer
Definition
the transfer of an effect(such as adaptation) from one eye to the other (MAE)
Term
- First-order motion
Definition
the motion of an object that is defined by changes in luminance
Term
- Luminance-defined object
Definition
an object that is delineated by changes in reflected light
Term
- Second-order motion
Definition
the motion of an object that is defined by texture but not by luminance
Term
- Texture-defined(contrast defined) object
Definition
an object that id delineated by changes in contrast or texture but not luminance
Term
- Optic array
Definition
the collection of light rays that interact with objects in the world that are in front of a viewer
Term
- Optic flow
Definition
the changing angular positions of points in a perspective image that we experience as we move through the world
Term
- Focus of expansion
Definition
the point in the center of the horizon from which, were when in motion, all points in the perspective image seem to emanate. The focus of expansion is one aspect of optic flow
Term
- Biological motion
Definition
the pattern of movement of living beings
Term
- Time to collision(TTC)
Definition
the time required for a moving object to hit a stationary object. TTC = distance/rate
Term
- Tau
Definition
information in the optic that could signal time to collision (TTC) without the necessity of estimating either absolute distances or rates. The ratio of retinal image size at any moment to the rate at which the image is expanding is tau and TTC is proportionate to tau
Term
- Smooth pursuit
Definition
a type of voluntary eye movement in which the eyes move smoothly to follow a moving object
Term
- Superior colliculus
Definition
a structure in the midbrain that is important in initiating and guiding eye movements
Term
- Microsaccade
Definition
an involuntary small jerk like eye movement
Term
- Vergence
Definition
a type of eye movement in which the 2 eyes move in opposite directions; for example both eyes turn toward the nose(convergance) or away from the nose(divergence)
Term
- Saccade
Definition
a type of eye movement made both voluntarily and involuntarily in which the eyes rapidly change fixation from one object or location to another
Term
- Comparator
Definition
an area of the visual system that receives one copy of the command that issued by the motor system when the eyes move. The comparator compares the image motion signal with the eye motion signal and can compensate for the image changes caused by the eye movement
Term
- Akinetopsia
Definition
a rare neuropsychological disorder in which the affected individual has no perception of motion
Term
- Amplitude or intensity
Definition
the magnitude of displacement(increase or decrease) of a sound pressure wave. Amplitude is perceived as loudness
Term
- Frequency
Definition
for sound, the number of times per second that a pattern of pressure change repeats. Frequency is perceived as pitch
Term
- Hertz(hz)
Definition
a unit of measure for frequency. One hertz equals one cycle per second
Term
- Loudness
Definition
the psychological aspect of sound related to perceived intensity
Term
- Pitch
Definition
the psychological aspect of sound related mainly to perceived frequency
Term
- Decibel(dB)
Definition
a unit of measure for the physical intensity of sound. Decibels define the difference between 2 sounds as the ratio between 2 sound pressures. Each 10:1 sound pressure ratio equals 20dB and a 100:1 ratio equals 40 dB
Term
- Sine wave or pure tone
Definition
a waveform for which variation as a function of time is a sine function
Term
- Spectrum
Definition
a representation of relative energy(intensity) present at each frequency
Term
- Harmonic spectrum
Definition
the spectrum of a complex sound in which energy is at integer multiples of the fundamental frequency
Term
- Fundamental frequency
Definition
the lowest frequency component of complex periodic sound
Term
- Timbre
Definition
the psychological sensation by which a listener can judge that 2 sounds with the same loudness and pitch are dissimilar. Timbre quality is conveyed by harmonics and other high frequencies
Term
- Pinna
Definition
the outer funnel-like part of the ear
Term
- Ear canal
Definition
the canal that conducts sound vibrations from the pinna to the tympanic membrane and prevents the damage to the tympanic membrane
Term
- Tympanic membrane
Definition
the eardrum; a thin sheet of skin at the end of the outer ear canal. The tympanic membrane vibrates in response to sound
Term
- Outer ear
Definition
the external sound-gathering portion of the ear consisting of the pinna and ear canal
Term
- Middle ear
Definition
an air-filled chamber containing the middle bones(ossicles). The middle ear conveys and amplifies vibration from the tympanic membrane to the oval window
Term
- Ossicles
Definition
any of 3 tiny bones of the middle ear. The malleus, incus, and stapes
Term
- Malleus
Definition
receives vibration from the tympanic membrane and is attached to the incus
Term
- Incus
Definition
the middle of the ossicles, connecting the malleus and stapes
Term
- Stapes
Definition
connected to the incus on one end the stapes presses against the oval window of the cochlea on the other end
Term
- Oval window
Definition
the flexible opening to the cochlea through which the stapes transmits vibration to the fluid inside
Term
- Inner ear
Definition
a hollow cavity in the temporal bone of the skull, and the structures within this cavity: the cochlea and the semicircular canals of the vestibular system
Term
- Tensor tympani
Definition
the muscle attached to the malleus; tensing the tensor tympani decreases vibration
Term
- Stapedius
Definition
the muscle attached to the stapes; tensing the stapedius decreases vibration
Term
- Acoustic reflex
Definition
a reflex that protects the ear from intense sounds, via contraction of the stapedius and tensor tympani muscles
Term
- Cochlea
Definition
a spiral structure of the inner ear containing the organ of corti
Term
- Tympanic canal
Definition
one of three fluid passages in the cochlea. The tympanic canal extends from the round window at the base of the cochlea to the helicotrema at the apex. Also called the scala tympani
Term
- Vestibular canal
Definition
one of three fluid filled passages in the cochlea. The vestibular canal extends from the oval window at the base of the cochlea to the helicotrema at the apex. Also called the scala vestibule
Term
- Middle canal
Definition
one of three fluid filled passages in the cochlea. The middle canal is sandwiched between the other canals and contains the cochlear partition. Also called the scala media
Term
- Helicotrema
Definition
the opening that connects the tympanic and vestibular canals at the apex of the cochlea
Term
- Reissner’s membrane
Definition
a thin sheath of tissue separating the vestibular and middle canals in the cochlea
Term
- Basilar membrane
Definition
a plate of fibers that forms the base of the cochlear partition and separates the middle and tympanic canals in the cochlea
Term
- Cochlear partition
Definition
the combined basilar membrane, tectorial membrane, and organ of Corti, which are together responsible for the transduction of sound waves into neural signals
Term
- Round window
Definition
A soft area of tissue at the base of the tympanic canal that releases excess pressure remaining from extremely intense sounds
Term
- Organ of Corti
Definition
a structure on the basilar membrane of the cochlea that is composed of hair cells and dendrites of auditory nerve fibers
Term
- Hair cell
Definition
any cell that has stereocillia for transducing mechanical movement in the inner ear into neural activity sent to the brain; some hair cells also receive inputs from the brain
Term
- Auditory nerve fiber
Definition
a collection of neurons that convey information from hair cells in the cochlea to(afferent) and from(efferent) the brain stem
Term
- Stereocillium
Definition
any of the hairlike extensions on the tips of hair cells in the cochlea that when flexed initiate the release of neurotransmitters
Term
- Tectorial membrane
Definition
a gelatinous structure, attached on one end, that extends into the middle canal of the ear, floating above inner hair cells and touching outer hair cells
Term
- Tip link
Definition
a tiny filament that stretches from the tip of a stereocillium to the side of its neighbor
Term
- Place code
Definition
tuning of different parts of the cochlea to different frequencies, in which information about the particular frequency of an incoming sound wave is coded by the place along the cochlear partition that has the greatest mechanical displacement
Term
- Afferent fiber
Definition
a neuron that carries sensory information to the central nervous system
Term
- Efferent fiber
Definition
a neuron that carries information from the CNS to the periphery
Term
- Threshold tuning curve
Definition
 a graph plotting the thresholds of a neuron or fiber in response to sine waves with varying frequencies at the lowest intensity that will give rise to a response
Term
- Characteristic frequency (CF)
Definition
the frequency to which a particular auditory nerve fiber is most sensitive
Term
- Two-tone suppression
Definition
a decrease in the firing rate of one auditory nerve fiber due to one tone, when a second tone is presented at the same time
Term
- Isointensity curve
Definition
a map plotting the firing rate of an auditory nerve fiber against varying frequencies (pitch) at a steady intensity (volume)
Term
- Rate saturation
Definition
the point at which a nerve fiber is firing as rapidly as possible and further stimulation is incapable of increasing the firing rate
Term
- Rate-intensity function
Definition
a graph plotting the firing rate of an auditory nerve fiber in response to a sound of constant frequency (pitch) at increasing intensities (volume)
Term
- Low-spontaneous fiber
Definition
an auditory nerve fiber that has a low rate (less than 10 spikes per second) of spontaneous firing; low-spontaneous fibers require relatively intense sound before they will fire at higher rates
Term
- High-spontaneous fiber
Definition
an auditory nerve fiber that has a high rate (more than 30 spikes per second) of spontaneous firing; high-spontaneous fibers increase their firing rate in response to relatively low levels of sound
Term
- Mid-spontaneous fiber
Definition
an auditory nerve fiber that has a medium rate (10-30 spikes per second) of spontaneous firing. The characteristics of mid-spontaneous fibers are intermediated between low- and high- spontaneous fibers
Term
- Phase locking
Definition
firing of a single neuron at one distinct point in the period (cycle) of a sound wave at a given frequency. (The neuron need not fire on every cycle, but each firing will occur at the same point in the cycle.)
Term
- Temporal code
Definition
tuning of different parts of the cochlea to different frequencies, in which info about the particular frequency of an incoming sound wave is coded by the timing of neural firing as it relates to the period of the sound
Term
- Volley principle
Definition
the idea that multiple neurons can provide a temporal code for frequency if each neuron fires at a distinct point in the period of a sound wave but does not fire on every period
Term
- Cochlear nucleus
Definition
the first brain stem nucleus at which afferent auditory nerve fibers synapse
Term
- Superior olive
Definition
an early brain stem region in the auditory pathway where inputs from both ears converge
Term
- Inferior colliculus
Definition
a midbrain nucleus in the auditory pathway
Term
- Medial geniculate nucleus (MGN)
Definition
the part of the thalamus that relays auditory signals to the temporal cortex and receives input from the auditory cortex
Term
- Tonotopic organization
Definition
an arrangement in which neurons that respond to different frequencies are organized anatomically in order of frequency
Term
- Primary audiroty cortex (A1)
Definition
the first area within the temporal lobes of the brain responsible for processing acoustics of sounds
Term
- Belt area
Definition
a region of cortex, directly adjacent to the primary auditory cortex (A1), with inputs from A1, where neurons respond to more complex characteristics of sound
Term
- Parabelt area
Definition
a region of cortex, lateral and adjacent to the belt area, where neurons respond to more complex characteristics of sounds, as well as to input from other senses
Term
- Psychoacoustics
Definition
the study of the psychological correlates of the physical dimensions of acoustics; a branch of psychophysics
Term
- Audibility threshold
Definition
the lowest sound pressure level that can be reliably detected at a give frequency
Term
- Equal-loudness curve
Definition
a graph plotting sound pressure level (dB SPL) against the frequency for which a listener perceives constant loudness
Term
- Temporal integration
Definition
the process by which a sound at a constant level is perceived as being louder when it is of greater duration. The term also applies to perceived brightness, which depends on the duration of light
Term
- Masking
Definition
using a second sound, frequently noise, to make the detection of another sound more difficult
Term
- White noise
Definition
noise consisting of all audible frequencies in equal amounts. White noise in hearing is analogous to white light in vision, for which all wave-lengths are present
Term
- Critical bandwidth
Definition
the range of frequencies conveyed within a channel in the auditory system
Term
- Conductive hearing loss
Definition
hear loss caused by problems with the bones of the middle ear
Term
- Otitiis media
Definition
inflammation of the middle ear, commonly in children as a result of inflection
Term
- Otosclerosis
Definition
abnormal growth of the middle ear boes that causes hearing loss
Term
- Sensorineural hearing loss
Definition
hearing loss due to defects in the cochlea or auditory nerve
Term
- Ototoxic
Definition
producing adverse effects on cochlear or vestibular organs or nerves
Term
- Interaural time difference (ITD)
Definition
the difference in time between a sound arriving at one ear versus the other
Term
- Azimuth
Definition
the angle of a sound source on the horizontal plane relative to a point in the center of the head between the ears. Azimuth is measured in degrees, with 0 being straight ahead. The angle increases clockwise toward the right, with 180 being directly behind
Term
- Medial superior olive (MSO)
Definition
a relay station in the brain stem where inputs from both ears contribute to detection of the interaural time difference
Term
- Interaural level difference (ILD)
Definition
the difference in level (intensity/vol) between a sound arriving at one eat versus the other
Term
- Lateral superior olive (LSO)
Definition
a relay station in the brain stem where inputs from both ears contribute to detection of the interaural level difference
Term
- Cone of confusion
Definition
a region of positions in space where all sounds produce the same time and level difference (ITDs and ILDs)
Term
- Directional transfer function
Definition
a measure that describes how the pinna, ear canal, head, and torso change the intensity of sounds with different frequencies that arrive at each ear from different locations in space (azimuth and elevation)
Term
- Inverse-square law
Definition
a principle stating that as distance from a source increases, intensity initially decreases much faster than distance increases, such that the decrease in intensity is equal to the increase in distance squared. This general law also applies to optics and other forms of energy
Term
- Fundamental frequency
Definition
the lowest frequency component of a complex periodic sound (the lowest note of a chord)
Term
- Timbre
Definition
 the psychological sensation by which a listener can judge that two sounds with the same loudness and pitch are dissimilar. Timbre quality is conveyed by harmonics and other high frequencies (guitar and sax playing the same song at the same vol)
Term
- Attack
Definition
the part of sound during which amplitude increases (onset)
Term
- Decay
Definition
the part of a sound during which amplitude decreases (offset)
Term
- Source segregation or auditory scene analysis
Definition
processing an auditory scene consisting of multiple sound sources into separate sound images
Term
- Auditory stream segregation
Definition
the perceptual organization of a complex acoustic signal into separate auditory events for which each stream is heard as a separate event
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