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Details Title: PSY2012 Description: Test 2 Total Flash Cards: 94 Created: 10/15/2005 12:36:04	To study from this set of flash cards, or to create your own your own study flash cards, register HERE. If you are already a registered user, CLICK HERE.
Cards Term Sensation Definition Process through which sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulous energy. Term Why study sensation? Definition Psy is the study of behavior and mental processes and so the building blocks of both are what our senses take in. Term Psychophysics Definition Examines how physical energy relates to our psychological experience. Term Signal detection theory Definition Predicts how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulous (signal) amid background stimulation. Term Absolute Threshold Definition Minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time. If a signal passes above your abs. threshold, you will detect it 50% of the time. Term Difference Threshold Definition minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time. The Just Noticeable Difference (JND) Term Weber's Law Definition The principle that the difference threshold is not a constant amount but some constant proportion of the stimulus. Term Sensory Adaptation Definition diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation. Term Transduction Definition the process of converting physical energy into electrical energy. Term color deficient vision Definition red/green deficient misshapen cones or missing cones Term Why do nearsightedness and farsightedness occur? Definition the eyeball is misshapen Term Sensory Interaction Definition The principle that one sense may influence another. Term Conditioned Taste Aversion Definition When a food makes you sick, you will feel nauseous just seeing, smelling or tasting it. Term Middle Ear Definition transmits the eardrum's vibrations through a piston made of three tiny bones. Term Cochlea Definition snail shaped tube in the inner ear that vibrates the fluid that fills the tube. Term Kinesthesis Definition the system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts. Term Perception Definition these signals are organized and recognized as representations of things in the outside world. Term Figure-ground Definition the organization of the visual field into objects (the figures) that stand out from their surroundings (the ground). Term Proximity Definition objects that are close are more likely to be grouped together. Term Similarity Definition objects that are similar in appearance are more likely to be grouped together. Term Continuity Definition objects are usually perceived as smooth, continuous patterns. Term Connectedness Definition when objects are touching we see them as single units. Term Closure Definition the mind attempts to fill in gaps to create a whole object. Term Relative Size Definition smaller image is more distant. Term Interposition Definition closer objects block distant objects. Term Relative Clarity Definition hazy object seen as more distant. Term Texture gradient Definition coarse-> close fine-> distant Term Linear Perspective Definition Lines converge at the horizon Greater Convergence=greater depth Term Relative Height Definition we perceive objects higher in our field of vision as farther away. Term Relative Motion Definition as we move, objects that are actually stable may appear to move. The nearer an object is, the faster it seems to move. Term Retinal Disparity Definition As an object moves ccloser, the image on each retina becomes more different. Therefore the more different these images, the closer the objects. Term Convergence Definition The closer an object, the more your eyes must turn inward, or "converge" in order to see it accurately. Term Perceptual Constancy Definition enables us to perceive an object as unchanging even though the stimuli we receive from it change. Term Size Constancy Definition we perceive objects as having a constant size, even while our distance from them varies. Term Parapsychology Definition the search for unexplainable phenomena Term ESP Definition Extra Sensory Perception, or the phenomenon of perceiving something without using your 5 senses. Term Precognition Definition From the latin word praecognito which means prior to previous knowledge. It is the obtaining of knowledge or a vision about an event before it occurs. Term Clairvoyance Definition Means "clearsighted" and is sometimes called "remote viewing." The obtaining of information about events in a remote location that is beyond the capability of normal senses. Term Telekinesis Definition Also called psychokenesis (PK). The ability to move objects using only mental influence. This was made famous by Uri Geller and his spoon bending. Term Telepathy Definition mind to mind communication. Term Divination Definition the attempt to foretell the future or discover occult knowledge by interpreting omens or by using paranormal or supernatural powers. Term Zener Cards Definition used at the Rhine Inst.@ Duke Univ. 1 in 10 quadrillion will get all 25 right. Term Consciousness Definition your awareness of yourself and your environment. All of your sensations, thoughts and feelings. Term Internal monologue Definition the conversation you carry on with yourself. Term Why is it difficult to study consciousness? Definition involves a paradox. elements of conscious experience flow from one to another. Term Attention Definition awareness of sensations, thoughts, and feelings at a particular time. Term Selective Attention Definition the ability to attend to one stimulous and ignore others. Term Cocktail Party Phenomenon Definition selective attention to one converstaion. Term Divided Attention Definition the ability to distribute attention and simultaneously attend to two or more stimuli or tasks. Term Sleep Definition an altered state of consciousness. our awareness of ourselves and our environment is drastically different. Term Restoration Theory Definition The purpose of sleep is to restore depleted reserves of energy, repair cells and recover physical abilities. Term Evolutionary Theory Definition reduces the risk of predation at night. Term Annual Cycles Definition mood cycles Term One month cycles Definition (menstrual periods) Term Daily cycles Definition sleep/wake Term Sleep cycles Definition 90 minute cycles Term REM Sleep Definition Rapid Eye Movement a mentally active period during which dreaming occurs. Term How the brain coordinates dreaming activity (REM SLEEP) Definition triggered by the pons and neighboring structures in the brainstem. the pons sends signals to the thalamus and the cerebral cortex which si responsible for most cognitive activities. Term Hypnagognic Myoclonus Definition The involuntary muscle spasm (twitching) that is usually observed in someone falling asleep during dreams. Term Insomnia Definition persistent problems falling or staying asleep. True insomnia is not the occiasional inability to sleep that we experience when anxious or excited. Term Narcolepsy Definition periodic, overwhelming sleepiness...usually lasts less than 5 minutes but sometimes occurs at the most inopportune times. Term Sleep Apnea Definition a disorder that was unknown before modern sleep research. they intermittently stop breathing during sleep. After about a minute or so, decreased blood oxygen arouses the sleeper. Term Night Terrors Definition when the person sees a frightening image and usually walks around, talkis incoherently or experience a doubling of heart and breathing rates. mostly occurs in children. remember little or nothing the next morning. NOT the same as nightmares. Term Psychoactive Drugs Definition drugs that contain chemicals which change perception and mood. Term Effect of drugs on consciousness Definition process of chemical consciousness occurs at the synapse..and drugs either block or promote certain neurotransmitters. Term Mesolimbic Reward Pathway Definition a brain circuit that is activated by rewarding or positive experiences. Term Withdrawl Hypothesis Definition Withdrawl symptoms are so uncomfortable, that individuals continue to use drugs just to avoid the pain of withdrawl. Term Learning Definition a relatively permanent change in knowledge or behavior that results from experience. Term Association Definition learning that 2 events occur together. Term Conditioning Definition the process of learning associations! conditioning=strengthening Term Unconditioned Stimulus (UCS) Definition any stimulus that will automatically trigger a response. Term Unconditioned Response (UCR) Definition unlearned, naturally occurring response to the unconditioned stimulus. Term Conditioned Stimulus (CS) Definition originally irrelevant stimulus, that after association with an unconditioned stimulus, comes to trigger a conditioned response. Term Conditioned Response (CR) Definition the learned response to a previously neutral conditioned stimulus. Term John B. Watson Definition First Behaviorist. Did the Little Albert experiment. Term Operant Conditioning Definition Principles of reinforcement Schedules of reinforcement Term Reinforcement Definition any consequence that increases the likelihood of a behavior. Term Punishment Definition Any consequence that decreases the likelihood of a behavior. Term Positive Reinforcement Definition Increases behavior by presenting a pleasurable stimulus. Term Negative Reinforcement Definition increases behavior by removing and unpleasant stimulus. Term Positive punishment Definition decreases behavior by presenting an aversive stimulus. Term Negative punishment Definition decreases behavior by removing a pleasant stimulus. Term Shaping Definition "rewarding successive approximations of a desired behavior" Term BF Skinner Definition 1904-1990, developed principles of operant conditioning. Created the Skinner Box (animal manipulates something to obtain a food or water reinforcer) Term Skinner Box Definition chamber with a bar or key that an animal manipulates to obtain a food or water reinforcer. contains devices to record responses. Term Fixed ratio Definition reinforcement comes after a set # of responses. Term Variable Ratio Definition reinforcement comes after an unpredictable number of responses. Term Fixed Interval Definition reinforcecment comes after a set amount of time Term Overjustification Effect Definition the effect of promising a reward for doing what one already likes to do. The person may now see the reward, rather than intrinsic interest, as the motivation for performing the task. Term Intrinsic Motivation Definition a desire to performa behavior for its own sake and to be effective. Term Extrinsic Motivation Definition A desire to perform a behavior due to promised rewards or threats of punishment. Term Social Learning Theory Definition the theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and by being rewarded or punished. Term Modeling Definition the process of observing and imitating a specific behavior. Term Mirror Neurons Definition frontal lobe neurons that fire when performing certain actions or when observing another doing so. The brain's mirroring of another's action may enable imitation, language learning, and empathy.