Shared Flashcard Set

Details

Study For Sensation/ Variations in Consciousness
Sensation/ Variations in Consciousness
34
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
09/27/2011

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
What is sensation?
Definition
The stimulation of sense organs
Term
What is perception?
Definition
The selection, organization, and interpretation of sensory input
Term
How do sensation and perception differ?
Definition
Sensation involves the absorption of energy, such as light or sound waves, by sensory organs, i.e. eyes and ears. Perception involves organizing and translating sensory input into something meaningful.
Term
What is the Visible Spectrum?
Definition
Only a slim portion of the total range of wavelengths; between Ultra-violet rays and Infrared rays
Term
What are the visual receptors in the eye?
Definition
The rods and cones
Term
How do rods and cones differ?
Definition
Cones play a key tole in daylight vision and color; rods play a key role in night vision and peripheral vision
Term
How is the neural impulse created in the eye?
Definition
Light is received and the image taken to the brain
Term
What are feature detectors in the visual cortex?
Definition
The features detector; neurons that respond selectively to very specific features of more complex stimuli
Term
What is a perceptual set?
Definition
A readiness to perceive a stimulus in a particular way
Term
How does bottom-up processing seem to work?
Definition
A progression from individual elements to the whole
Term
How does Top-down processing work?
Definition
A progression from the whole to the elements
Term
What is a perceptual constancy?
Definition
A tendency to experience a stable perception in the face of continually changing sensory input
Term
What kinds of perceptual constancies do we seem to have?
Definition
Stable size, shape, brightness, hue(color), and location in space
Term
What is an EEG?
Definition
The eletroencephalograh; a device that monitors the electrical activity of the brain over time by means of recording electrodes attached to the surface of the scalp
Term
What is a circadian rhythm?
Definition
Are the 24-hour biological cycles found in humans and many other species
Term
What is the purpose of a circadian rhythm?
Definition
Influence daily cycles also produce rhythmic variations in blood pressure, urine production, hormone secretion, and other physical functions
Term
What is melatonin?
Definition
A hormone secreted by the pineal gland that inhibits melanin formation and may regulate the reproductive cycle
Term
What does melatonin do?
Definition
Controls wake and sleep cycles in the body
Term
What is REM sleep?
Definition
A deep stage of sleep marked by rapid eye movements, high-frequency brain waves, and dreaming
Term
What seems to go on in REM sleep?
Definition
Very vivid dreams
Term
What general trends seem to occur in sleep patterns as people age?
Definition
The cycles of both REM and NREM sleep get shorter, in affect making the whole sleep cycle shorter
Term
Why do we seem to need REM and slow-wave sleep?
Definition
It helps rejuvenate the body and help with memories of the previous day
Term
What kinds of health consequences can you have from sleep deprivation?
Definition
Sickness, different sleep disorders, long or short term memory problems, and in serious cases death
Term
What is narcolepsy?
Definition
A disease marked by sudden and irresistible onsets of sleep during normal waking periods
Term
What is Sleep apnea?
Definition
A sleeping disorder categorized by frequent reflex gasping for air that awakens the sleeper and disrupts sleep
Term
What is tolerance?
Definition
A progressive decrease in a person's responsiveness to a drug
Term
What is the retna?
Definition
They channel light to the neural tissue that receives it
Term
What is the lens?
Definition
The transparent eye structure that focuses the light rays falling on the retina
Term
What is the pupil?
Definition
The opening in the center of the iris that helps regulate the amount of light passing into the rear chamber of the eye
Term
What was Sigmund Freud's theory on dreams?
Definition
Three main states are concious, precocious, and unconscious; dreams helped solve problems
Term
What is the Cognitive Theory?
Definition
You problem solve while dreaming
Term
What is Activation Synthesis?
Definition
Dreaming represents random thoughts by the pons that gradually go to the higher brain
Term
What are the five Gestalt Principals?
Definition
Proximity, similarity, closure, simplicity, and continuity
Term
What are fovea?
Definition
They are an eye muscle that adjust visual sharpness
Supporting users have an ad free experience!