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Chapters 3 and 4 Psych
N/A
100
Psychology
Undergraduate 1
02/10/2013

Additional Psychology Flashcards

 


 

Cards

Term
Sensation
Definition
Activation of the sense organs by a source of physical energy
Term
Perception
Definition
Interpretation, analysis and integration of stimuli carried out by the sense organs and brain - knowing what you saw
Term
Stimulus
Definition
Physical Energy
Term
How Sense and Perception work
Definition
1. Sense receptors detect stimulus
2. Sense receptors cause sensory neurons in peripheral nervous system to fire
3. Impulses reach the brain, which interprets the signal (perception)
Term
Psychophysics
Definition
Study of the relationship between the physical aspects of stimuli and our psychological experience of them
Term
Absolute Threshold
Definition
Smallest intensity of a stimulus that must be present for it to be detected
Term
Just Noticeable Different (JND)
Definition
Smallest level of added (or reduced) stimulation required to sense a change
Term
Weber's Law
Definition
JND is a constant proportion of the intensity of the initial stimulus; Milk in a grocery bag and put a candy bar in it, you won’t notice
Term
Adaptation
Definition
An adjustment in sensory capacity after prolonged exposure to unchanging stimuli; adaptive, important for survival
Term
Cornea
Definition
Curved, transparent protective layer; where light first enters the eye
Term
Pupil
Definition
Opening in the middle where light comes into the eye; the size of the pupil depends on the amount of light in the environment
Term
Iris
Definition
Color ring of muscle; controls movement of the pupil
Term
Lens
Definition
Bends the light rays so that they can be properly focused on the retina
Term
Retina
Definition
Light is converted to electrical impulses for transmission to the brain; Contains photoreceptors
Term
Photoreceptors
Definition
What detects the light
Term
Rods
Definition
Sensitive to light but not color; function well in low illumination
Term
Cones
Definition
Responds to color, operates best in high illumination; Concentrated in the fovea
Term
Retina Structure
Definition
Optic nerve, ganglion cells, bipolar cells, rod and cone layer
Term
Optic Nerve
Definition
Neurons that leave our eye and talk to our occipital lobe in the brain; carries visual information to the brain
Term
Blind Spot
Definition
Where the optic nerve leaves the retina; Images cannot be seen
Term
Trichromatic Theory of Color Vision
Definition
Doesn't explain after-images; blue-violet, green, yellow-red
Term
Opponent Process Theory
Definition
Opposite colors in our brains, explains after-images; receptor cells are linked in pairs, working in opposition to each other
Term
Sound
Definition
The movement of air molecules brought about by a source of vibration
Term
Outer Ear
Definition
Detect direction of sound
Term
Eardrum
Definition
Vibrates in response to sound
Term
Middle Ear
Definition
Amplifies sound; hammer, anvil, stirrup
Term
Oval Window
Definition
Opening from the middle ear to the inner ear
Term
Inner Ear
Definition
Location of receptor cells
Term
Cochlea
Definition
Curled structure coated in basilar membrane
Term
Frequency
Definition
Number of wave cycles that occur in a second; perceived as pitch
Term
Amplitude
Definition
Loudness of sound; decibels
Term
Place Theory of Hearing
Definition
Different areas of the basilar membrane respond to different frequencies; explains sensation of high-frequency sound
Term
Frequency Theory of Hearing
Definition
The entire basilar membrane acts like a microphone, vibrating as a whole in response to a sound; explains sensing low-frequency sounds
Term
Semicircular Canals
Definition
When the head twists, fluid moves through canals, touching motion sensors that signal rotation or angular movement
Term
Otoliths
Definition
Crystals that sense forward, backward, or up-and-down motion, as well as the pull of gravity
Term
Pheromones
Definition
Chemicals in the body we release in our body odor and breath; Very controversial, not sure if they're actually used much
Term
Gustation
Definition
Taste qualities; Sweet, sour, salty, bitter umami
Term
Supertasters
Definition
More sensitive taste buds
Term
Nontasters
Definition
Less sensitive taste buds
Term
Substance P
Definition
Released when we feel pain
Term
Gate-Control Theory of Pain
Definition
Certain nerve receptors in the spinal cord "open gates" to specific areas of the brain relation to pain; close the gate through acupuncture
Term
Multimodal Perception
Definition
Brain collects the information from the individual sensory systems and integrates and coordinates it
Term
Synesthesia
Definition
One sense induces an experience in another sense
Term
Feature Analysis
Definition
Processing of individual elements of an object (lines, direction and movement); contrasts with Gestalt psychology
Term
Gestalt Psychology
Definition
Elements are organized and perceived as wholes
Term
Law of Closure (Gestalt Laws)
Definition
There are missing pieces, but we still see it as the whole
Term
Law of Proximity (Gestalt Laws)
Definition
Closer together we group them together
Term
Law of Similarity (Gestalt Laws)
Definition
You don't see things as individuals, you group similar things together
Term
Law of Simplicity (Gestalt Laws)
Definition
We see things more simple instead of complex
Term
Top-Down Processing
Definition
Perception influences by knowledge, experience, expectations, and motivations - the whole thing
Term
Bottom-Up Processing
Definition
Basic features are analyzed and recombined - parts of the whole
Term
Perceptual Constancy
Definition
The perception that objects maintain their size, shape and color despite changes in their retinal image; size and shape constancy
Term
Depth Perception
Definition
Ability to view the world in three dimensions and to perceive distance
Term
Binocular Disparity
Definition
Different retinal images received by each eye
Term
Monocular Cues
Definition
Cues that require only one eye to provide depth perception
Term
Light and Shadow (Monocular Cues)
Definition
Shadow helps us determine depth
Term
Motion Parallax
Definition
Perception of motion
Term
Linear Perspective
Definition
Using one eye, like binocular disparity
Term
Relative Size
Definition
If something is further away, it's smaller, and vice versa
Term
Perceptual Illusions
Definition
Physical stimuli that produce errors in perception (Muller-Lyer illusion)
Term
Subliminal Perception
Definition
Perception of messages about which we have no awareness
Term
Extra Sensory Perception (ESP)
Definition
Perception that does not involve our known senses
Term
Stage 1 of Sleep
Definition
Characterized by rapid, low amplitude brain waves
Term
Step 2 of Sleep
Definition
Slower more regular wave pattern
Sleep spindles - spurts of brain activity
Term
Stage 3 of Sleep
Definition
High peaks and lower valleys of waves
Term
Stage 4 of Sleep
Definition
Slower and more regular, least responsive to outside stimulation
• 3 and 4 are considered one stage
Term
REM Sleep
Definition
Characterized by rapid eye movements (REM), high arousal, frequent dreaming, and muscle paralysis
Term
Dreaming
Definition
Throughout the night we dream most often during REM sleep when activity in many brain areas is highest
Term
Paradox of Sleep
Definition
1. Back and forth eye movement during dreams
2. Muscles appear to be paralyzed
3. Lengthening and increase in frequency and density of RED period (REM recovery)
Term
Insomnia
Definition
Chronic difficulty in falling asleep or experiencing restful sleep
Term
Narcolepsy
Definition
Extreme day time sleepiness and sudden uncontrollable sleep attacks that happen from less than a minute to an hour
Term
Sleep Walking
Definition
Occurs during stages 3 and 4
Term
Nightmare/Night Terrors
Definition
Frightening dreams that arouse the sleeper to a near panic state
Term
Sleep Apnea
Definition
Breathing is abnormal with pauses or low breathing
Term
SIDS
Definition
Sudden infant death possibly caused by having problems waking up or a building of carbon dioxide in the body
Term
Drug
Definition
Any substance that alters consciousness
Term
Psychoactive Drug
Definition
Induce an altered state of consciousness (alcohol, caffeine, nicotine); This affects a person's emotions, perceptions and behaviors
Term
Addictive Drugs
Definition
Produce a dependence whether biological or physical; It can be addictive with our w/o withdrawal and can be affected by genetics, personality, religion family and peer influences
Term
Neurotransmitters affect by drugs
Definition
Dopamine, Serotonin, Glutamate, GABA
Term
Reward Pathway
Definition
Activated by cocaine, heroine and marijuana
Term
Depressants
Definition
Drugs that decrease nervous system activity
Term
Most used recreational drug
Definition
Alcohol; it increased the inhibitory effect of GABA and decreases activity of glutamate
Term
Stimulants
Definition
Drugs that increase neural diring and arouse the nervous system
Term
Cocaine
Definition
Stimulant that produces excitation, a sense of increased muscular strength and euphoria
Term
Aderall
Definition
Used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy; Causes uneven heart beats, insomnia, strokes, etc.
Term
Narcotics
Definition
All opiates, including morphine, codeine and heroin; Extremely addictive
Term
Hallucinogens (Psychedelic Drugs)
Definition
Produces hallucination or changes in the perceptual process; Marijuana, MDMA, Acid
Term
MDMA
Definition
Produces feelings of pleasure, elation, empath and warmth; Increases serotonin functioning
Term
Marijuana
Definition
Most used illegal drug in USA; Increases dopamine,
Term
Freud's Psychoanalytical Theory
Definition
Dreams reflect an individuals' unconscious desires
Term
Activation-Synthesis Theory of Dreaming
Definition
Dreams are spontaneous byproducts of brain activity
Term
Olfaction
Definition
Molecules enter the nasal passage
Term
Feature Detection Cells
Definition
Highly-specialized cells in the visual cortex that detect size, shape, color, movement, or combinations; Hubel and Wiesel
Term
Latent Content of Dreams
Definition
The "disguised" meanings of dreams, hidden by more obvious subjects
Term
Manifest Content of Dreams
Definition
The apparent story line of dreams
Term
Dreams-for-Survival Theory
Definition
Suggests that dreams permit information that is critical for our daily survival to be reconsidered and reprocessed during sleep
Term
Circadian Rhythms
Definition
Biological processes that occur regularly on approximately a 24-hour cycle
Term
Daydreams
Definition
Fantasies that people construct while awake
Term
Skin Senses
Definition
The senses of touch, pressure, temperature and pain
Term
Hair Cells
Definition
Tiny cells covering the basilar membrane that when vibrated they transmit neural messages to the brain
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