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Psych Ch 5
N/A
48
Psychology
12th Grade
10/17/2012

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Term
sensation
Definition
process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment
Term
perception
Definition
process of organising and interpreting sensory info, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events
Term
bottom-up
Definition
analysis that begins with sensory receptors and works up to brain's integration of sensory info
Term
top-down
Definition
info processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations
Term
psychophysics
Definition
study of relationships between physical char. of stimuli, such as their intensity, and our psych exp of them
Term
absolute threshold
Definition
minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time
Term
signal detection theory
Definition
theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus amid background. Assumes there is no single abs threshold and that detection depends partly on a person's exp, expectations, motivation, and level of fatigue
Term
subliminal
Definition
below one's abs threshold for conscious awareness
Term
priming
Definition
activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing one's perception, memory, or response
Term
difference threshold
Definition
min difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of time (just noticeable difference)
Term
Weber's Law
Definition
principle that, to be perceived as diff, two stimuli must differ by a constant min %
Term
sensory adaptation
Definition
diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation
Term
transduction
Definition
conversion of one form of energy into another
Term
wavelength
Definition
distance from two adjacent crests
Term
hue
Definition
dimension of color that is determined by wavelength of light
Term
intensity
Definition
amount of energy in light/sound wave, as determined by wave's amplitude
Term
pupil
Definition
adjustable opening in center of eye thru which light enters
Term
iris
Definition
ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of eye around pupil and controls size of pupil opening
Term
lens
Definition
transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina
Term
accommodation
Definition
process by which eye's lens changes shape to focus near/far obj on retina
Term
retina
Definition
light-sensitive inner surface of eye, containing receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual info
Term
acuity
Definition
sharpness of vision
Term
nearsightedness
Definition
condition in which nearby obj are seen more clearly b/c distant obj focus in front of the retina
Term
farsightedness
Definition
condition in which distant obj are seen more clearly b/c image of near obj is focused behind the retina
Term
rods
Definition
retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision
Term
cones
Definition
retinal receptors that are concentrated near center of retina and function in daylight or in well-lit conditions; fine detail and color
Term
optic nerve
Definition
nerve that carries neural impulses from eye to brain
Term
blind spot
Definition
point at which optic nerve leaves eye since no receptor cells are located there
Term
fovea
Definition
central focal point in retina, aorund which cones cluster
Term
feature detectors
Definition
nerve cells in brain that respond to specific features of stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement
Term
parallel processing
Definition
processing of several aspects of a problem simultaneously (brain functions)
Term
Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory
Definition
theory that retina contains three diff color receptors (red, green, blue) which when stimulated can produce perception of any color
Term
opponent-processes theory
Definition
theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable color vision
Term
color constancy
Definition
perceiving familiar obj as having consistent color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the obj
Term
frequency
Definition
number of complete wavelengths per time
Term
pitch
Definition
tone's expereinced highness/lowness; depends on frequency
Term
middle ear
Definition
chamber between eardrum and cochlea containing hammer, anvil, and stirrup that concentrate the birnation of the eardrum on the cochlea's oval window
Term
cochlea
Definition
a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear thru which sound waves trigger nerve impulses
Term
inner ear
Definition
the innermost part of the ear containing the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs
Term
place theory
Definition
in hearing, theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated
Term
frequency theory
Definition
in hearing, theory that rate of nerve impulses traveling up auditory nerve matches frequency of a tone, enabling us to sense its pitch
Term
Conduction hearing loss
Definition
hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea
Term
Sensorineural hearing loss
Definition
hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea's receptors' cells or to the auditory nerves; also called nerve deafness
Term
Cochlear implant
Definition
device that translates sounds into electrical signals and stimulating auditory nerve thru electrodes threaded into the cochlea
Term
Gate control theory
Definition
theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological "gate" that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain. The "gate" is opened by the activity of pain signals traveling up small nerve fibers and is closed by activity in larger fibers or by info coming from the brain
Term
Sensory interaction
Definition
the principle that one sense may influence another, as when the smell of food influences its taste
Term
Kinesthesis
Definition
the system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts
Term
Vestibular sense
Definition
sense of body movement and position, including sense of balance
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