Chapter 5 - Sensation and Perception Flashcards
stimulation of the sense organs is?
sensation
the selection, organization, and interpretation of sensory input is?
perception
What is psychophysics?
the study of how physical stimuli are translated into psychological experiences.
any detectable input from the environment is a:
stimulus
what is an absolute threshold?
the minimum amount of stimulation that an organism can be detected (50% of the time)
what is the just noticeable difference (JND)?
the smallest difference in the amount of stimulation that a specific sense can detect
what is weber’s law?
the size of a JND is a constant proportional to the size of the initial stimulus
do constants differ depending on the type of sensory input in weber’s law?
yes
in perception, everything is _____.
relative
what is fechner’s law?
subjective sensation is proportional to the stimulus intensity
under fechner’s law, the ______ changes depending on the intensity of the stimuli.
just noticeable difference
detection of stimuli involving decision processes and sensory processes is:
signal detection theory
according to signal detection theory, the presence of a stimulus and the presence of a participant response is a:
hit
according to signal detection theory, the absence of a stimulus and the presence of a participant response is a:
false alarm
according to signal detection theory, the presence of a stimulus and absence of a participant response is a:
miss
according to signal detection theory, the absence of a stimulus and absence of a participant response is a:
correct rejection
the registration of sensory input without conscious awareness is:
subliminal perception
what is sensory adaptation?
a gradual decline in sensitivity due to prolonged stimulation (tuning something out)
_____ are vibrations of molecules that travel through a medium.
sound waves
frequency is measured in:
cycles per seconds of hertz (Hz)
what is wavelength?
distance from crest-to-crest or trough-to-trough
loudness depends mainly on the _____ of a sound wave.
amplitude
what is purity?
a sound that has a single frequency and wavelength.
what are the three major parts of the human ear?
outer ear, middle ear, inner ear
what are the parts of the outer ear?
auditory canal, tympanic membrane (eardrum)
what are the three bones in the middle ear?
malleus (hammer), incus (anvil), stapes (stirrup)
the oval window is located in the _____ ear
middle
what are the three main parts of the inner ear?
semicircular canals, cochlea, auditory vestibular nerve
what is the basilar membrane? where is it located?
the basilar membrane is a stiff structure that separates two liquid-filled tubes in the cochlea
the perception of pitch corresponds to the vibration of different places along the basilar membrane is:
place theory
the perception of pitch corresponds to the the frequency at which the entire bsilar membrane vibrates is:
frequency theory
low-frequency tones are translated into pitch through:
frequency coding
high-frequency pure tones are translated into pitch through:
place theory