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Behavioral Sciences > 2: Sensory and Perception > Flashcards

2: Sensory and Perception Flashcards

(65 cards)

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1
Q

sensation

A

conversion of physical, electromagnetic, auditory, and other information from our internal and external environments to electrical signals in the nervous system

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2
Q

perception

A

the processing of sensation information to make sense of its significance

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3
Q

sensory receptors

A

neurons that respond to stimuli and trigger electrical signals; photoreceptors respond to light and encode brightness and color/shape of light

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4
Q

ganglia

A

collections of neuron cell bodies found outside the CNS that transmit sensory data to CNS

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5
Q

projection areas

A

further analyze sensory information sent from ganglia

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6
Q

threshold

A

minimum amount of a stimulus that renders a difference in perception

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7
Q

absolute threshold

A

minimum of stimulus energy needed to activate a sensory system

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8
Q

difference threshold

A

“just noticeable difference”

minimum difference in magnitude between two stimuli before one can perceive this difference

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9
Q

Weber’s Law

A

there is a ratio between change in stimulus magnitude needed to produce a jnd and the magnitude of original stimulus
(louder sound=bigger magnitude for jnd)

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10
Q

signal detection theory

A

focuses on the changes in our perception of the same stimuli depending on both internal (psychological) and external (environmental) context

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11
Q

stimulus–>conscious perception pathway

A

sensory receptor–>afferent neuron–>sensory ganglion–>spinal cord–>brain (projection areas)

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12
Q

sclera

A

white of the eye

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13
Q

choroidal vessels

A

blood vessels that supply nutrients to the eye between sclera and retina

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14
Q

retinal vessels

A

also supply nutrients to eye

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15
Q

retina

A

innermost layer of eye

contains actual photoreceptors that transduce light into electrical information that the brain can then process

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16
Q

cornea

A

clear domelike window at front of eye that gathers and focuses incoming light

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17
Q

anterior chamber

A

lies in front of iris

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18
Q

posterior chamber

A

between iris and lens

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19
Q

iris

A

colored part of eye

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20
Q

dilator pupillae

A

opens pupil under sympathetic stimulation

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21
Q

constrictor pupillae

A

contricts pupil under parasympathetic stimulation

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22
Q

ciliary body

A

produce aqueous humor

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23
Q

lens

A

right behind iris

helps control refraction of incoming light

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24
Q

accommodation

A

when ciliary muscle contracts and changes shape of the lens

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25
retina
at back of eye | converts incoming photons of light into electrical signals
26
cones
used for color vision and to sense fine details most effective in bright light and are named for wavelength of light they absorb (S, M, L) central section of retina contains high concentration of cones even though there is a higher amount of rods in the retina *convert physical stimulus into electrical signal (in retina)
27
rods
only allow for sensation of light and dark low sensitivity to details not involved in color vision involved in night vision many more rods than cones *convert physical stimulus into electrical signal
28
fovea
Center of the macula, which is the center of the retina Contains only cones As you move away from the fovea, the concentration of rods increases while the concentration of cones decreases THEREFORE: visual acuity is best at the fovea Most sensitive in normal daylight vision
29
optic nerve
blind spot where the optic nerve leaves the eye b/c there are no photoreceptors here (in the retina)
30
ganglion cells
link between bipolar cells and optic nerve | must represent activity of many rods and cones
31
visual pathway
all fibers corresponding to the left visual field from both eyes project to the right side of the brain, and all fibers corresponding to the right visual field project into the left side of the brain
32
parallel processing
The ability to simultaneously analyze and combine information regarding color, shape, and motion, which can then be used to compare to memories.
33
parvocellular cells
Responsible for shape detection High color spatial resolution--allow for fine detail discrimination Low temporal resolution--can only work with stationary or slow moving objects
34
magnocellular cells
Responsible for motion detection High temporal resolution Low spatial resolution
35
pinna/auricle
Outer part of ear | Funnel sound into external auditory canal
36
external auditory canal
Directs sound waves to tympanic membrane
37
tympanic membrane
Vibrates in phase with incoming sound waves Velocity of vibrations depends of frequency of sounds (high frequency=fast, low=slow) Louder sounds=greater intensity=increased amplitude Divides outer ear from middle ear
38
ossicles
Middle ear Smallest bones in the body Transmit and amplify the vibrations from the tympanic membrane to the inner ear a) malleus (hammer): attached to TM, acts on... b) incus (anvil): which acts on... c) stapes (stirrup): rests in oval window of cochlea, which is entrance to inner ear
39
Eustachian tube
Connects middle ear to nasal cavity | Equalizes pressure b/w middle ear and environment
40
cochlea
spiral shaped organ divided into three parts called scalae
41
membranous labyrinth
Contain (continuous) cochlea, vestibule, and semicircular canals Filled with potassium rich fluid called endolymph Suspended within bony labyrinth by thin layer of perilymph fluid
42
perilymph
Suspends membranous labyrinth in bony labyrinth | Simultaneously transmits vibrations from outside world and cushions inner ear structures
43
bony labyrinth
Inner ear sits within this structure
44
organ of corti
Part of cochlea Sits on basilar membrane Composed of thousands of hair cells bathed in endolymph Tectorial membrane sits on top *Hair cells convert physical stimulus into electrical stimulus (like rods and cones of eye), which is then carried to CNS via auditory (vestibulocochlear) nerve
45
round window
Membrane covered hole in the cochlea | Permits perilymph to move within the cochlea b/c fluid is ~incompressible
46
vestibule
Essential to balancing and orientation in 3D space | Contains utricle and saccule, which are sensitive to linear acceleration
47
lateral geniculate nucleus
Located in the thalamus One of the final destinations for light signals Lateral=light
48
medial geniculate nucleus
Located in the thalamus One of the final destinations for sound signals Medial=music
49
visual pathway
cornea-->pupil-->lens-->vitreous-->retina (rods and cones-->bipolar cells-->ganglion cells)-->optic nerve-->optic chiasm-->optic tract-->lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) of the thalamus-->radiations through parietal and temporal lobes-->visual cortex (occipital lobe)
50
auditory pathway
pinna-->external auditory canal-->tympanic membrane-->malleus-->incus-->stapes-->oval window-->perilymph in cochlea-->basilar membrane-->hair cells-->vestibulocochlear nerve-->brainstem-->medial geniculate nucleus (MGN) of thalamus--> auditory cortex (temporal lobe)
51
olfactory pathway
nasal passageway-->olfactory nerves in olfactory epithelium-->olfactory bulb-->olfactory tract-->brain (limbic system)
52
somatosensation
"Touch" | 4 modalities: pressure, vibration, pain, and temperature
53
somatosensory pathway
various receptors-->CNS-->somatosensory cortex (parietal lobe)
54
two point threshold
minimum distance necessary between two points of stimulation on the skin that the two points will be felt as two distinct stimuli
55
gate theory of pain
There is a special "gating" mechanism that can turn pain signals on and off, affecting whether or not we perceive pain. Theoretically: spinal cord can preferentially forward signals from other touch modalities (pressure, temp) to brain, thus reducing the sensation of pain
56
kinesthetic sense
"Proprioception" Ability to tell where one's body is in space Receptors critical in hand-eye coordination, balance, and mobility
57
bottom-up processing
Logical processing type #1: object recognition via parallel processing and feature detection "Data-driven processing" Brain takes sensory information and combines them to create cohesive image before determining what the object is Without bottoms-up processing, we would have difficulty discriminating slight differences between similar objects
58
top-down processing
Logical processing type #2: object recognition via memory recall and expectations "Conceptually driven processing" Allows brain to recognize the whole object and then recognize the components based upon expectations Brain can quickly recognize objects without analyzing specific parts--without it, we would have a hard time recognizing objects Deja-vu: when brain top-down processes too quickly
59
perceptual organization
Ability to use top-down and bottom-up processing in tandem to create a complete picture or idea about an object
60
Gestalt principles
There are ways for the brain to infer missing parts of a picture when the picture is incomplete
61
Law of proximity
Gestalt principle | Elements close to each other tend to be perceived as one unit
62
Law of similarity
Gestalt principle | Objects that are similar tend to be grouped together
63
Law of good continuation
Gestalt principle | Elements that appear to follow one pathway seem to be grouped together
64
Subjective contours
Gestalt principle | Mind perceives shapes or contours in a stimulus that aren't actually present
65
Law of closure
Gestalt principle When a space is enclosed by a contour it tends to be perceived as a complete figure Four right angles=square even if sides aren't closed or complete

Behavioral Sciences (3 decks)

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