Chapter 3

Question 1

The minimum intensity of a stimulus at which participants can identify its presence 50%of the time

Answer 1

Absolute threshold

Question 2

Just noticeable difference

Answer 2

Weber’s law

Question 3

The light-sensitive cells of the retina that pick up any type of light energy and convert it to neural signals

Answer 3

Rods

Question 4

The cells of the retina that are sensitive to specific colors of light and send information to the brain concerning the colors we are seeing

Answer 4

Cones

Question 5

Different pitches of sound activate specific regions of the basilar membrane more than others. Pitch perception occurs when the brain notices which portions of the basilar membrane are being most excited by incoming sound waves.

Answer 5

Place theory

Question 6

The hair cells of the basilar membrane fire action potentials at a rate equal to the frequency of the incoming sound wave. The brain determines pitch by noting the rate at which the hair cells are firing. This theory only explains perception of pitches up to 1,000 Hz, the maximum firing rate of a hair cell

Answer 6

Frequency theory

Question 7

Similar to the frequency theory, this theory states that groups of hair cells fire as teams to give us the perception of pitches over 1,000 Hz. For example, three hair cells each firing at 1,000 Hz together yield the perception of a 3,000-Hz tone.

Answer 7

Volley theory

Question 8

This theory states that a confirmation of frequency and place information is used in pitch perception. Exactly how these sounded of information are integrated in the brain is still being investigated. Most widely accepted theory of pitch perception

Answer 8

Duplicity theory