Chapter 3- sensation- Terms/Vocabulary Flashcards
To remember the terminology related to sensation and perception to be able to better describe these functions. (23 cards)
Sensation
the process by which we receive, translate, and perceive stimuli to form sensory experiences
Sensory Receptors
Specialized cells that convert stimuli into neural impulses
Psychophysics
the study of the intensity of stimuli (such as brightness and loudness) and the sensations we experience from them
Absolute Threshold
the smallest amount of a stimuli one can sense
Difference Threshold
minimal difference in the magnitude of energy for one to tell the difference between two stimuli
Weber’s Law
The amount of change in a stimuli to tel the difference is directly proportional (constant) to the original stimuli. Different senses have different thresholds
Signal-Detection Theory
the belief that a detection of a stimulus is reliant on these factors:
a) intensity of stimulus
b) level of background stimulation
c) biological and psychological factors of the individual
Sensory Adaptation
Sensory receptors adaptively become less sensitive to constant stimuli
cornea
transparent covering of the eye
iris
pigmented part of the eye. muscle that controls the size of the pupil
pupil
black opening that allows light to enter the eye
lens
structure of the eye that focuses light on the retina
accommodation
the process by which the lens changes its shape to focus more light on the retina
retina
light-sensitive inner surface of the eye that contains photoreceptor cells
photoreceptors
photosensitive cells that register light. rods and cones
rods
light and dark sensitive photoreceptors
cones
color sensitive photoreceptors
bipolar cells
a layer of interconnecting cells in the eye that connect photoreceptors to ganglion cells
ganglion cells
nerve cells in the back of the eye that send neural impulses in response to light. axons of these make up the optic nerve
optic nerve
the nerve that carries visual stimuli information from the eye to the brain
blind spot
where the optic nerve leaves the eye and there are no photoreceptor cells
fovea
point of focus. center of the retina that contains only cones and has the clearest vision
sclera
white part of the eye
