Chapter 5 - Sensation and Perception

Question 1

Absolute Pitch

Answer 1

The ability to recognize or produce any note on a musical scale.

Question 2

Absolute Threshold

Answer 2

The minimal stimulus necessary for detection by an individual 50 percent of the time.

Question 3

Ageusia

Answer 3

Inability to taste.

Question 4

Anosmia

Answer 4

Inability to smell.

Question 5

Basilar Membrane

Answer 5

Structure in the cochlea where the hair cells are located.

Question 6

Bottom-up Processing

Answer 6

Perception that proceeds by converting environmental stimuli into neural impulses that move into successively more complex brain regions.

Question 7

Cochlea

Answer 7

Fluid-filled structure in the inner ear; contains the hair cells.

Question 8

Convergance

Answer 8

Inward movement of the eyes to view objects close to oneself.

Question 9

Cones

Answer 9

Photoreceptors responsive to colours.

Question 10

Deafness

Answer 10

The inability to hear.

Question 11

Difference threshold or just noticeable difference

Answer 11

The minimal difference between two stimuli necessary for detection of a difference between the two.

Question 12

Endorphins & Enkephalins

Answer 12

Chemicals that belong to a naturally occurring class of opiates that reduce pain in the nervous system.

Question 13

Fovea

Answer 13

Center of the retina, containing only the cones, where vision is most clear.

Question 14

Free Nerve Endings

Answer 14

Sensory receptors that convert physical stimuli into touch, pressure, or pain impulse.

Question 15

Gate Control Theory of Pain

Answer 15

Theory that certain patterns of neural activity can close a “gate” to keep pain
information from travelling to parts of the brain where it is perceived.

Question 16

Gustatory Sense

Answer 16

Our sense of taste.

Question 17

Hair Cells

Answer 17

Sensory receptor that convert sound waves into neural impulses.

Question 18

Hyposmia

Answer 18

Reduced ability to detect odours.

Question 19

Meissner’s Corpuscles

Answer 19

Transduce information about sensitive touch and are found in the hairless regions of the body, such as the fingertips, lips, and palms.

Question 20

Merkel’s Discs

Answer 20

Sensory receptors that convert information about light to moderate pressure on the skin.

Question 21

Monocular Cues

Answer 21

Visual clues about depth and distance that can be perceived using information from only one eye.

Question 22

Odorants

Answer 22

Air born chemicals that detect oder.

Question 23

Olfactory Bulb

Answer 23

The first region where olfactory information reaches the brain on its way from the nose.

Question 24

Olfactory Receptor Neurons

Answer 24

Sensory receptor cells that convert chemical signals from odorants into neural impulses that travel to the brain.

Question 25

Olfactory Sense

Answer 25

Our sense of smell.

Question 26

Optic Nerve

Answer 26

The bundle of axons of ganglion cells that carries visual information from the eye to the brain.

Question 27

Ossicles

Answer 27

Tiny bones in the ear called maleus (Hammer), incus (Anvil), and stapes (stirrup).

Question 28

Oval Window

Answer 28

A membrane separating the ossicles and the inner ear, deflection of which causes a wave to form in the cochlea.

Question 29

Pacinian Corpuscles

Answer 29

Sensory receptor that respond to vibrations and heavy pressure.

Question 30

Papillae

Answer 30

Bump on the tongue that contains clumps of taste buds.

Question 31

Perception

Answer 31

The conscious recognition and identification of a sensory stimulus

Question 32

Percetual COnstancies

Answer 32

Our top-down tendency to view objects as unchanging, despite shifts in the environmental stimuli we receive.

Question 33

Perceptual Set

Answer 33

Readiness to interpret a certain stimulus in a certain way.

Question 34

Photoreceptors

Answer 34

The sensory receptor cells for vision located in the retina.

Question 35

Retina

Answer 35

A specialized sheet of nerve cells in the back of the eye containing the sensory receptors for vision.

Question 36

Retinal Disparity

Answer 36

The slight difference in images processed by the retinas of each eye.

Question 37

Rods

Answer 37

Photoreceptors most responsive to levels of light and dark.

Question 38

Ruffini’s end-organs

Answer 38

Sensory receptors that respond to heavy pressure and point movement.

Question 39

Sensation

Answer 39

The act of using our sensory system to detect environmental stimuli.

Question 40

Sensory adaptation

Answer 40

The precess where repeated stimuli of a sensory cell leads to a reduced response.

Question 41

Sensory Memory

Answer 41

Memory involving a detailed, brief sensory image or sound retained for a brief period of time.

Question 42

Sensory receptor cells

Answer 42

Specialized cells that convert a specific form of environmental stimuli into neutral impulses.

Question 43

Sensory Transduction

Answer 43

The process of converting a specific form of environmental stimuli into neutral impulses.

Question 44

Signal detection theory

Answer 44

Theory that the response to a signal in every situation depends on an individual’s ability to differentiate between the signal and noise, and on their response criteria.

Question 45

Sound wave

Answer 45

Vibration of the air in the frequency of hearing.

Question 46

Taste Buds

Answer 46

Clusters of sensory receptors cells that convert chemical signals from food into neural impulses that travel to the brain.

Question 47

Threshold

Answer 47

The point at which the relative influence of other neurons succeeds in causing a neuron to initiate an action potential.

Question 48

Tonotopic map

Answer 48

Representation in the auditory cortex of different sound frequencies.

Question 49

Top-Down Processing

Answer 49

Perception process lead by cognitive processes, such as memory of experience.

Question 50

Transduction

Answer 50

Process that involvse converting stimuli energy into neural impulses that can be interpreted by the brain.

Question 51

Tympanic Membrane

Answer 51

The ear drum.