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AP Psychology > Chapter 6 > Flashcards

Chapter 6 Flashcards

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1
Q

Sensation

A

The process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment

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2
Q

Perception

A

The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events

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3
Q

Bottom-Up Processing

A

Analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brains integration of sensory information

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4
Q

Top-Down Processing

A

Information processing guided by higher–level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions get drawing on our experience and it expectations

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5
Q

Psychophysics

A

The study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli, such as their intensity, and our psychological experience of them

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6
Q

Absolute threshold

A

The minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time

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7
Q

Signal detection theory

A

A theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of the stimulus (signal) amid background stimulation (noise). Assumes there is no single absolute threshold and that detection depends partly on a person’s experience, expectations, motivation, and level of fatigue.

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8
Q

Subliminal

A

Below one’s absolute threshold for conscious awareness

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9
Q

Priming

A

The activation, often unconsciously, a certain associations, that’s predisposing one’s perception, memory, or response

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10
Q

Difference threshold

A

The minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time. We experience the difference threshold as a just noticeable difference (or JNA)

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11
Q

Weber’s law

A

The principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percent-age (rather than a constant amount)

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12
Q

Sensory adaptation

A

Diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation

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13
Q

Transduction

A

Conversion of one form of energy into another. In sensation, the transforming of stimulus energies, such as sights, sounds, and smells, into neural impulses our brains can interpret.

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14
Q

Wavelength

A

The distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next. Electromagnetic wave lengths very from the short blips of cosmic rays to the long pulses of radio transmission

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15
Q

Hue

A

The dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light; what we know as a color names blue, green and so forth

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16
Q

Intensity

A

The amount of energy in a white or soundwave, which we perceive as brightness or loudness, as determined by the waves amplitude

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17
Q

Pupil

A

The adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters

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18
Q

Iris

A

A bring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around people and controls the size of the pupil opening

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19
Q

Lens

A

The transparent structure behind the people that changes shape to help focus images on the retina

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20
Q

Retina

A

The light – sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual information

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21
Q

Accommodation

A

The process by which the eyes lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina

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22
Q

Rods

A

Retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray necessary for peripheral and twilight vision, when cones don’t respond

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23
Q

Cones

A

Retinal receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in date light or in well – lit conditions. The cones detect fine detail and give rise to color sensations.

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24
Q

Optic nerve

A

The nerve that carries mural impulses from the eye to the brain

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25
Blind spot
The point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a "blind" spot because no receptor cells are located there
26
Fovea
The central Focal point in the retina, around which the eye cones cluster
27
Feature detectors
Nerve cells in the brain that responds to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement.
28
Parallel processing
The processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brains natural mode of information processing for many functions, including vision. Contrast with this step–by–step (serial) processing of most computers and have conscious problem-solving.
29
Young-Helmmholtz Trichromatic (three-color) Theory
The theory that the retina contains three different color receptors – one more sensitive to read, one to green, one to blue – which, when stimulated in combination, can produce the perception of any color.
30
Opponent – process theory
The theory that opposing retinal processes (red – green, yellow – blue, white – black) enable color vision. For example, some cells are stimulated by green and inhibited by red; others are stimulated by red and inhibited by green.
31
Audition
The sense or act of hearing.
32
Frequency
The number of complete wavelengths that has a point in a given time (for example, per second).
33
Pitch
A tones experienced highness or lowness; depends on frequency.
34
Middle ear
The chambers between the eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones (hammer, Amvale, and strap) that concentrate on the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochlea's oval window
35
Cochlea
A coiled, Sony, fluid – filled two in the inner year through which soundwaves trigger nerve impulses
36
Inner ear
The innermost part of the year, containing the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibule sacs.
37
Place Theory
In hearing, this theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea's membrane and stimulated
38
Frequency theory
In hearing, the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a time, thus enabling us to since it's pitch
39
Conduction hearing loss
Hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that connects soundwaves to the cochlea
40
Sensorineural hearing loss
Hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea's receptor cells or to the auditory nerves also called nerve deafness.
41
Cochlear implant
A device for converting sounds into electrical signals and stimulating the auditory nerve through electrodes threaded into the cochlea
42
Kinesthesis
The system for sensing the position of movement of individual body parts
43
Vestibular sense
The sense of body movement and position, including the sense of balance
44
Gate – control theory
The theory that the spinal cord contains the neurological "gate" that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain. The key is open by the activity of pain signals traveling up small nerves fibers and is closed by activity in larger fibers or by information coming from the brain.
45
Sensory interaction
The principle that one sends me influence another, as when the smell of food influences its taste.
46
Gestalt
An organized whole. Gestalt psychologists emphasized our tendency is to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes.
47
Figure – ground
The organization of the visual field into objects (the figures) best down out from their surroundings (the ground)
48
Grouping
The perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent group
49
Death perception
The ability to see objects in three dimensions although the images that strike the retina are two-dimensional; allows us to judge distance.
50
Visual cliff
A laboratory device for testing depth perception in infants and young animals
51
Binocular cues
Depth cues, such as retinal disparity, that depend on the use of two eyes
52
Retinal disparity
A binocular cue for perceiving depth: by comparing images from the retinas in the two eyes, the brain computes distance – the greater the disparity (difference) between the two images, the closer the object
53
Monocular cues
Depth cues, such as interposition and linear perspective, available to either I loan
54
Phi phenomenon
An illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in quick succession
55
Perceptual consistency
Perceiving objects as unchanging (having consistent shapes, sizes, lateness, and color) even as illumination and retinal images change
56
Color consistency
Perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object
57
Perceptual adaptation
InVision, the ability to just hit artificially displaced or even inverted visual field
58
Perceptual set
A mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another
59
Human factors psychology
A branch of psychology that explores how people and machines interact and how machines and physical environments can be made safe and easy to use
60
Extrasensory perception (ESP)
The controversy or claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input: includes telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition
61
Parapsychology
The study of paranormal phenomena, including ESP and psychokinesis

AP Psychology (14 decks)

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