Chapter 6

Question 0

perception

Answer 0

the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information

Question 1

sensation

Answer 1

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

Question 2

bottom up processing

Answer 2

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

Question 3

top down processing

Answer 3

information processing guided by higher level mental processes

Question 4

transduction

Answer 4

conversion of one form of energy into another

Question 5

absolute threshold

Answer 5

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

Question 6

signal detection theory

Answer 6

a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus amid background stimulation

Question 7

subliminal

Answer 7

below ones absolute threshold for conscious awareness

Question 8

priming

Answer 8

the activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing ones perception, memory, or response

Question 9

difference threshold

Answer 9

the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time

Question 10

webers law

Answer 10

the principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percantage

Question 11

sensory adaptation

Answer 11

diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation

Question 12

perceptual set

Answer 12

a mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another

Question 13

wavelength

Answer 13

the distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next

Question 14

hue

Answer 14

the dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light

Question 15

intensity

Answer 15

the amount of energy in a light or sound wave

Question 16

retina

Answer 16

the light sensitive inner surface of the eye

Question 17

accomdation

Answer 17

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

Question 18

rods

Answer 18

retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray

Question 19

cones

Answer 19

retinal receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well lit conditions

Question 20

optic nerve

Answer 20

the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain

Question 21

blind spot

Answer 21

the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye

Question 22

fovea

Answer 22

the central focal point in the retina

Question 23

feature detectors

Answer 23

nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus

Question 24

parallel processing

Answer 24

the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brains natural mode of information processing for many functions

Question 25

young helmholtz trichromatic theory

Answer 25

the theory that the retina contains three different color receptors which can produce that perception of any color

Question 26

opponent process theory

Answer 26

the theory that opposing retinal processes enable color vision

Question 27

gestait

Answer 27

an organized whole

Question 28

figure ground

Answer 28

the organization of the visual field into objects the stand out from the surroundings

Question 29

grouping

Answer 29

the perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups

Question 30

depth perception

Answer 30

the ability to see objects in three dimensions although the images that strike the retina are two dimensional

Question 31

visual cliff

Answer 31

a laboratory device for testing depth perception in infants and young animals

Question 32

binocular cues

Answer 32

depth cues, such as retinal disparity,that depend on the use of two eyes

Question 33

rentinal disparity

Answer 33

a binocular cue for perceiving depth

Question 34

monocular cues

Answer 34

depth cues

Question 35

perceptual constancy

Answer 35

perceiving objects as unchanging even as illumination and retinal images change

Question 36

color constancy

Answer 36

perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color

Question 37

perceptual adaptation

Answer 37

the ability to adjust to an artificially displaced or even inverted visual field

Question 38

audition

Answer 38

the sense or act or hearing

Question 39

frequency

Answer 39

the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time

Question 40

pitch

Answer 40

a tones experienced highness or lowness

Question 41

middle ear

Answer 41

the chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones and concentrate the vibration of the eardrum on the cochleas oval window

Question 42

cochlea

Answer 42

a coiled, bony, fluid filled tube in the inner ear

Question 43

inner ear

Answer 43

the innermost part of the ear

Question 44

sensorineural hearing loss

Answer 44

hearing loss caused by damage to the cochleas receptor cells or to the auditory nerves

Question 45

conduction hearing loss

Answer 45

hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea

Question 46

cochlear implant

Answer 46

a device for converting sounds into electrical signals and stimulating the auditory nerve through electrodes threaded into the cochlea

Question 47

place theory

Answer 47

in hearing, the theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochleas membrane is stimulated

Question 48

frequency theory

Answer 48

in hearing, the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone

Question 49

gate control theory

Answer 49

the theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological "gate" that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain

Question 50

kinesthesis

Answer 50

the system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts

Question 51

vestibular sense

Answer 51

the sense of your heads movement and position

Question 52

sensory interaction

Answer 52

the principle that one sense may influence another

Question 53

embodied cognition

Answer 53

the influence of bodily sensations, gestures, and other states on cognitive preferences and judgements

Question 54

extrasensory perception

Answer 54

the controversial claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input

Question 55

parapsychology

Answer 55

the study of paranormal phenomena