modules 16-18

Question 1

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

Answer 1

sensation

Question 2

the process of organizing and interpreting sensory info, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events

Answer 2

perception

Question 3

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

Answer 3

bottom up processing

Question 4

info processing guided by higher level mental processes

Answer 4

top-down processing

Question 5

the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus

Answer 5

selective attention

Question 6

failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere

Answer 6

inattentional blindness

Question 7

failing to notice changes in the environment

Answer 7

change blindness

Question 8

conversion of one form of energy into another

Answer 8

transduction

Question 9

the study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli and our psychological experience of them

Answer 9

psychophysics

Question 10

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

Answer 10

absolute threshold

Question 11

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

Answer 11

signal detection theory

Question 12

below ones absolute threshold of conscious awareness

Answer 12

subliminal

Question 13

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

Answer 13

priming

Question 14

the minimum difference between 2 stimuli required for detection 50% of the time

Answer 14

difference threshold

Question 15

the principle that two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage

Answer 15

Weber’s law

Question 16

diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation

Answer 16

sensory adaptation

Question 17

a mental predisposition to perceive one things and not another

Answer 17

perceptual set

Question 18

the controversial claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input is (telepathy, etc)

Answer 18

extra sensory perception (ESP)

Question 19

the study of paranormal phenomena

Answer 19

parapsychology

Question 20

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

Answer 20

wavelength

Question 21

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

Answer 21

hue

Question 22

the amount of energy in a light or sound wave as determined by the waves amplitude

Answer 22

intensity

Question 23

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

Answer 23

pupil

Question 24

a ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye

Answer 24

iris

Question 25

the transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images

Answer 25

lens

Question 26

light sensitive inner surface of the eye

Answer 26

retina

Question 27

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

Answer 27

accommodation

Question 28

retinal receptors that detect the grey scale

Answer 28

rods

Question 29

retinal receptor cells that are concentrated in center of retina and function in well lit conditions

Answer 29

cones

Question 30

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

Answer 30

optic nerve

Question 31

the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye

Answer 31

blind spot

Question 32

the central focal point in the retina

Answer 32

fovea

Question 33

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

Answer 33

feature detectors

Question 34

the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously

Answer 34

parallel processing

Question 35

the theory that the retina contains three different color receptors

Answer 35

Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory

Question 36

the theory that opposing retinal processes enable color vision

Answer 36

opponent -process theory