PSY111 - ch4

Question 0

the brains interpretation of raw sensory inputs

Answer 0

perception

Question 1

detection of physical energy by sense organs, which then send information to the brain

Answer 1

sensation

Question 2

the process of converting an external energy or substance into electrical activity within neurons

Answer 2

transduction

Question 3

specialized cell responsible for converting external stimuli into neural activity for a specific sensory system

Answer 3

sene receptor

Question 4

lowest level of a stimulus needed for the nervous system to detect a change 50% of time

Answer 4

absolute threshold

Question 5

the smallest change in the intensity of a stimulus that we can detect

Answer 5

just noticeable difference (JND)

Question 6

theory regarding how stimuli are detected under different conditions

Answer 6

signal detection theory

Question 7

the ability to attend to many sense modalities simultaneously

Answer 7

parallel processing

Question 8

processing in which a whole is constructed from parts

Answer 8

bottom-up processing

Question 9

conceptually driven processing influenced by beliefs and expectancies

Answer 9

top-down processing

Question 10

set formed when expectations influence perceptions

Answer 10

perceptual set

Question 11

the process by which we perceive stimuli consistently across varied conditions

Answer 11

perceptual constancy

Question 12

process of selecting one sensory channel and ignoring or minimizing others

Answer 12

selective attention

Question 13

parapsychologists - investigators who study __ and related psychic phenomena. There are 3 major types.

Answer 13

extrasensory perception (ESP)

Question 14

predicting events before they occur through paranormal means (mechanisms that lie outside of traditional science)

Answer 14

precognition (ESP)

Question 15

Reading other peoples minds

Answer 15

telepathy (ESP)

Question 16

detecting the presence of objects or people that are hide from view

Answer 16

clairvoyance (ESP)

Question 17

closely related to ESP is ___

Answer 17

psychokinesis

Question 18

As we reach a group size of 23 people, the probability that at least 2 people share the same birthday exceeds 0.5 or 50 percent. Research demonstrates that most people markedly underestimate the likelihood of this and other coincidences, sometimes leading them to attribute these coincidences to paranormal events.

Answer 18

The “Birthday Paradox” (ESP)

Question 19

rules governing how we perceive objects as wholes within their overall context

• german word meaning “whole”
• help to explain why we see much of our world as consisting of unified figures or forms rather than confusing jumbles of lines and curves
• these principles provide a road map for how we make sense of our perceptual worlds
• THERE ARE 3 PRINCIPLES

Answer 19

Gestalt principles

Question 20

sparked interest in this subjective contours in 1955

Answer 20

Gaetano Kanizsa

Question 21

when our brains provide missing information about outlines

Answer 21

subjective contours

Question 22

the idea that color vision is based on our sensitivity to 3 primary colors

Answer 22

trichromatic theory

Question 23

theory that we perceive colors in terms of 3 pairs of opponent colors; either red or green, blue or yellow, or black or white

Answer 23

opponent process theory

Question 24

ability to judge distance and 3D relations. Uses 2 kinds of cues.

Answer 24

depth perception

Question 25

stimuli the enable us to judge depth using only one eye

- 7 pictorial cues help us to perceive depth

Answer 25

monocular depth cues

1. relative size
2. texture gradient
3. interposition
4. linear perspective
5. height in plane
6. light and shadow

Question 26

stimuli that enable us to judge depth using both eyes

Answer 26

binocular depth cues

Question 27

specific place along the basilar membrane matches a tone with a specific pitch

Answer 27

complementary place/ place theory

Question 28

rate at which neurons fire the action potential reproduces the pitch

Answer 28

frequency theory

Question 29

a variation of frequency theor that works for tones between 100 and 5000Hz
- sets of neurons fire at their highest rate slightly out of sync with each other to reach overall rates up to 5000 Hz

Answer 29

volley theory

Question 30

idea that pain is blocked or gated from consciousness by neural mechanisms in spinal cord

Answer 30

gate control theory

Question 31

pain or discomfort felt in ann amputated limb

Answer 31

phantom pain

Question 32

our sense of body position

Answer 32

proprioception

Question 33

our sense of equilibrium or balance

Answer 33

vestibular sense