Psychology 102 Midterm #2 Flashcards
(277 cards)
What is Naïve Realism?
the belief that our sensory systems are infallible (in capable of making mistakes and errors) and that our perceptions are perfect representations of the world around us
5 elements of sensation?
Vision Hearing Smell Taste Somatosensory
What is Transduction?
process of converting an external energy or substance into electrical activity within neurons
Transduction occurs via?
sensory receptors
What is a Sensory receptor?
specialized cell responsible for converting external stimuli into neural activity for a specific sensory system
What is Sensory Adaptation?
process in which activation is greatest when a stimulus is first detected
Response to the stimulus declines in strength over time
More heightened.
Ex. surprise party, the change in light will be extremely bright but perception of light will change due to adaption.
Habituation- responds less highly over a period of time.
Once you become more familiar with something the response to the stimulus declines.
Ex. 3 bowls of water temperatures.
9 parts of vision?
Cornea Pupil Lens Ciliary muscles Aqueous humor Vitreous humor Fovea Blind spot Retina
What is the Cornea?
transparent cover for the pupil, lens, and iris
Its shape bends incoming light to focus the image at the back of the eye
What is the Pupil?
circular hole through which light enters the eye
Pupillary reflex is a muscle response that dilates or contracts the pupil
When does pupil contract?
Contracts when there is bright light or something coming closes to face
When does pupil dilate?
Dilates when in complex situations (ex. math questions) or when we see someone physically attractive.
What is a lens?
part of the eye that changes curvature to keep images in focus
Consists of some of the most unusual cells in the body
What is Presbyopia?
declining eyesight with age due to the lens becoming more rigid over time
What is Ciliary Muscles?
changes the thickness of the lens
Ring of smooth muscle fibers
Connected to the lens via sensory ligaments
Allows the lens to focus on objects depending on their distance
What is Nearsightedness?
inability to see far objects well but able to see close objects clearly
Results when images are focused in front of the rear of the eye, due to our cornea being too long
Myopia is from?
Nearsightedness
What is Farsightedness?
inability to see close objects well but able to see far objects clearly
Results when our cornea is too flat or our eyes are too short
What is Aqueous Humor?
transparent, gelatinous fluid supporting the structure of the cornea and lens
Humor is Latin for moisture.
Located in front of eye.
What is Vitreous Humor?
transparent, gelatinous fluid supporting the primary structure of the eye and retina
located inside eye
What is a fovea?
central portion of the retina
Responsible for acuity (sharpness of vision)
Point of central focus.
What is a blind spot?
point of exit of ganglion cell axons where the optic nerve connects to the retina
Contains no rods or cones
Creates some of the most remarkable visual illusions
What is a retina?
membrane at the back of the eye responsible for converting light into neural activity
Contains photoreceptors (essential for us to see). Damage can cause colour blindess or blindness.
What are Photoreceptors?
cells that respond to light (or lack there of)
Not equally distributed across the retina
Two types of photoreceptors?
Rods
Cones