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PSYC1016 > Sensation > Flashcards

Sensation Flashcards

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1
Q

What is sensation

A

senses gather information about the outside world and produce an internal state
Our senses translate physical energy into something the brain can use

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2
Q

How does sensation differ from perception

A

sensation happens in the beginning stages; perception happens in latter interpretation stages when sensation is translated into knowledge of reality

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3
Q

How many stages of conversion are there

A

4

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4
Q

What happens in stage 1 of conversion

A

Accessory structures modify physical stimulus

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5
Q

What happens in stage 2 of conversion

A

Transduction physical energy is picked up by receptors and

converted into neural energy

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6
Q

What happens in stage 3 of conversion

A

Sensory nerves send transduced neural energy to the brain. First to the thalamus (relay station) then onto different parts of
the cortex

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7
Q

What happens in stage 4 of conversion

A

Sensation is produced once message reaches brain

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8
Q

Give examples of sensations

A

brightness , loudness

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9
Q

Give 2 examples of accessory structures

A

lens of the eye; outer ear

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10
Q

Why are receptors good at transduction

A

Receptors respond best to changes in energy levels,

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11
Q

What happens if receptors don’t respond to changes in energy levels

A

adaptation

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12
Q

what is psychometrics

A

Measuring the Senses and Thresholds

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13
Q

What is noise

A

random excitation or inhibition of neurons that either

increases or decreases the sensed intensity of a physical stimulus

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14
Q

What are 3 implications of noise

A

repeated presentations of the same physical level of
intensity do not always produce the same internal sensation; if a physical signal is doubled, that does
not always produce a doubling of sensation; absolute threshold

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15
Q

What is absolute threshold

A

lowest level of intensity at which person detects stimulus, defined as the physical intensity at which person can detect the stimulus 50% of the time

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16
Q

Define Weber’s law

A

difference threshold increases in proportion to the standard; produces a fraction known as Weber’s law:

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17
Q

What is difference threshold

A

smallest amount of change in a stimulus before a change is detected

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18
Q

Give the equation for Weber’s law

A

change in intensity of stimulus/intensity of standard = C

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19
Q

what is the pitch of sound waves measured in

A

hertz (Hz)

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20
Q

What does the frequency of sound waves show

A

pitch

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21
Q

What is a Weber Fraction

A

when difference threshold increases in proportion to the standard; produces a fraction

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22
Q

What is the amplitude of a sound wave

A

volume

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23
Q

what is the volume of sound measured in

A

decibels (dB)

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24
Q

What is the timbre of a sound wave

A

the complexity or nature of the sound

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25
What are the 3 theories of hearing pitch
Place theory, frequency theory, frequency and volley theory
26
What is place theory
different places on the basilar membrane | vibrate more depending on pitch.
27
What is frequency theory
Basilar membrane is like a guitar string. The higher the | frequency of the sound, the faster it vibrates. It is the rate that the hair cells are stimulated that matters
28
what is frequency and volley theory
There is alternation in the firing of hair cells (volleying). Groups of hair cells fire in alternation, sending a higher frequency of signal to the brain.
29
Where in the ear does vibration occur on in place theory
basilar membrane
30
where on the basilar membrane vibrates more at low and high frequencies, respectively?
``` low= apex high= base (near oval window) ```
31
What does research support show about the place theory
artificially stimulating particular areas of the membrane, produces sensations of hearing at different pitches.
32
Give a problem for place theory
Below 1000 Hz, no specific place on the membrane vibrates more than any other. However, can distinguish between tones that are below that frequency.
33
Give a problem for frequency theory
Above 1000 Hz, cell cannot fire any faster (refractory period). However, we can distinguish between tones that are above that frequency
34
Give a problem for frequency and volley theory
Very high frequencies (e.g., 10,000 Hz) would need very | complex teamwork
35
What is the physical energy of vision
light
36
What is light measured in
nanometers
37
What is the electromagnetic spectrum
the entire range of wavelengths
38
What is visible light
part of EMG spectrum that eyes can detect as light
39
What range of light can we see
between UV and infrared; 400nm-780nm
40
What are in the retina of the eye
photoreceptors
41
what are in photoreceptors
substance called photopigment
42
what happens when light is projected onto photoreceptors
photopigment contained within it breaks down, initiating transmission of info to brain
43
what happens to the photopigment when it breaks down
becomes 'bleached' or visibly lighter
44
what are the 2 types of photoreceptor
cones and rods
45
what is the photopigment of rods
rhodopsin
46
what is the photopigment of cones
iodopsin
47
what are cones used for in vision and what is special about them
vision in bright light; colour information; fine details. Allows for colour vision. each sensitive to different wavelengths of light
48
what are rods used for in vision
vision in dim light; no colour information; few are | located on the fovea
49
how many types of iodopsin are there
3
50
how many types of cone are there and why
3 because of the 3 types of iodopsin
51
what is the trichromatic theory
retina has three types of receptor cells or cones, which react to light of three different wavelengths - red, green and blue. These cells are responsible for the perception of colours.
52
What is the trichromatic theory also known as
Young/Helmholtz theory
53
What is additive colour mixing
commonly used additive primary colours are red, green and blue, and if you overlap all three in effectively equal mixture, you get white light
54
what sensation do cones sensitive to short wavelengths of light produce
blue
55
what sensation do cones sensitive to medium wavelengths of light produce
green
56
what sensation do cones sensitive to long wavelengths of light produce
red
57
what will colour mixtures cause
more than one type of iodopsin to be | bleached.
58
what will a combination of iodopsin breakdown produce
a sensation of other colours on the spectrum
59
Give 2 examples of support for the trichromatic colour theory and why
Dichromatic colour-blindness - Need both red and green iodopsin to distinguish red from green in the world; dichromats can't make this distinction Monochromatic colour-blindness - need more than one type of iodopsin to see colour variation.
60
what is dichromatic colour blindness
only have two types of iodopsin: either blue and green or blue and red.
61
what is monochromatic colour blindness
only have one type of iodopsin. They see only shades of monochrome -
62
what are problems for the trichromatic theory
Dichromats can see yellow- the sensation when both red and green iodopsin is bleached. How can both be bleached if dichromats don't have either green/red iodopsin?
63
how are cone photoreceptors organised
opponent pairs
64
how is sensation created from photoreceptors
Information from rods and cones is conveyed to ganglion cells which send info up the optic nerve to the brain. The place where optic nerve leaves the eye is known as the optic disk All information from the eye meets at the optic chiasm which reroutes it to the thalamus, and then to the visual cortex Information from left visual field goes to right cerebral hemisphere; information from right visual field to the left cerebral hemisphere
65
how do the rods and cones convey information to the ganglion cells
via bipolar cells
66
What are ganglion cells important for
feature analysis
67
What does the optic disk create
a blind spot
68
Where is the visual cortex
the occipital lobe
69
what is touch
the tactile sense
70
what are the 3 receptors involved with touch
temperature; pressure; pain
71
what do pain and temperature have in common
they're relative
72
What does it mean for temperature to be 'relative'
At 32 degrees Celsius (physiological zero) neither warmth nor cold is felt. Above that temperature, we feel warmth, below that temperature, we feel cold. However, if skin temperature is raised or lowered, what is sensed as hot or cold changes
73
What does it mean for pressure to be 'relative'
Changes in pressure are felt; large adaptation; | don't feel our wristwatch pressing on our skin except for only a short while.
74
How is pain produced and reduced
pain pathways have neurotransmitters Substance P produces pain; endorphins decrease it. stimulating parts of brain with electrodes can release endorphins to reduce pain.
75
how has classical conditioning affected pain
endorphins are released in anticipation of pain
76
How may acupuncture work
by stimulating endorphins.
77
what is smell
olfactory sense
78
what are pheromones
chemicals secreted in the body producing a | physiological response
79
Give 2 pieces of evidence of pheromones potentially working in humans
Women are asked to dance more often if ovulating Some evidence that women on the same dormitory floor “sync up” menstrual cycles (menstrual synchrony)
80
What does olfaction have
High Adaptation
81
what does the ability to detect odour drop to over time
30%
82
What is the link between 8% of people who lose their sense of smell
lose interest in sex
83
What sense is olfaction linked to and give an example
Olfaction tightly linked to taste e.g. the inability to smell during a bad cold reduces taste sensation
84
What are the main sensors of taste
taste buds
85
what is umami
the taste of glutamate
86
What is taste sensation said to operate similarly to and why
the colour sensation of trichromatic colour theory because there are different output ratios froma . few different receptor cell types that produce multiple sensations . colour has 3 receptor types; taste has 4 or 5
87
where are taste buds located
on surface of tongue; in trenches between papillae
88
What do other factors do to gustation
add to flavour of food

PSYC1016 (9 decks)

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