Sensation & Perception

Question 1

Sensation

Answer 1

The process by our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment (PNS)

Question 2

Perception

Answer 2

Process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful events (CNS)

Question 3

Sensory adaptation

Answer 3

Sensitivity to prolonged stimulation tends to decline over time as an organism adapts to current (unchanging) conditions [stop noticing]

Question 4

Habituation

Answer 4

Decrease in response to a stimulus after repeated presentation [stop reacting]

Question 5

Psychophysics

Answer 5

Methods that ensure the strength of a stimulus and the observer’s sensitivity to the stimulus

Question 6

Sensitivity

Answer 6

How responsive to faint stimuli

Question 7

Acuity

Answer 7

How well we can distinguish two very similar stimuli

Question 8

Absolute threshold

Answer 8

Minimum stimulus energy needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time

Question 9

Just noticeable difference (JND)

Answer 9

Minimal change in a stimulus that can just barely be detected

Question 10

Weber’s law

Answer 10

Magnitude needed to detect physical change in a stimulus is proportional to the absolute magnitude of that stimulus

Question 11

Signal detection theory

Answer 11

Psychological theory predicting how and when we detect a faint stimulus (signal) amid background stimulation (noise)

Question 12

Perceptual set

Answer 12

Readiness to perceive a stimulus in a particular way

Question 13

Myopia (nearsightedness)

Answer 13

Faraway objects are focused in front of retina

Question 14

Hyperopia (farsightedness)

Answer 14

Nearby objects are focused beyond retina

Question 15

Cones

Answer 15

Center of retina, cells sensitive to fine detail and color

Question 16

Rods

Answer 16

Periphery of retina, cells sensitive to low light and black-and-white

Question 17

Blindspot

Answer 17

Location in the visual field that produces no sensation on the retina

Question 18

Trichromatic theory

Answer 18

Thomas Young & Hermann von Helmholtz - Color perception is produced by red, green, and blue color receptors

Question 19

Perceptual constancy

Answer 19

Even as aspects of sensory signals change, perception remains constant (door opening)

Question 20

Perceptual contrast

Answer 20

Although two things may be similar we perceive them as different (blue/black dress vs white/gold dress)

Question 21

Gestalt perceptual grouping rules

Answer 21

Simplicity, closure, continuity, similarity, proximity, common fate

Question 22

Monocular depth cues

Answer 22

Linear perspective, texture gradient, interposition, relative height

Question 23

Binocular depth cues

Answer 23

Retinal disparity (retinas receive different images) & convergence (Cue caused by the way our eye muscles turn our eyes inward)

Question 24

Outer ear

Answer 24

Pinna, auditory canal

Question 25

Middle ear

Answer 25

ossicles, eardrum, oval window

Question 26

Inner ear

Answer 26

Cochlea, auditory nerve, hair cells, basilar membrane

Question 27

Place theory

Answer 27

Pitch we perceive depends on which parts of cochlea are stimulated

Question 28

Frequency theory

Answer 28

Perception of pitch depends on frequency of vibration of cochlea

Question 29

Sensorineural hearing loss

Answer 29

Damage to cochlea or hair cells

Question 30

Conduction hearing loss

Answer 30

Damage to outer or middle ear

Question 31

Vestibular sense

Answer 31

Awareness of body balance and movement (sense of equilibrium) Thanks to semicircular canals and vestibular sacs

Question 32

Kinesthesis

Answer 32

Sense that provides info through receptors in muscles, tendons, joints

Question 33

Haptic perception

Answer 33

Active exploration of environment by touching and grasping objects

Question 34

Tactile receptive field

Answer 34

Small patch of skin that relates information about pain, pressure, warmth, and cold

Question 35

Smell (olfaction)

Answer 35

Includes nose, mouth, upper part of throat

Question 36

Nociceptors

Answer 36

Sensory receptor for painful stimuli (C fibers, slow/small, A fibers, fast/large)