Sensation & Perception

Question 1

Sensation

Answer 1

Simple simulation of a sense organ

Question 2

Perception

Answer 2

Organize/identification/interpretation of the senses

Question 3

Transduction

Answer 3

Convertion of physical signals (light/sound/touch,etc.) from the environment into an internal neural message

Question 4

Absolute Threshold

Answer 4

Minimal intensity needed to just barely detect a stimulus (usually ~50%). Increasing intensity, increase times stimulus is detected

Question 5

JND

Answer 5

“just noticeable difference” minimal CHANGE that is barely detected after Adaptation established

Question 6

Sensory Adaptation

Answer 6

sensitivity to prolonged stimulation tends to decline over time. Change must occur for the stimulus to elicit a noticeable response.

Question 7

Electromagnetic Spectrum

Answer 7

Shorter wavelengths: more blue

Question 8

Properties of Waves

Answer 8

Length: determines hue/what colour
Intensity/Amplitude: Determines brightness
Frequency: Purity

Question 9

Light pathway in Eye

Answer 9

Cornea -> Pupil -> Lens -> Retina

Question 10

Retina

Answer 10

Light sensitive tissue lining back of the eyes

Question 11

Accomodation

Answer 11

Eye maintains a clear image on the retina. Lens can bulge or contract to maintain this process.
Far away: Lens spread
Close: Lens bulge

Question 12

Pupil

Answer 12

Controlled by iris (which is contracted by cilliary muscles)

Question 13

Image Detection

Answer 13

Images flipped upside-down and placed on Fovea (comprised of tons of cones)

Question 14

Blind Spot

Answer 14

Optic Nerve, no photoreceptor cells there so you don’t get an image if light falls on it

Question 15

Light Passage

Answer 15

Light hits retina first (rods/cones), bipolar cells pass the stimulus to the Retinal Ganglion Cells (last place light message hits, most inner part of the retina)

Question 16

Perceiving Colour

Answer 16

Cones are sensitive to different wavelengths (different colours)

Question 17

Visual Streaming/Pathways

Answer 17

Occipital Lobe is where the visual information reaches first. Ventral allows us to identify WHAT we see.
Dorsal allows us to see WHERE something is/where it’s moving.

Question 18

Visual-form Agnosia

Answer 18

Inability to recognize objects by sight. Injuries allow us to see how different parts of the brain are involved with different aspects of vision

Question 19

Binding Problem

Answer 19

How features are linked together by the brain, we see unified objects rather than singular parts

Question 20

Parallel Processing

Answer 20

lots of brain processes occur simultaneously

Question 21

Illusory Conjunction

Answer 21

Perceptual mistake. Combine two images instead of seeing two distinctly separate things. Switch colours of two objects.
Reason why Witness Testimonies aren’t the most accurate.

Question 22

Binding Process

Answer 22

Utilizes both the ventral and dorsal streams

Question 23

Perceiving Depth

Answer 23

Monocular Depth cues: aspects of a scene that yield information about depth when viewed with only one eye
Binocular disparity: Difference in the retinal images of the two eyes that provides information about depth.

Ex: Ames Room

Question 24

Sensing Motion

Answer 24

Space and Time is how movement is also encoded

Question 25

Hearing

Answer 25

Sound waves are how we hear. Frequency: pitch (high/low) Amplitude: loudness (sound intensity) Timbre/complexity: user's experience of sound quality

Question 26

Ear Structure

Answer 26

Outer Ear: Collects sound waves Middle Ear: Transmits vibrations (conductive) Inner Ear: Transductive into neural impulses

Question 27

Transduction in Ear

Answer 27

Cochlea is fluid-filled. Basilar membrane is filled with hair cells. Thicker part of membrane is deeper inside cochlea

Question 28

Auditory Cortex

Answer 28

Spatial (back/caudal) locates source of sound | Nonspatial (ventral/lower) determines what sound is

Question 29

Perceiving Pitch

Answer 29

Lower frequencies are at the tip/apex of the membrane. | Higher frequencies are at the base of the membrane.

Question 30

Hearing Loss

Answer 30

Conductive: physical damage to eardrum or ossicles. | Sensorineural/Transductive: damage to the cochlea, hair cells, or auditory nerve.

Question 31

Haptic Perception

Answer 31

``` 4 types of receptors Pain Pressure Texture Pattern/Vibration Also temperature changes (thermoreceptors) ```

Question 32

Sensing Pain

Answer 32

A-delta fibres: sense quick, sharp pains. | C fibres: Long, throbbing, dull pain