Sensation/Perception, Attention, Cognition, and Language Flashcards
(118 cards)
1
Q
sensation
A
- detections and encoding of physical energy from the environment
2
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perception
A
- the selection, organization, and interpretation of our sensations
3
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psychophysics
A
- the study of how physical stimuli are translated in the psychological experience
4
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stimulus
A
- any detectable change in the environment
5
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absolute threshold
A
- lowest level of a stimulus we can detect 50% of the time
6
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difference threshold
A
- minimum difference between two stimuli we can detect 50% of the time
- also known as just noticeable difference
7
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Weber’s law
A
- two stimuli must differ by a constant proportion which varies by the type of stimulus, but remains constant within a given stimulus
8
Q
signal detection theory
A
- proposes a method for quantifying a person’s ability to detect a given stimulus (the signal) amidst other, non-important stimuli (noise)
9
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hit
A
- stimulus present and response present
10
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type II error
A
- stimulus present and response absent
- false negative
- miss
11
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type I error
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- stimulus absent and response present
- false positive
- false alarm
12
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correct rejection
A
- stimulus absent and response absent
13
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detecting the stimulus requires
A
- acquisition of information
- application of criteria
14
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external noise
A
- other stimuli present that can affect our detection
- outside of body
15
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internal noise
A
- psychological distractions
- mood, attitude, cognition
- inside of body
16
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receiver operating characteristic curve
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- a graphical plot that demonstrates the hit rate versus false alarm rate to graphically determine a receiver’s accuracy
- accuracy is area under the curve
17
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modality
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- the type of stimulus that is being detected
- based on type of receptor firing
18
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location
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- communicated by receptive field of stimulus
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intensity
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- how strong the stimulus is
- the rate of firing of action potentials
20
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duration
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- how long the stimulus is present
21
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tonic receptors
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- generate action potentials as long as the stimulus is present
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phasic receptors
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- fire only when the stimulus begins
- communicate changes in stimuli
23
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sensory adaptation
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- a decrease in the frequency of action potentials when the intensity of the stimulus remains constant
24
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feature detection theory
A
- certain parts of the brain are activated for specific visual stimuli
- visual perception results from the interaction of numerous specialized neural systems, each of which performs a specific, simple task
25
parallel processing
- occurs so that many aspects of a visual stimulus are processed simultaneously rather than in a step-wise fashion (serial processing)
26
kinesthesis
- allows us to sense the position of our limbs in space as well as detect body movements
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muscle spindle
- detects muscle stretch
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golgi tendon organs
- detect tension in tendons
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joint capsule receptors
- detect pressure, tension, and movement in the joints
30
bottom-up processing
- starts with information from our sensory receptors and builds up to a final product in our brain
- start with details and end with a final representation in our mind
- when we encounter new stimuli
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top-down processing
- start with a larger concept or idea and works down to the details
- when we encounter information we are more familiar with
32
3 processes of perception
- stimulus
- environmental stimulus
- attended stimulus
- stimulus on receptors
- electrochemical processes
- transduction
- transmission
- processing
- experience and action
- perception
- recognition
- action
33
gestalt psychology
- emphasizes our tendency to organize information into meaningful whole
- what we perceive in predictable ways
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emergence
- first identify an outline which helps us figure out the whole
- then we look at individual parts
35
figure and ground
- separate figure from all else
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multistability
- tendency of ambiguous images to pop back and fort unstably between alternate interpretations in our brains
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law of proximity
- things near each other seem to be grouped together
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law of similarity
- things that are similar tend to appear grouped together
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law of continuity
- we perceive smooth, continuous lines rather than a disjointed one
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law of common fate
- objects moving in same direction or in synchrony perceived as a group or unit
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law of connectedness
- things joined or linked or grouped as perceived as connected
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law of closure
- perceive things as complete logical entity because our brains will fill in info
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perceptual organization
- in order to transform sensory information into useful perceptions, we must organize it
- we must perceive objects as being separate from their environments and having constant form
- we must also be able to detect motion and perceive distance
44
depth perception
- the ability to see objects in three dimensions despite the fact that the images are imposed on the retina in only two dimensions
- allows us to judge distance
45
Gibson and Walk experiment
- depth perception is largely innate
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binocular cues
- cues that depend on information received from both eyes
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retinal disparity
- the brain compares the images projected onto the two retinas in order to perceive distance
- the greater the difference between the two images, the shorter the distance
48
convergence
- the extent to which the eyes turn inward when looking at an object
- the greater the angle of convergence or inward strain, the closer the object
49
monocular cues
- depth cues that depend on information that is available to either eye alone
50
relative size
- if objects are assumed to be the same size, the one that casts the smaller image on the retina appears more distant
51
interposition
- if one object blocks the view of another, we perceive it as closer
52
relative clarity
- we perceive hazy objects as being more distant than sharp, clear objects
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texture gradient
- changes from a course, distinct texture to a fine, indistinct texture indicates increasing distance
54
relative height
- we perceive objects that are higher in the visual field as farther away
55
relative motion
- as we move, stable objects appear to move as well.
| - objects that are near to us appear to move faster than objects farther away
56
linear perspective
- parallel lines appear to converge as distance increases
| - the greater the convergence, the greater the perceived distance
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light and shadow
- closer objects reflect more light than distant objects
| - the dimmer of two identical objects will seem further away
58
motion perception
- our brains assume that objects that are decreasing in size are moving farther away from us and objects that are getting large in size are approaching
59
phi phenomenon
- describes the illusion of movement that is created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in succession
60
perceptual constancy
- we perceive an object as unchanging even as the illumination, angle, and distance of the object change
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shape constancy
- familiar objects are perceived as having a constant form despite changes in the images that are projected into our retinas
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size constancy
- we perceive objects are having a constant size even as the distance of the object changes
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lightness (brightness) constancy
- we perceive objects as having a constant brightness despite changes in illumination
64
attention
- the active consciousness that allows us to focus awareness on some stimuli vs others.
65
models of attention
- filter model
- resource model
- spotlight model
- attenuation model
66
resource model
- attention is a limited resource that can become spread too thin
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spotlight model
- attention is a focal point that can shift.
68
broadbent filter model
- more information enters our sensory stores
- some of that information makes it through the selective filter into our working memory
- other information is filtered out and decays
- helps explain why we are not constantly overwhelmed by all the stimuli in our environment
69
Treisman attenuation model
- some information not attended to can still be detected
- information not attended to does not decay but it is turned down to a lower volume. information from that channel is processed, just not as consciously
70
cocktail party effect
- when you filter out other conversations, until your name (or something equally salient) is mentioned, at which point your attention shifts to this other channel
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multitasking
- divided attention
- dependent on
- task similarity
- task difficulty
- task practice
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Baddeleys Model of working attention
- an explanation of how three short term sensory stores interact with the central executive, which controls the flow of info from/to the sensory stores
- phonological loop, visuospatial sketchpad, and episodic buffer
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central executive
- responsible for the control and regulation of all cognitive processes
- coordination of slave systems
- shifting between tasks or retrieval strategies
- selective attention and inhibition
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phonological loop
- short-term phonological store, with an auditory rehearsal component
- spoken and written material
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visuospatial sketchpad
- temporary storage and manipulation of spatial and visual information
- mentally manipulating objects in our mind's eye
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episodic buffer
- integrates information across domains and links to long term memory
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schema
- a mental framework that allows us to organize our experiences/stimuli and respond to new experiences/stimuli
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sensorimotor stage
- 0-2
- child experiences world directly through senses and motor movement
- object permanence - objects exist even when they can't be seen
- stranger anxiety
79
preoperational stage
- 2-7
- child can represent things with words and images but uses intuitive, not logical, reasoning
- pretend play
- egocentrism - can't take the view of other people
80
concrete operational
- 7-11
- child thinks logically
- performs simple mental manipulations with concrete operations
- conservation - the fact that just because something has changed shape, the amount will remain the same
81
formal operations
- 12-adult
- person can reason abstractly, solve hypothetical problems, deduce consequences, etc
- abstract logic
- moral reasoning
82
assimilation
- use an existing schema to deal with a new object or situation
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accommodation
- when our existing schema does not work and needs to be changed to deal with the new situation
84
moral identity
- the degree to which being a moral person is important to a person's identity
85
preconventional
- young children and children
- punishment and obedience - rules obeyed to avoid punishment
- self-interest - rules obeyed for personal goals
86
conventional
- most adolescents and adults
- conformity and interpersonal accord - rules obeyed for approval
- authority and social order - rules obeyed to maintain social order
87
post conventional
- only 15% of adults
- social contract - impartial rules are obeyed rules that infringe on the rights of others are challenged
- universal principles - individual establishes own set of rules in accordance with personal ethical actions
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trial and error
- attempting several different potential solution and ruling out those that do not work
89
algorithm
- a step-by-step procedure that exhausts all possible options but guarantees a solution
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heuristic
- mental rule-of-thumb, shortcut, or guideline that can be applied to problem solving
91
insight
- occurs when we puzzle over a problem, then the complete solution appears to come to us all at once
- doesn't necessarily involve a clue or hint
92
confirmation bias
- we seek out evidence to support our conclusions more than we seek evidence that will refute them
- interpret neutral or ambiguous evidence as supporting our beliefs
93
fixation
- we have structured a problem in our mind in a certain way, even if that way is ineffective, and then we are unable to restructure it
- unable to see problem from a fresh perspective
94
mental set
- our tendency to approach situations in a certain way because that way has worked in the past
95
functional fixedness
- mental bias that limits our perspective for an object can be used based on how that object is traditionally used
96
availability heuristic
- we rely on immediate examples that come to mind when trying to make a decision or judgment.
- when you overestimate the likelihood of something happening because you think of examples of it happening
97
representativeness heuristic
- we estimate the likelihood of an event by comparing it to an existing prototype that already exists in our minds
98
intelligence
- the ability to learn from experience and adapt to the environment
99
social intelligence
- the ability to manage and understand people
100
emotional intelligence
- the ability to monitor and discriminate emotions in order to guide thinking and action
101
fluid intelligence
- reason quickly and abstractly
102
crystallized intelligence
- accumulated knowledge and verbal skills
103
fixed mindset
- belief that intelligence and abilities are static
104
growth mindset
- belief that intelligence and abilities can be developed through effort
105
aging improves
- semantic memory until around age 60
- crystallized intelligence
- reasoning in emotionally-charged situations
106
aging declines
- recall
- episodic memory
- processing speed
- divided attention
107
behaviorist model of language acquisition
- infants are trained to learn language through operant conditioning
- reinforcement due to making sounds
- BF skinner
108
Noam Chomsky
- humans are born with an innate ability to learn language (universal grammar)
- all normally-developing humans learn when exposed during the critical period
- nativist perspective
109
Sapir-Whorf hypothesis
- language strongly influences thought
| - the words we use and how we use them defined and limit our cognitive abilities
110
empiricist view of language
- language is just another example of conditioned behavior
111
rationalist view of language
- language is a human ability prewired into the brain
112
materialist view of language
- all discussion of ideas and linguistic expression are real physical changes in the brain and actions in the body
113
linguistic relativity hypothesis
- language and thought overlap
- cognition and perception are determined by the language one speaks
- cultures have more words than snow than we do because it's more important to them
114
broca's area
- inferior frontal gyrus of dominant hemisphere
- associated with language production
- motor neurons in control of speech
- close to motor cortex
115
broca's aphasia
- know what they want to say but are unable to say it or write it fluently
- cannot communicate in full sentences
- nonfluent aphasia with intact comprehension
- language includes disjointed words
116
wernicke's area
- posterior superior gyrus
- temporal, parietal, and occipital lobes
- associated with understanding written and spoken language
117
wernicke's aphasia
- fluent aphasia with impaired comprehension
- perfect fluidity but sentences make no sense
- unable to understand language.
118
temporal lobe contains what important structure
- hippocampus
