Sensations Flashcards
(32 cards)
Sensation
Process by which our sensory receptors respond to light, sound, odor, texture and taste (gathering info from the environment)
Prosopagnosia
a neurological condition characterized by the inability to recognize the faces of familiar people.
Absolute Threshold
Minimal amounts of energy that can produce a sensation (how loud for us to hear them)
Difference Threshold
Minimal amount of intensity required between two different sources of energy so that they are perceived differently (EX: You change the temp.a at home from 73F to 74F and all of a sudden someone is too hot.
Sensory Adaptation
Our diminishing sensitivity to an unchanged stimulus. EX: You haven’t showered in 7 days, you can’t smell it.
Environmental stimuli of sight
Light waves in the form of electromagnetic energy (visible light)
Rods (cells)
Requires low light, black and white vision, blur
Cones (cells)
Requires bright light, color vision (RGB), sharp and acute image
Accomodation
lens changing shape to focus on an object
Convergence
A disconjugate movement in which both eyes rotate inward so that the lines of sight intersect in front of the eyes.
Pupils
Regulates light flow to the retina. Constricts when light is near.
Trichromatic theory
Human eyes only perceive three colors of light: red, blue, and green (color sensors). The wavelengths of these three colors can be combined to create every color on the visible light spectrum. Explains color blindness.
Opponent Process theory
Cones are linked together in opposing pairs, like red-green, blue-yellow, and black-white, and only one cone in each pair can signal the brain at a time. Explains color blindness.
Color Constancy
Our ability to perceive consistent color in objects, even though the lighting and wavelengths shift.
Chemical Senses
Function is to monitor chemical content of the environment. Olfaction is smell (airborne), gustation is taste (mouth)
Roles of chemical Senses in nature
Finding food sources, judging nutritional value and safety of foods, avoiding predators and hazardous environment, and social communication/mating (pheromones).
Environmental stimuli of smell
Chemicals from the environment, gas from substances.
Orthonasal Olfaction
Perception of odor (smell) that comes from sniffing through nose (nasal cavity).
Retronasal Olfaction
Perception of odor (smell) that comes when eating and drinking from the oral cavity.
Olfactory Nerve
Has sensor cells that pick up the smell of airborne odors in the nasal cavity. Connects to the olfactory bulb, which extends to the olfactory track, and finally the frontal lobe of the brain.
Where are olfactory nerves located?
Extend into the nasal cavity and pass through the cribriform plate.
What does the olfactory nerve connect to?
Hippocampus, one of the most important brain structures for memory. The connections between the olfactory system and the regions responsible for emotion and memory tie these experiences together.
Environmental stimuli of taste
Chemicals
Pheromones are associated with
Vomeronasal system. Role is sexual attraction (perfume industries).
