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MCAT: P/S > Sensing the Environment > Flashcards

Sensing the Environment Flashcards

Content Category 6A: sensory processing, vision, hearing, perception, and other senses

1
Q

threshold

A

the minimum amount of a stimulus that renders a difference in perception

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2
Q

absolute threshold

A

the minimum of stimulus energy that is needed to activate a sensory system (i.e.: trigger an action potential). present in sensation, but not perception.

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3
Q

subliminal perception

A

perception of a stimulus below a given threshold (i.e.: a threshold of conscious perception)

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4
Q

difference threshold

A

just-noticeable difference (JND). the minimum difference in magnitude between two stimuli before one can perceive the difference between them.

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5
Q

Weber’s Law

A

there is a constant ratio between the change in stimulus magnitude needed to produce a JND and the magnitude of the original stimulus.

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6
Q

signal detection theory

A

perception of the same stimuli can differ based on both internal and external contexts. example: the volume required to respond to your name in a crowded room vs. the volume required in a quiet room

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7
Q

sensory adaptation

A

how our sensory system adapts to and focuses attention on the most relevant stimuli, usually changes in our environment.

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8
Q

psychophysics

A

the study of the relationship between the physical nature of stimuli and the sensations and perceptions they evoke.

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9
Q

distal stimuli

A

stimuli that originate outside the body

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10
Q

proximal stimuli

A

stimuli that directly interact with and affect sensory receptors

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11
Q

photoreceptors

A

respond to electromagnetic waves in the visible spectrum (sight)

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12
Q

hair cells

A

respond to movement of fluid in the inner ear structure (hearing, rotational and linear acceleration)

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13
Q

nociceptors

A

respond to painful or noxious stimuli (somatosensation)

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14
Q

thermoreceptors

A

respond to changes in temperature (thermosensation)

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15
Q

osmoreceptors

A

respond to the osmolarity of the blood (water homeostasis)

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16
Q

olfactory receptors

A

respond to volatile compounds (smell)

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17
Q

taste receptors

A

respond to dissolved compounds (taste)

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18
Q

describe how sensory pathways work.

A

different types of sensory receptors (nerve endings or sensory cells) receive stimuli and transmit data to the CNS through sensory ganglia. once transduction occurs, the electrochemical energy is sent along neural pathways to various projection areas in the brain, which further analyze the sensory input.

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19
Q

ganglia

A

collections of neuron cell bodies found outside the CNS

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20
Q

cornea

A

clear, domelike window on the front of the eye. gathers and focuses incoming light.

21
Q

iris

A

colored part of the eye. composed of two muscles: dilator pupillae (opens pupil under sympathetic stimulation) and constrictor pupillae (constricts pupil under parasympathetic stimulation)

22
Q

ciliary body

A

produces aqueous humor

23
Q

canal of Schlemm

A

drains aqueous humor

24
Q

lens

A

helps to control refraction of incoming light

25
Q

retina

A

in the back of the eye, converts incoming photons of light to electrical signals

26
Q

sclera

A

thick structural layer that covers most of the exposed portion of the eye. “white” of the eye.

27
Q

parallel processing

A

ability to simultaneously analyze and combine information regarding color, shape, and motion, and then comparing information to stored memories to determine what is being viewed

28
Q

feature detection

A

neuroscience correlate of parallel processing.

29
Q

rods

A

used for sensation of light and dark, low sensitivity to detail, permit night vision

30
Q

cones

A

used for color vision and fine details, most effective in bright light

31
Q

bipolar cells

A

connect to rods and cones to highlight gradients between adjacent rods and cones. synapse with ganglion cells.

32
Q

optic disk

A

blind spot of the eye, place where optic nerve leaves the eye. no photoreceptors.

33
Q

retinal ganglion cells

A

form the optic nerve

34
Q

retinal ganglion cells

A

form the optic nerve

35
Q

pinna/auricle

A

outer part of the ear, made of cartilage

36
Q

tympanic membrane

A

eardrum. vibrates in phase with soundwaves coming into the ear.

37
Q

ossicles

A

three smallest bones in the body, all inside the ear: malleus, incus, and stapes

38
Q

cochlea

A

spiral-shaped organ of the ear.

39
Q

gestalt principles

A

ways for the brain to fill in information when a picture is incomplete

40
Q

law of proximity

A

gestalt principle. says that elements close to one another tend to be perceived as a unit.

41
Q

law of similarity

A

gestalt principle. says that objects that are similar tend to be grouped together.

42
Q

law of good continuation

A

gestalt principle. says that elements that appear to follow the same pathway tend to be grouped together.

43
Q

subjective contours

A

gestalt principle. perceiving contours (and therefore shapes) that are not actually present in the stimulus.

44
Q

law of closure

A

gestalt principle. says that when a space is enclosed by a contour it tends to be perceived as a complete figure (some figures may be perceived to be more complete than they actually are)

45
Q

law of pragnanz

A

perceptual organization will always be as regular, simple, and symmetric as possible

46
Q

bottom-up processing

A

recognition of objects by parallel processing and feature detection. data driven. slower, but less prone to mistakes.

47
Q

top-down processing

A

recognition of an object by memories and expectations, with little attention to detail. conceptually driven. faster, but more prone to mistakes.

48
Q

perceptual organization

A

our synthesis of stimuli to make sense of the world, including integration of depth, form, motion, and constancy.

MCAT: P/S (12 decks)

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