Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM


Top Flashcards (Certified)
All Flashcards

AP Psych > Unit 3: Sensation and Perception > Flashcards

Unit 3: Sensation and Perception Flashcards

(68 cards)

Start Studying
1
Q

Sensation

A

Detect energy from environment and encode it as neural signals

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Psychophysics

A

Study relationship btwn physical energy and psychological exp.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Stimulus

A

Environmental change able to be detected by sensory receptors

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Absolute threshold

A

Smallest energy amount leading to reaction 50% of time

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Signal detection theory

A

Ability to detect stimulus based on stimulus’ intensity and your physical/pyschological state

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Difference threshold (just noticeable difference)

A

Smallest amount of change in stimulus that’ll produce a change in sensation

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Weber’s Law

A

Harder to tell difference in stimulus when it’s louder, brighter, etc.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

Subliminal Stimulation

A

Sensory info below person’s threshold for perception

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

Transduction

A

Transforms stimulus energy to electrochemical energy

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

Perception

A

Process organizing sensory input and makes it meaningful

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Bottom-up processing

A

1st: sense stimulus
2nd: perceive and process exp.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Top-down processing

A

1st: perceive and process exp. (Expectation)
2nd: sense stimulus

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Perceptual constancy

A

Ability to recognize object has not changed despite stimuli around it changed

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Visual capture

A

Tendency to allow visual images to dominate our perception
Example: at movies we think the voices come from actors not speakers

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Vision Process

A

Ray of light → cornea → pupil (where iris expand/contracts) → lens → retina (image formed)

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Depth perception

A

Ability to judge objects distances

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

Monocular Cues

A

Distance cues based on 1 eye’s images

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

Interposition Overlap (Monocular Cues)

A

Closer object cuts off view of distant object

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
19
Q

Relative Size (Monocular Cues)

A

2 same-size objects: closer one casts larger image on retina

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
20
Q

Relative Height (Monocular Cues)

A

Objects closer to horizon appear farther away

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
21
Q

Texture Gradient (Monocular Cues)

A

Closer objects have coarser, more distinct texture

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
22
Q

Linear Perspective (Monocular Cues)

A

Cue to distance when parallel lines converge in distance
Example: sidewalks

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
23
Q

Binocular cues

A

Distance cues based on 2 eye’s images

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
24
Q

Convergence (Binocular cues)

A

Eyes move in for near object and straight for further object

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
25
Retinal Display (Binocular cues)
Images from each eye differ (disparity)
26
Schemas
Concepts or frameworks organizing and interpreting info → result from exp. → example: interpretations of ufo’s, loch ness, or cloud
27
Cornea
(Front of eye) Bends incoming light rays
28
Iris
(Surrounds pupil) Muscle regulating size of pupil opening
29
Pupil
(In Iris) Small, adjustable opening that's smaller in bright light, larger in darkness
30
Lens
(Behind pupil) Changes shape (more spherical or flatter) to focus rays → image
31
Retina
(Back of eye) Light-sensitive surface containing rods and cones that transduce light energy
32
Fovea
(Small area of retina) Where cones are most concentrated
33
Optic Nerve
(Formed by ganglion cells) Neural impulses from eye → thalamus
34
Photoreceptors
Neurons that convert light energy → electrochemical neural impulses
35
Rods
(Photoreceptor) Defect black, white, and gray Also detects movement
36
Cones
(Photoreceptor) Detects color and detail in bright light conditions
37
Bipolar Cells
(retina's 2nd layer of neurons) Impulses from rods and cones → ganglion cells
38
Ganglion cells
(retina's 3rd layer of neurons) Forms optic nerve
39
Feature Detectors
Detects movements, shapes, and angles of certain stimuli
40
Hubel & Wiesel
Feature- detector theory: perceptions of stimuli constructed from neurons in brain sensitive to specific features of stimuli
41
Light Waves
Stimuli for receptor cells lining retina
42
Wavelength
Dertimines hue: ROYGBIV → short = cool (purple - 400nm ) → long = warm (red - 650nm)
43
Amplitude (light waves)
Dertimines hue's intensity → height of light wave
44
Trichromatic theory
Cones work in 3 teams (red, green, blue) → can make all colors → signal strength is how brain interprets color → light hits Retina → cones stimulated → color
45
Opponent-process theory
Visual info transferred from cones → ganglion cells (some neurons excited aka on, some off) Neurons turn off and on during process → explains after images
46
Physical Illusions
Messes with depth perception
47
Physiological Illusions
Visual system overstimulated → exciting or fatiguing photoreceptors and feature detectors
48
Cognitive Illusions
Optical illusions
49
Audition
Hearing
50
Fechner
Established every 10dB corresponds with 10 times increase in volume
51
Amplitude ( sound waves)
Dertimines sound's loudness (large amp. = large sound) → Sound wave’s height → measured in dB (decibles)
52
Frequency
# Of completed wavelengths that pass a point in a second Number of completed wavelengths that pass a point in a second
53
Pitch
A sound's lowness or highness → short wavelength= higher frequency and higher pitch → long wavelength= lower frequency and higher pitch
54
Timbre
Sound quality determined by waveform's purity
55
Outer ear (all parts)
→ Pinna → Auditory Canal → Eardrum
56
Auditory Canal (Outer Ear)
Where sound waves enter
57
Eardrum (Outer Ear)
Vibrates soundwaves
58
Middle ear (all ossicles)
All ossicles → Stirrup → Hamm er → anvil
59
The Ossicles
Eardrum cause ossicles to vibrate → vibrating (stirrup) pushes against cochlea
60
Inner ear (all parts)
→ Cochlea → Semicircular Canals → Vestibular Sacs
61
Basilar membrane
(Inside cochlea) It's hair cells are bent by stirrups vibrations and traduce mechanical energy → electrochemical energy Also, hair cells synapse auditory neurons → auditory nerve
62
Sound localization
Determine sounds location → Parallel Processing: process both ears' intensity and timing differences to determine location
63
Gustation
Chemical sense of taste → receptors on tongue, roof of mouth, and throat
64
Olfaction
Chemical sense of smell → receptors on mucous membrane and roof of nasal cavity
65
Somatosensation
Skin sensations
66
Gate-control theory
Pain experienced only if pain signals pass through gate in spinal cord → brain
67
Vestibular sense
Body's sense of equilibrium → receptors in semicircular canals and vestibular sac
68
Kinesthesis
Body sense providing info about position and movement of individual parts → receptors in muscles, tendons, joints

AP Psych (4 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions