Unit 4: Part 1

Question 1

Sensation

Answer 1

The process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment

Question 2

Sensory receptors

Answer 2

Sensory nerve endings that respond to stimuli

Question 3

Perception

Answer 3

The process of
organizing and interpreting
sensory information, enabling us
to recognize meaningful objects and events.

Question 4

Bottom-up processing

Answer 4

Analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brains integration of sensory information

Question 5

Top-down processing

Answer 5

Information processing guided by higher level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on expectations and experiences

Question 6

Selective attention

Answer 6

Our tendency to focus on just a particular stimulus among the many being received

Question 7

Inattentional blindness

Answer 7

Failing to see visible objects when our attention or focus is directed else where

Question 8

Change blindness

Answer 8

Failing to notice changes in the visual environment

Question 9

Transduction

Answer 9

Conversion of one form of energy such as senses into another form like neural impulses that our brain can interpret

Question 10

Psychophysics

Answer 10

The study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli, such as their intensity, and our psychological experience of them

Question 11

Absolute threshold

Answer 11

The minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time

Question 12

Signal detection theory

Answer 12

A theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus amid background stimulation

Question 13

Subliminal

Answer 13

Below ones absolute threshold for conscious awareness

Question 14

Difference threshold

Answer 14

The minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time (Jnd)

Question 15

Priming

Answer 15

Activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing ones perception, memory, or response

Question 16

Weber’s law

Answer 16

To be able the tell the difference between degrees of stimulation, two stimuli must different by a constant minimum percentage

Question 17

Sensory adaptation

Answer 17

Diminished sensitivity to stimuli as a consequence of constant stimulation

Question 18

Perceptual set

Answer 18

A mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another

Question 19

Extrasensory perception

Answer 19

The controversial claim that awareness can occur apart from sensory input; that includes telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition

Question 20

Parapsychology

Answer 20

The study of paranormal phenomena includes ESP and psychokinesis (the ability of the mind to move objects)

Question 21

Wavelength

Answer 21

The distance from the peak of light or sound wave to the peak of the next

Question 22

Hue

Answer 22

The dimension of color determined by wavelength of light

Question 23

Intensity

Answer 23

Amount of energy in a light or sound wave, which influences what we perceive as brightness or loudness

Question 24

Cornea

Answer 24

The eyes clear, protective outer layer covering the pupil and iris

Question 25

Pupil

Answer 25

Small adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light passes

Question 26

Lens

Answer 26

The transparent structure behind pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina

Question 27

Retina

Answer 27

The light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of the neurons that begin the processing of visual information

Question 28

Accommodation

Answer 28

The process by which the eye’s lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina

Question 29

Rods

Answer 29

Retinal photo receptors that detect black, white, and gray and are sensitive to movement

Question 30

Cones

Answer 30

Retinal photo receptors that are concentrated near the center of the retina and function in daylight or well-lit conditions

Question 31

Optic nerve

Answer 31

Comprised of scans of the ganglion cells, it leaves through the back of the eye and carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain

Question 32

Blind spot

Answer 32

The point at which the optic nerve leave the eye, creating a “blind”spot because no receptor cells (rods or cones) are located there

Question 33

Fovea

Answer 33

Central focus point in retina, around which the eye’s cones cluster

Question 34

Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory

Answer 34

The theory that the retina contains three different types of color receptors (cones) - one most sensitive to red, one to green, one to blue - which when stimulated in combination can produce the perception of any color

Question 35

Opponent-process theory

Answer 35

Theory that cone photo receptors are paired together (red-green, blue-yellow, white-black) to enable color vision

Question 36

Feature detectors

Answer 36

Nerve cells located in visual cortex of the occipital lobe that respond to a scene’s edges, lines, angles, and movements

Question 37

Parallel processing

Answer 37

Thinking about many aspects of a problem simultaneously

Question 38

Iris

Answer 38

A ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening by expanding and contracting over the pupil