Unit 4 - Sensation and Perception

Question 1

The stimulation of sensory
receptors and the transmission
of sensory information to the
central nervous system. (and
motor neurons return)

Sensory receptors are located
in sensory organs such as the
eyes and ears

Stimulation of senses is
automatic

Sources of energy – light &
sound – presence of chemicals

Answer 1

Sensation

Question 2

The psychological process
through which we interpret and
organize sensory stimulation.
(Think of seeing something from a distance)

Know through experience

Answer 2

Perception

Question 3

Sensation

Answer 3

bottom-up processing (starts at the sense and works its way up)

Question 4

Perception

Answer 4

top-down processing (in brain, use prior knowledge to interpret what we see)

Question 5

the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus

Cocktail party effect

Texting while driving/talking on the phone while driving

Truck drivers 23x more likely to crash while texting

Drivers 4x more likely to crash while talking on phone (even hands-free devices)

Answer 5

Selective attention

Question 6

When you can tune out all the background noise (in a loud environment) and focus on one particular stimulus

Answer 6

Cocktail Party effect

Question 7

Is the conversion of one form of energy into another

Receive sensory stimulation, often using specialized receptor cells

Transform that stimulation into neural impulses

Deliver the neural impulse to our brain

Answer 7

Transduction

Question 8

The weakest amount of stimulus that can be sensed

ex. when doing a hearing test (raising hand if you hear a beep) when you can’t hear the beep, it is below your ____ for hearing

Answer 8

Absolute threshold

Question 9

The minimum amount of
difference that can be
detected between two
stimuli.

The smallest amount of
difference you can see in
order to distinguish between
two stimuli.

Aka just noticeable
difference (the JND)

ex. Paint Chip (the different colors on the paint swatches at home Depot when picking a color to paint your room)

Answer 9

Difference threshold

Question 10

Two stimuli must differ by constant proportion and not constant amount for a difference to be detected

The louder, brighter, smellier something is the more you need to change it to notice a difference

Example: If lifting 200 pounds an additional 5 pounds might not be notice. However if lifting nothing adding 5 pounds would be noticed

Answer 10

Weber’s Law

Question 11

The process by which we become more sensitive to weak stimuli and less sensitive to unchanging stimuli.

We can tune out noises in the environment, such as street traffic and music. After sitting in the dark movie theater we begin to see the people (weak stimuli). While lying on the
beach the sound of the waves eventually blends into the background (unchanging stimuli) and we become less aware of the sound.

Answer 11

Sensory adaptation

Question 12

If we see a syllable being made
but hear another syllable being
produced then we blend to two
inputs to make sense

Answer 12

McGurk effect

Question 13

the color we experience

Answer 13

Hue

Question 14

the amount of energy in light
waves

Determines brightness

Greater amplitude = brighter

Smaller amplitude = duller

Answer 14

Intensity

Question 15

the distance from one wave
peak to the next

Determines hue

Short wavelength = high frequency (blue)

Long wavelength = low frequency (red)

Answer 15

Wavelength

Question 16

Light passes through the ___, a small adjustable opening

Answer 16

Pupil

Question 17

Behind the pupil is a ___, focuses incoming light rays into an image on the ___, a
multilayered tissue

Answer 17

lens, retina

Question 18

both are receptor cells

___: detect black, white, and gray. Necessary for
peripheral and twilight vision

___: function in daylight and detect fine details

Answer 18

rods, cones

Question 19

Ganglion cell axons bind together and form the ____

___ carries impulses from the eye to the brain

Where the ___ leaves the eye, there are no
receptors (blind spot)

If one eye is closed the brain fills in the information automatically

Answer 19

optic nerve, blind spot

Question 20

The processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain’s natural mode of information processing for many functions, including vision. Contrasts with the step-by-step processing of most computers and of conscious problem solving.

Answer 20

Parallel processing

Question 21

This is the theory that states the retina contains three different color receptors which when stimulated in combination can produce the perception of any color.

One receptor is sensitive to red, one to green, and one to blue

Answer 21

Young-Helmholtz (three color) theory

Question 22

This theory states the opposing retinal processes (red+green; yellow+blue; white+black) enable color vision.

Ie: some cells are stimulated by green but inhibited by red.

Answer 22

Opponent process theory

Question 23

The number of complete
wavelengths that pass a
point in a given time (per
second)

Determines pitch

Long waves - low frequency

Short waves - high frequency

Answer 23

frequency

Question 24

A tone’s experienced highness or lowness; depends on frequency

Long waves - low frequency - low pitch

Short waves - high frequency - high pitch

Answer 24

Pitch

Question 25

Middle Ear: the chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones (_____) that concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochlea’s oval window.

Answer 25

hammer, anvil, and stirrup

Question 26

a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear; sound waves traveling through the cochlear fluid trigger nerve impulses

Answer 26

cochlea

Question 27

the visible portion of the outer ear, collects sound waves and channels them into the ear canal

Answer 27

Pinna/shell

Question 28

sound waves are channeled into here, where the sound is amplified.

Answer 28

Auditory canal

Question 29

a flexible, oval membrane at the end of the ear canal, Sound waves cause the ___ to vibrate.

Answer 29

Eardrum

Question 30

hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea's receptor cells or to the auditory nerves also called nerve deafness (more common)

Answer 30

Sensorineural Hearing Loss

Question 31

hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea (less common)

Answer 31

Conduction Hearing Loss

Question 32

This device converts sounds into electrical signals. It stimulates the auditory nerve through electrodes in the cochlea, which convey the information to the brain. It is the only method to restore hearing for people with nerve deafness. When given to infants, they can trigger an “awakening” in a previously unused area of the brain. However, they cannot create “normal” hearing in adults who were deaf from birth, similar to the Wild Child’s inability to learn speech after the critical period.

Answer 32

Cochlear implant

Question 33

Sense of ___ is a mix of: Pressure Warmth Cold Pain—our body’s way of telling us something is wrong

Answer 33

Touch

Question 34

we process pain through a "gate" in our spinal cord in our back, we can only have so much pain --> other inputs close the gates and reduces pain

Answer 34

Gate Control Theory

Question 35

Pain in nonexisting limbs (or feelings)

Answer 35

Phantom Limbs

Question 36

Sensed through receptor neurons on the tongue, aka taste buds: Sweet, salty, bitter, sour, umami (like savory)

Answer 36

Taste

Question 37

You have 20 million receptor cells at the top of each nasal cavity (olfactory cells) Smell and memory closely linked (a smell can trigger a memory—processed near one another in the brain)

Answer 37

Smell