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AP Psychology > Unit 4: Sensation and Perception > Flashcards

Unit 4: Sensation and Perception Flashcards

(86 cards)

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1
Q

Gestalt

A

organized whole

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2
Q

Gestalt psychologists

A

Emphasized our tendency to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes

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3
Q

Figure-ground

A

The organization of the visual field into objects (figures) that stand out from their surroundings

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4
Q

Grouping

A

The perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups

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5
Q

Depth perception

A

The ability to see objects in three dimensions although the images that strike the retina or two dimensional; allows us to judge distance

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6
Q

Visual cliff

A

Lab device for testing depth perception in infants and young animals

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7
Q

Binocular cues

A

Depth cues, such as retinal disparity, the depend on the use of two eyes

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8
Q

Retinal disparity

A

A binocular cue for perceiving depth by comparing images from the retina is in the two eyes, the brain computes distance – the greater the disparity (difference) between the two images, the closer the object

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9
Q

Monocular cues

A

Depth cues, such as interposition and linear perspective, available to either eye alone

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10
Q

Phi phenomenon

A

And illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in quick succession

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11
Q

Perceptual constancy

A

Perceiving objects as unchanging even as illumination and retinal images change

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12
Q

Color constancy

A

Perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color, even if the changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object

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13
Q

Perceptual adaptation

A

In vision, the ability to adjust to an artificially displaced or even inverted visual field

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14
Q

Optic nerve

A

The nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain

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15
Q

Blind spot

A

The point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye creating a “blind spot” because no receptor cells are located there

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16
Q

Fovea

A

The central focal point in the retina

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17
Q

Feature detectors

A

Nerve cells in the brain that respond to the specific features of the stimuli, such as shape, angle or movement

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18
Q

Parallel processing

A

Processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brains natural mode of information processing for many functions, including vision. This contrast with the step-by-step processing of most computers and conscious problem-solving

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19
Q

Sensory adaptation

A

Diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation

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20
Q

Webers law

A

The principle that to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage

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21
Q

Difference threshold

A

Minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection

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22
Q

Priming

A

The activation, unconsciously, of certain associations thus predisposing one’s perception, memory or response

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23
Q

Subliminal

A

Below one’s absolute threshold for conscious awareness

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24
Q

Signal detection theory

A

Predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint signal amid background noise… this assumes that there is no single absolute threshold of and that the section depends partly on experience, expectation, motivation and alertness

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25
Absolute threshold
The minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimuli
26
Psychophysics
The study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli, such as their intensity and our psychological experience of them
27
Transduction
Conversion of one form of energy into another, in sensation, the transformation of stimulus and it's energy coming from the senses into neural impulses
28
Change blindness
Failing to notice changes in environment
29
Inattentional blindness
Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere
30
Selective attention
The focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus
31
Top-down processing
Information processing guided by higher level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations
32
Bottom up processing
Analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brains integration of sensory information
33
Perception
The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events
34
Sensation
The process by which are sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment
35
Cones
Retinal receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and function in daylight or in well lit conditions cones detect fine detail and give rise to color
36
Rods
Retinal receptors that detect black/white/gray, they are necessary for peripheral and twilight vision when cones don't respond
37
Wavelength
The distance from the peak of one light or soundwave to the peak of the next
38
Hue
The dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light; what we know is the color names
39
Intensity
The amount of energy in a light or soundwave, which we perceive as brightness or loudness, determined by wave amplitude
40
Pupil
The adjustable opening at center of the eye where light enters
41
Iris
A ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye and controls the size of the pupil
42
Retina
Light-sensitive inner surface of eye, containing receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin processing visual information
43
Accommodation
The process by which the eyes lens changes shape to focus near or far objects
44
Parapsychology
The study of paranormal phenomena, including ESP and psychokinesis
45
Extrasensory perception
The controversial claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input; includes telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition
46
Perceptual set
A mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not the other
47
Audition
The sense or act of hearing
48
Frequency
The number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in the given time
49
Pitch
The tones experienced highness or lowness based on frequency
50
Middle ear
Chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones that concentrate the vibrators of the eardrum on the cochlea's oval window
51
Three bones in the chamber of the ear
Hammer, anvil, stirrup
52
Cochlea
A coiled, bony, fluid filled tube in the inner ear, sound waves travel through the cochlear fluid to trigger nerve impulses
53
Inner ear
The innermost part of the ear, containing the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs
54
Sensorineural hearing loss
Hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea's receptor cells, hair cells or to the auditory nerves; also called deafness
55
Cochlear implant
A device for converting sounds into electrical signals and stimulating the auditory nerve through electrodes threaded into the cochlea
56
Conduction hearing loss
Hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts soundwaves to the cochlea
57
Place theory
Theory that links the pitch that we here with the place where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated
58
Frequency theory
The theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense pitch
59
Gate control theory
The theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological gate that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain. The gate is open by the activity of pain signals traveling up small nerve fibers and is closed by the activity in larger fibers or by information coming from the brain
60
Kinesthesia
The system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts
61
Vestibular sense
The sense of body movement and position, including sense of balance
62
Sensory interaction
The principle that one sends me influence another, as when the smell of food influences it's taste
63
Olfactory bulb
Combine smell and taste, these cells line the top of the nasal cavity
64
Embodied cognition
In psychological science, the influence of bodily sensations, gestures and other states on cognitive preferences and judgments
65
Telepathy
Mind to mind communication
66
Clairvoyance
Perceiving remote events, from a distance
67
Precognition
Seeing future events
68
Trichromatic theory
The idea that three primary colors of light: red, green, blue, are the most sensitive wavelengths to the cones
69
Opponent process theory
The idea that when you focus on a set of colors for a long period of time, the cones for those colors will become fatigued and you will see the opposite colors
70
Cornea
Located the front of the eye, bends and focuses light waves
71
Lens
Transparent structure behind the pupil, changes shape to help focus images on the retina
72
Ways to group
Proximity, continuity, enclosure
73
Relative height
Perceive objects higher in our field of vision as farther away because we assume the lower part of the figure ground illustration is closer
74
Relative size
Assuming two objects are similar in size, most people perceive the one that cast a smaller retinal image is farther away
75
Interposition
Interpose means to come between, if one object partially blocks our view of another we perceive it is closer
76
Relative motion
As we move, objects that are actually stable may appear to move
77
Linear perspective
Parallel lines appear to me in the distance. The sharper angle of convergence, the greater perceive distance
78
Light and shadow
Shading produces a sense of depth consistent with our Sumption that light comes from above
79
Volley principle
Explains how we hear pitches in the middle range
80
Eardrum
Tight membrane separating the middle ear from the outer ear
81
Oval window
The point at which vibrations enter the cochlea
82
Sweet taste
Indicates energy source
83
Salty taste
Sodium essential to psychological processes
84
Sour taste
Potentially toxic
85
Bitter taste
Potentially poisonous
86
Umami
Proteins to grow and repair tissue

AP Psychology (2 decks)

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