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Chapter 4 Psych
to study for midterm
44
Psychology
Undergraduate 2
11/10/2015

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Term
sensation
Definition
the process of detecting external events by sense organs and turning those events into neutral signals
Term
perception
Definition
involves attending to, organizing, and interpreting stimuli that we sense
Term
transduction
Definition
the process in which physical or chemical stimulation is converted into a nerve impulse that is relayed to the brain
Term
sensory adaptation
Definition
the reduction of activity in sensory receptors with repeated exposure to a stimulus
Term
psychophysics
Definition
the field of study that explores how physical energy such as light and sound and their intensity relate to psychological experience
Term
absolute threshold
Definition
the minimum amount of energy or quantity of a stimulus required for it to be reliably detected at least 50% of the time it is presented
Term
difference threshold
Definition
the smallest detectable difference between stimuli
Term
signal detection theory
Definition
whether a stimulus is percieved depends on both sensory experience and judgement made by the subject
Term
top-down processing
Definition
occurs when prior knowledge and expectations guide what is percieved
Term
bottom-up processing
Definition
constructing a whole stimulus or concept from bits of raw sensory information
Term
inattentional blindness
Definition
a failure to notice clearly visible events or objects because attention is directed elsewhere
Term
sclera
Definition
the white, outer surface of the eye
Term
cornea
Definition
clear layer that covers the front portion of the eye and also contributes to the eye's ability to focus
Term
pupil
Definition
regulates the amount of light that enters by changing its size; it dialates to allow more light to enter and constricts to allow less light into the eye
Term
iris
Definition
actually a round muscle that adjusts the size of the pupil; it also gives the eyes their characteristic color
Term
lens
Definition
a clear structure that focuses light onto the back of the eye
Term
retina
Definition
lines the inner surface of the eye and consists of specialized receptors that absorb light and send signals related to the properties of light to the brain
Term
cones
Definition
photoreceptors that are sensitivee to the different wavelengths of light that we percieve as color
Term
fovea
Definition
the central region of the retina that contains the highest concentration of cones
Term
rods
Definition
photoreceptors that occupy peripheral regions of the retina; they are highly sensitive under low light levels
Term
dark adaptation
Definition
the process by which the rods and cones become increasingly sensitive to light under low levels of illumination
Term
optic nerve
Definition
a cluster of neurons that gather sensory information, exit at the back of the eye, and connect with the brain
Term
perpetual constancy
Definition
the ability to percieve objects as having constant shape, size, and color despite changes in perspective
Term
binocular depth cues
Definition
distance cues that are based on the differing perspectives of both eyes
Term
convergence
Definition
type of binocular depth cue; occurs when the eye muslces contract so that both eyes focus on a single object
Term

retinal disparity

(binocular disparity)

Definition
the difference in relative position of an object as seen by both eyes, which provides information to the brain about depth
Term
monocular cues
Definition
depth cues that we can percieve with only one eye
Term

trichromatic theory

(Young-Helmholtz theory)

Definition
maintains that color vision is determined by three different cone types that are sensitive to short, medium, and long wavelengths of light
Term
opponent-process theory
Definition
states that we percieve color in terms of opposite ends of the spectrum: red to green, yellow to blue, and white to black
Term
pitch
Definition
the perpetual experience of sound wave frequencies
Term
cochlea
Definition
a fluid-filled membrane that is coiled in a snail-like shape and contains the structures that convert sound into neural impulses
Term
sound localization
Definition
the process of identifying where sound comes from
Term
place theory of hearing
Definition
how we percieve pitch is based on the location or place along the basilar membrane that sound stimulates
Term
frequency theory
Definition
the perception of pitch is related to the frequency at which the basilar membrane vibrates
Term
primary auditory cortex
Definition
a major perceptual center of the brain involved in percieving what we hear
Term
conduction hearing loss
Definition
results when any of the physical structures that conduct sound waves to the cochlea are damaged
Term
sensorineural hearing loss
Definition
results from damage to the cohlear hair cells and the neurons composing the auditory nerve
Term
haptics
Definition
the active, exploratory aspect of touch sensation and perception
Term
kinesthesis
Definition
the sense of bodily motion and position
Term
nociception
Definition
the activity of nerve pathways that respond to uncomfortable stimulation
Term
gate-control theory
Definition
explains our experience of pain as an interaction between nerves that transmit pain messages and those that inhibit these messages
Term
gustatory system
Definition
functions in the sensation and perception of taste
Term
olfactory system
Definition
involved in smell-the detection of airborne particles with specialized receptors located in the nose
Term
olfactory epithelium
Definition
a thin layer of cells that are lined by sensory receptors called cilia
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