Term
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Definition
- is the detection of the elementary properties of a stimulus.
Psychologist: see sensation as the process by which a stimulated receptor (sensory neuron) creates a pattern of neural impulses that represent conditions inside or outside the body.
- is the detection of more complex properties of a stimulus that includes its location and nature and involves learning.
Psychologist: see perception as a process that makes sensory patterns meaningful and more elaborate that draws heavily on memory, motivation, emotion, and other psychological processes. Perception creates an interpretation of the sensation. Chapter 7 will talk more on this. |
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Term
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Definition
Transduction – is the conversion or transformation of one form of energy in another especially the conversion of stimulus information into sensory nerve impulses via receptor cells.
Receptor cells – specializes neurons that are activated by stimulation that transduce or convert it into a nerve impulse for interpretation. i.e.: rods & cones, hair cells, nerve endings, taste buds, etc. |
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Term
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Definition
Sensory coding – refers to how were able to interpret or distinguish between various stimuli that our sensory systems transmit to the brain.
Anatomical Coding – refers to the NS representing where the stimuli is being detected.
Temporal Coding – refers to the NS representing the intensity of a stimuli. |
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Term
| SENSORY PROCESSING SIGNAL AND DETECTION THEORY |
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Definition
Threshold – is a point at which a stimulus, or a change in the value of a stimulus, can be detected.
Absolute Threshold – the minimum value of a stimulus that can be detected.
(JND) Just Noticeable Difference – is the smallest amount by which a stimulus can be changed and the difference be detected half the time. AKA – Difference Threshold |
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| SENSORY PROCESSING SIGNAL AND DETECTION THEORY CONT. |
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Definition
(SDT) - explains perceptual judgment as a combination of sensation and decision making processes it adds observer characteristics to classical psychophysics.
Weber’s Law – refers to the size of the JND is proportional to he intensity of the stimulus; the JND is large when the stimulus intensity is high and small when the stimulus intensity is low. |
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Term
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Definition
Visual spectrum – is the tiny part of the electromagnetic spectrum in which our eyes are sensitive.
Wavelength – is the distance between the adjacent waves of radiant energy. What is visible to humans is approximately 400 nanometers. |
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Term
| ADAPTATION TO LIGHT AND DARK |
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Definition
When you enter a dark room after being in a brightly lit room or in sunlight, it takes some time to adjust your eyes to the dark.
Dark adaptation – process of being able to distinguish dimly illuminated objects after going from a bright region into a dark one. |
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| HUE, BRIGHTNESS& SATURATION |
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Definition
Hue: related to wavelength
Brightness: related to intensity of light
Saturation: related to purity |
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Term
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Definition
Protanopia: red cones filled with green photopigment
Deuteranopia: green cones filled with red photopigment
Tritanopia: lack of blue cones |
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| SOUND AND HOW ITS MEASURED |
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Definition
Sound – consists of the changes of rhythmical pressure in the air as “objects” vibrate and cause the air to move.
Measured in Hertz (Hz) – frequency of vibration; cycles per second. The “rhythmic” cycle is made up of the Frequency and Amplitude.
The Ear and Its Functions: &
Detection and Localizing Sounds in the Environment: |
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Term
| PITCH VS LOUDNESS VS TIMBRE |
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Definition
Pitch and Loudness – highness or lowness of a sound: We generally can hear frequencies of more than 20,000 Hz.
Timbre – refers to the “quality of sound” that distinguishes it from other sounds.
Perception of environmental sounds
Locating the source of a sound |
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Term
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Definition
Gustation:
Taste Receptors and the Sensory Pathway
The Five Qualities of Taste:
1.Bitterness
2.Sourness
3.Sweetness
4.Saltiness
5.Umami |
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Term
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Definition
Anatomy of the Olfactory System
The Dimensions of Odor:
-Humans can recognize up to 10,000 different odors.
-Not yet known exactly which molecules stimulate which receptors. |
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Term
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Definition
The Skin Senses:
Touch and pressure
Temperature
Pain
The Internal Senses:
The Vestibular Senses: |
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Term
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Definition
| There are sensory receptors located in our internal organs, bones and joints, and muscles that convey painful, neutral, and in some cases pleasurable sensory information |
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Term
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Definition
Sense of balance:
Vestibular apparatus – contributes to balance and head movement.
Semicircular canal – responds to
rotational movement of head.
Vestibular sac – detects change
in the tilt of the head. |
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