The process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system take in stimulus energies from our environment. Sights, sounds, smells, etc.
Term
Perception
Definition
The process by which our brain organizes and interprets sensory information, transforming it into meaningful objects and events.
Term
Transduction
Definition
Changing one form of energy into another. In sensation, the transforming of stimulus energies into neural impulses our brain can interpret.
Term
Absolute Threshold
Definition
The minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time. A drop of perfume in a three-room apartment.
Term
Subliminal Threshold
Definition
Below our absolute threshold for conscious awareness. ARE YOU SMOKING YET?
Term
Retina
Definition
contains sensory receptors that process visual information and sends it to the brain
Term
Cones and Rods
Definition
In the retina, rods=light cones=color
Term
Audition
Definition
process of hearing
Term
Cochlea
Definition
A coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear; sound waves traveling through the cochlear fluid trigger nerve impulses.
Term
Sensory Adaptation
Definition
Diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation (band-aid on arm)
Term
Parallel Processing
Definition
Processing of several aspects of the stimulus simultaneously.
EX. color, shape, movement, etc for sight
Term
Sensory Interaction
Definition
When one sense affects another sense
EX. taste, smell, texture = flavor
Term
Kinesthesis
Definition
The sense of our body parts' position and movement
Term
Vestibular Sense
Definition
The sense of the body movement and position, including the sense of balance.
Term
Classical Conditioning
Definition
A type of learning in which we learn to link two or more stimuli and anticipate events.
Term
Acquisition
Definition
The initial learning stage in classical conditioning in which an association between a neutral stimulus and a unconditioned stimulus (US) takes place.
Term
Extinction
Definition
When the US does not follow the conditioned stimulus (CS), conditioned response (CR) begins to decrease and eventually causes this.
Term
Spontaneous Recovery
Definition
Reappearance after a pause of an extinguished conditioned response.
Term
Generalization
Definition
Tendency to respond to stimuli similar to the CS.
ex. chicken caesar salad for anthonys poo
Term
discrimination
Definition
The learned ability to distinguish between a CS and other stimuli that do not signal a US.
Term
operant conditioning
Definition
forms association between behaviors and the resulting effects (ex. rewards or consequence)
Term
Shaping
Definition
An operant conditioning procedure in which reinforcers guide behavior towards the desired behavior through successive approximations.
Term
Positive Reinforcer
Definition
continue behavior for reward
Term
Negative Reinforcer
Definition
continue behavior to aviod a consequence
Term
Immediate Reinforcer
Definition
occurs instantly after a vahavior (rat gets a pellet for a trick)
Term
Delayed Reinforcer
Definition
Delayed in time for a certain behavior (paycheck at the end of the week)
Term
Punishment
Definition
an aversive event that decreases the behaviors it follows
Term
Observational Learning
Definition
Learning by watching others. (imitation/modeling)
Term
Encoding
Definition
The process of bringing information into our memory system (automatic or with effort)
Term
Sensory Memory
Definition
The immediate, very brief, recording of sensory information in the memory system.
Term
Working Memory
Definition
A newer understanding of short-term memory that involves conscious active processing of information, has a limited amount of capacity for 20 sec. 7+-2
Term
Short Term Memory
Definition
information is held while it is conscious and being used
Term
rehearsal
Definition
The conscious repetition of Information.
Term
Spacing Effect
Definition
We retain our information better over time. Distributed study or practice.
Term
Serial Position Effect
Definition
When your recall is better for first and last items on a list.
Term
Retrieval
Definition
The process of getting information out of memory storage.
Term
Retrieval Cue
Definition
Any stimulus (events, felling, place, etc.) linked to a specific memory.
Term
Recall
Definition
Retrieving information using effort. (fill-in-the-blank test)
Term
Automatic Processing
Definition
Unconscious encoding of everyday information, such as space, time, frequency, and well-learned word meanings.
Term
Recognition
Definition
Memory demonstrated by identifying items previously learned (multiple choice test)
Term
Mood Congruent Memory
Definition
The tendency to recall experiences that are consistent with your current good or bad mood.
Term
Interference
Definition
The blocking of recall as old or new learning disrupts the recall of other memories.
Term
Cognition
Definition
Mental activities associated with knowing, understanding, remembering, and communicating.
Term
Algorithm
Definition
Specific, step-by-step procedure for solving certain types of problems (recipe, math equation)
Term
Insight
Definition
When a solution suddenly comes to mind.
AHA
Term
Heuristic
Definition
An educated guess based on prior experiences that helps narrow down the possible solutions for a problem.
Term
Confirmation Bias
Definition
Tendency to search for evidence that confirms ones beliefs, ignoring any evidence to the contrary.
Term
Fixation
Definition
Inability to see a problem from a new perspective.
Term
Framing
Definition
The way an issue is posed; can significantly affect decisions and judgments (75% lean or 25% fat)
Term
Stage of Language Development
Definition
Babbling - 4m - Spontaneously utters various sounds, not imitation. One-word - 1yr- one word at a time, understandable. Two-word - abt 2yr - two word sentences, telegraphic speech. Longer Phrases - 2yr+ - longer phrases with syntactical sense.
Term
Spearman's G Factor
Definition
General intelligence as the ability to reason and solve problems.
Term
Emotional Intelligence
Definition
Ability to perceive, understand, manage, and use emotion.
Term
Alfred Binet
Definition
Wanted to test kids for future progress in Paris school systems, one of the first to come up with intelligence test.
Term
David Wechsler
Definition
Developed Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) designed for education system.
