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38 Cards in this Set
- Front
- Back
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Sensation |
The process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment |
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Perception |
The process of organising and interpreting sensory information enabling us to recognise meaningful objects and events |
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Bottom up processing |
Analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain's integration of sensory information |
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Top down processing |
Information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations |
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Transduction |
Conversion of one form of energy into another. In sensation the transforming of stimulus energies such as sites sounds and smells into impulses our brain can interpret
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Psychophysics |
The study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli such as their intensity and our psychological experience of them |
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Psychophysics |
The study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli such as their intensity and our psychological experience of them |
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Absolute threshold |
The minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time |
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Signal detection theory |
A theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus (signal) amid background stimulation (noise) assumes that there is no single absolute threshold and that detection depends partly on a persons experience expectations motivation and alertness |
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Subliminal |
Below ones absolute threshold of conscious awareness |
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Priming |
The activation often unconsciously, of certain associations thus predisposing one's perception memory or response |
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Difference threshold |
The minimum difference between to stimuli required for detection 50% of the time. we experience it is just noticeable difference |
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Webers law |
The principle that to be perceived as different, to stimuli must defer by the constant minimum percentage (rather then a constant amount) |
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Sensory adaptation |
Diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation |
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Perceptual set |
A mental predisposition to perceive one thing and that another |
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Wavelength |
The distance from the peak of one light or soundwave to the peak of the next. electromagnetic waves vary from the short blips of cosmic rays to the long pulses of radio transmission |
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Hue |
The Dimension of colour that is determined by the wavelength of light: what we know as the colour names blue, green and so forth |
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Intensity |
The amount of energy in a light or sound wave, which we perceive as brightness or loudness as determined by the waves amplitude |
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Pupil |
The adjustable opening in the centre of the eye, through which light enters |
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Iris |
A ring of muscle tissue that forms the coloured portion of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening |
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Lens |
The transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the Retina |
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Aaccommodation |
The process by which the eyes lens changes shape to focus near or far objects in the retina |
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Rods |
Retinal receptors that detect black white and grey; necessary for peripheral vision. Low detail sensitivity, low colour sensitivity, high dim light sensitivity |
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Cones |
Retinal receptors cells that are concentrated near the centre of the retina and that function in daylight all well let conditions the cones detect fine detail and give rise to colour sensations |
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Pathway from the eyes to the visual cortex |
Ganglion axons forming the optic nerve run to the Thalamus, where they synapse with neurons that run to the visual cortex |
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Feature detector |
Nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus such as shape angle or movement. |
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Parallel processing |
The processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously the brains natural mode of information processing for many functions including vision. contrast. with the step-by-step or serial processing of most computers and of conscious problem solving |
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Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory |
The theory that the retina contains three different colour receptors-- one most sensitive to red, one to green, one to blue which when stimulated in combination, can produce the perception of any colour |
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Opponent-process theory |
The theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable colour vision. For example, some cells are stimulated by green and inhibited by red, others are stimulated by green and inhibited by red, others are stimulated by the red and inhibited by green. |
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Gestalt |
These psychologists emphasise our tendency to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes |
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figure-ground |
The organisation of the visual field into objects (the figures) that stand out from their surroundings (the ground) |
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Grouping |
The perceptual tendency to organise stimuli into coherent groups |
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Monocular cues |
Depth cues such as interposition and linear perspective, available to either eye alone. |
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Phi phenomenon |
And illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in quick succession |
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Perceptual constancy |
Perceiving objects as unchanging (having consistent shapes, size, brightness and colour) even as illumination and retinal images change |
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Colour consistency |
Perceiving Familiar objects as having consistent colour, even when changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object |
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Colour consistency |
Perceiving Familiar objects as having consistent colour, even when changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object |
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Perceptual adaptation |
In vision, the ability to adjust to and artificially displaced or even inverted visual field |
