Psy 101 Ch. 5

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Chapter 5

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I don't really care!!!

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sensation

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the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environments

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perceptoin

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the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events

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bottom-up processing

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analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brains integration of sensory information

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top-down processing

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information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construc perceptions drawing on our experiences and expectations. Smell of smoke > campfire vs. campfire memories>emotions about campfire

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psychophysics

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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

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the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time, can sense a single drop of perfume in a 3 room apartment

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signal detection theory

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a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus ('signal') amid background stimulation ('nooise'). Assumes there is no single absolute threshold and that detection depends partly on a person's experience, expectatinos, motivations, and level of fatigue. ex. basketball passing with monkey

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subliminal

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below one's absolute threshold for conscious awareness. Used in adverts

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priming

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the activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing one's perception, memory or response. Flash of a werewofl before they have to rate the faces of people as nice or mean.

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difference threshold

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the minimum difference between 2 stimuli required for detectoin 50% of the time. WE experience the difference threshold as a just noticeable difference. Ex. 10 grams v. 100 grams or 1 kilogram and 1.05 kilogram

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Weber's Law

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the principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than a constant amount) ex: 2 lights must differ in intensity by 8%

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Sensory Adaptation

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diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation ex: cannot feel watch after a while

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sensation v. perception

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sensation receives stimulus from environment while perception is how we organize and interpret this info

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how do we benefit from sensory adaptation

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focuses our attentionon informative changes in stimulation, rather than on unchanging elements in our environment

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transduction

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conversion of one form of energy into another. In sensation the transforming of stimulus energies, such as sights, sounds, and smells, into neural impulses our brains can interpret. Ex: electromagnetic rays into colors

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wavelength

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the distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next. Electromagnetic wavelengths vary from the short blips of cosmic rays to the long pulses of radio transmission

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Intensity

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the amount of energy in a light or sound wave, which we perceive as brightness or loudness, as determined by the wave's amplitude

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hue

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the dimensino of color that is determined by the wavelength of light; what we know as the color names. Blue, green and so forth

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pupil

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the adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters

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iris

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a ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening

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Lens

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the transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina

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accomodatino

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the process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina

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retina

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the light sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual information

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acuity

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the sharpness of vision

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nearsightedness

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a condition in which nearby objects are seen more clearly than distant objects because distant objects focus in front of the retina

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farsightedness

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a condition in which faraway objects are seen more clearly than near objects because the imafe of near objects if focused behind the retina

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rods

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retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision, when cones don't respond

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cones

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retinal receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in will-lit conditions. The cones detect fine detail and give rise to color sensations

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optic nerve

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the nerve that carries neural impulese from the eye to the brain

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fovea

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the central focdal point in the retina around which the eye's cones cluster

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feature detector

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nerve cells in the brain that respond to sepcific freatures of the stimulus such as shape, angle, or movement

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parallel processing

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the processing of several aspeccts of a problem simultaneously; the brain's natural mode of information processing for many functinos, including vision. Contrasts with the step-by-step9serial) processing of most computers and of conscious problem solving

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Young_Helmholtz trichromatic (3 color theory)

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the theory that the retina contains 3 dif. Color receptors-one most sensitive to red, one to green, one to blue- which when stimulated in combination can produce the perception of any color

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opponent process theory

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the theory that opposing retinal processes 9red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable color vision. For example, some cells are stimulated by green and inhibited by red; others are stimulated by red and inhibited by green. Together with young-helmholtz concludes that color processing occurs in 2 stages

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Describe how the structures of the eye guide an incoming ray of light toward the eye's receptor cells

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1. light enters through the cornea; 2. the iris controls the size of the pupil through which light enters 3. the lens changes shape to focus light rays on the retina; 4. receptor cells convert light energy into neural impulses on the inner surface of the eye; 5. after coding in the retina impulses travel along the optic-nerve to the brain. although retina receives upside down image teh brain constructs impulses into an upright seeing image

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Describe the retina's reaction to light

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1. light enters the eye; 2. triggers a photochemical reaction in the rods and cones; 3. this rxn activates bipolar cells; 4. bipolar cells activate ganglion cells and their axons transmit info (via the thalamus) to the visual cortex; 5. rods aroudn the periphery of the retina are more sensitive to light and tehy send messages to a bipolar cell; 6. this pool of info allows us to see rough images in dim light; 7 cones concentrated in the fovea are sensitive to color and detail; 8. cone may link directly to bipolar cell which helps preserve fine details in the cone's message

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Importance of color constancy

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ability to perceive consistent color in objects even when lighting and wavelengths shift. Demonstrates that our brains construct our experience of color through comparisons of other objects ex; checkerbord and green block

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audition

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the act of hearing

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frequency

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the # of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time (for example, per second)

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pitch

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a tone's experienced highness or lowness; depends on frequency

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middle ear

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the chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) that concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochlea's oval window.

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cochlea

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a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear through which sound waves trigger nerve impulses.

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inner ear

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the innermost part of the ear, containing the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular area

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place theory

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in hearing, the theory that links the pitch we ehar with the place where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated. Explains how we hear high pitches

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frequency theory

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in hearing, the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency ofa tone, enabling us to sense its pitch. Explains how we hear low pitches

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conduction hearing loss

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hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea

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sensorineural hearing loss

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hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea's receptor cells or to the auditory nerves; also called nerve deafness

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cochlear implant

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a device for converting sounds into electrical signals and stimulating the auditory nerve through electrodes threaded into the cochlea

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Describe pressure waves we experience as sound

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Sound waves are bands of compresses and expanded air. Ears detect these changes in air pressure and transform them into neural impulses which the brain decodes as sounds. Sound waves vary in frequency(pitch) and amplitude(loudness).

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how are electrical impulses sent to the brain from the ear

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1. sound waves travel through auditory canal and cause miniscule vibrations in the eardrum; 2. bones of the middle ear amplify the vibrations and relay them to the fluid-filled cochlea; 3. this ripplint of the basilar membrane (caused by pressure changes in cochlear fluid) causes movement of tiny hair cells; 4. trigger the sending of neural messages via the thalamus to the auditory cortex in the brain

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how do we pinpoint sounds?

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sound waves strike one ear sooner and more intensely than the other. Using parallel processing the brain analyzes the minute diffs. In the sounds received by 2 ears and computes the source of the sound

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how do some members of deaf culture feel about cochlear implants

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it is not necessary because deafness is not a disability. Deaf have a complete language and sensory compensation, which enhances other senses as a result of deafness, gives deaf people advantages that the hearing do not have.

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gate-control theory

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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 opened" bye the activity of pain signals traveling up small nerve fibers and is closed by activity in larger fibers or by information coming from the brain.

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sensory interaction

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the principle that one sense may influence another; as when the smell of food influences its taste

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vestibular sense

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the sense of body movement and position, including the sense of balance

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Describe sense of touch

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actually 4 senses; pressure, warmth, cold, and pain that combine to produce other sensations such as 'hot'. Of these, only pressure has specialized receptors

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Purpose of pain

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it is an alarm system that draws our attention to some physical prolbem. Theory that there is a 'gate' in the spinal cord that opens to permit pain signals travelling up the spinal cord to reach the brain(gate control)

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biopsychosocial perspective on pain

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a person's experience of pain is the sum of 3 sets of forces: 1. biological influences (nerve fibers sending messages to the brain); 2. psychological(past experiences and the situation); 3. socio-cultural influences(cultural expectations and presence of observers)

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Describe sense of taste

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a chemical sense composed of 5 basic sensations: 1.sweet; 2.sour; 3.salty;4.bitter;5.umami and also of the aromas that interact with info from the taste buds

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How do we tastse

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taste buds on top and sides of the tongue and in the back and on the roof of the mouth contain taste receptor cells; these cells send info to an area of the temporal lobe near the area where olfactory info is received;

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describe sense of smell

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a chemical sense; there are 5 million olfactory receptor cells with approx 350 dif. Receptor proteins that recognize individual odor molecules and send them to the brains's olfactory bulb then to the temporal lobe and to parts of the limbic system.

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Sensory interaction and smell

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odor's ability to spontaneously evoke memories and feelings due in part to close connections btwn. Brain areas that proces smell and those involved in memory storage.

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Kinesthesis v. Vestibular sense

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kinisthetic sense monitors the position and movement of our individual body parts by using million of position and moto sensors while vestibular sense uses semicurcular canals and vestibular sacs in inner ear to sense or head's (and thus, our entire body's) poistion and movement, allowing us to maintian balance.

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Ganglion cells

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detect edges

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Primary visual area

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orientation and edges

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higher visual area

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object, movement, space

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Binocular vision

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ability to produce a focused image of the same object simultaneously on both retinas . Permits 3 dimensional vision and contributes to distance judgment

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Responsive neurons

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fire in response to stimuli in particular parts of the visual field. Dif. Neurons respond when either location, oreientation, length, or movement is altered

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lateral inhibition

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inhibits neuron from firing if they are responsible for nearby sections of the visual field. Ex: herman Grid (black grid with dancing black circles in the middle)

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Retinotopic mapping

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brain is organized corresponding to actual space in the real worlds. Neurons near each other are responsible for similar visual fields.

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"Where" visual pathway

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in the occipital and parietal lobe; detects space and movement

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"What" visual pathway

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in occipital and temporal lobes; object recognition

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visual agnosias

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inability to learn about and recognize objects by sight (can smell, feel, and draw objects but cannot copy them)

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prosopagnosia

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person who cannot identify faces "apple with two worm holes, a folded over stem and a crease"

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Neglect

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cannot notice things on sides of your body; only half of face is shaven; only one leg of pants on; half of hair combed; only attend to one side

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Blind Sight

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when a patient can detect or sense light in one side of visual field but is unaware of the stimulus. Ex: CLT, stroke patiet who claimed to blind in his left visual field.

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Gestalt perception

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perceiving the whole as more than a sum of its parts; will group based on symmetry, similarity, proximity, closure, and motion(things that move together appear to be a common element)

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Figure Vs. Ground

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Which color we view as the figure determines the image we see; old hag or beautiful lady; dots or dalmation in the leaves?

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divided attention

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attending to several tasks simultaneously

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selective attention

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focusing on a single task while disregarding others

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sensory suppression

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2 stimuli presented together in the same neuron field act in a mutually repressive way. Separating them will reduce this suppressoin; the busier the environment the harder it is to process info.

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Ways to counteract sensory suppression

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1. Neural enhancement to attended stimuli(attention enhances the rate of neural firing); 2. counteracting neural suppression(atttending to object counteracts sensory suppressoin); 3. baseline firing(when attention is focused on a visual area the neurons that fire in response to that area have a higher base rate of fire even in absence of visual stimuli);4. Response sensitivity (30%in sensitivity when attention is in the neuron's receptive field)

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single cell recording

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training an animal to attend to a specific area<<a way to counteract sensory suppression

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dichotic listening

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earphones with dif. Messages in ea. Ear. Instructed to attend to one and not the other. Do not hear random german spoken during the listening interval

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Filter Theory

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during the dichotic listening exercise we do not notice things, like german, in our unattended ear

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against filter theory

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sometimes we do notice things that are unattended; coctail party phenom: hear our name and quickly turn around

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Shadowing Task

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dichotic listening in which participants repeat out loud one of the messages. People will mix the two ears in order to make a sentence that follows grammatical rules

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Capacity Theories

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at any amount of time you have a certain amount of attention that you can devote to things-it is determined by individual differences and arousal(physiological)

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Yerkes-Dodson Curve

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helps explain why athletes choke during the big game or athletes unexpectedly because as pressure increases there is a burnout and less efficient performance level .

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Allocation policy

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spread out attention or focus all on one thing; depends on enduring disposition and momentary attention

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enduring disposition

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some people focus on one thign at a time and others focus on multiple things

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momentary attention

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you can pick the time to give full attention to something

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Pre attentive processing

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auto registratoin of features-effortless, oustisde awareness in parallel; processed at same time

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focused attention

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intergration, processing of multiple feature at once-effortful, conscious, and in serial

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Feature integration theory

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developed at princeton. In first step of visual processing, several primary visual features are processed; pre-attentive processing, focuse attention.

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Balint's syndrome

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damage in areas responsible for feature binding. Cannot process scenes; can't bind image into an overall scene; a car OR a helicopter but never both

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automacity

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some tasks take up little to no capacity such as riding a bike, reading, or driving home--nearly automatic

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explain social implications of automaticity

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when stereotypes and prejudices become so automatic in a person's mind that they develop almost automatically.

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Thought Suppressoin

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when you deliberately focus your attention away from something it comes back w/vigor

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Change Blindness

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if we don't attend to something we won't notice when it changes. Changing inquiring men behind the door @ harvard.