AP Psych Unit 4 Vocab Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What does the opponent-process theory explain?

The combination of colors in light

Color vision through opposing retinal processes (correct)

The nerve carrying impulses from eye to brain

The way the eye adjusts to light

What is the function of the optic nerve?

Carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain

What is parallel processing?

Processing many aspects of a problem simultaneously

Define parapsychology.

The study of paranormal phenomena, including ESP and psychokinesis. Signup and view all the answers

What does perception involve?

Organizing and interpreting sensory information Signup and view all the answers

What is perceptual adaptation?

The ability to adjust to an artificially displaced or inverted visual field Signup and view all the answers

What is perceptual constancy?

Perceiving objects as unchanging despite changes in illumination and retinal images Signup and view all the answers

What does a perceptual set refer to?

A mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another Signup and view all the answers

Define phi phenomenon.

An illusion of movement created by adjacent lights blinking in quick succession Signup and view all the answers

What is pitch in sound?

A tone's experienced highness or lowness, depending on frequency Signup and view all the answers

What does place theory in hearing explain?

That pitch links to the location where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated Signup and view all the answers

What is priming?

The activation of certain associations, influencing perception and memory Signup and view all the answers

What is psychophysics?

The study of relationships between physical stimuli and psychological experiences Signup and view all the answers

What does the pupil do?

Adjustable opening in the center of the eye for light entry Signup and view all the answers

What is the retina?

The light-sensitive inner surface of the eye containing receptor cells Signup and view all the answers

What is retinal disparity?

A binocular cue for perceiving depth by comparing images from both eyes Signup and view all the answers

What are rods in the context of vision?

Retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray for twilight vision Signup and view all the answers

What is selective attention?

Focusing conscious awareness on a particular stimulus Signup and view all the answers

Define sensation.

The process by which sensory receptors and nervous system receive stimulus energy Signup and view all the answers

What is sensorineural hearing loss?

Hearing loss caused by damage to cochlea's receptor cells or auditory nerves Signup and view all the answers

What is sensory adaptation?

Diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation Signup and view all the answers

What does sensory interaction refer to?

When one sense influences another, such as smell influencing taste Signup and view all the answers

What is signal detection theory?

A theory predicting how we detect faint stimuli amid background noise Signup and view all the answers

What does subliminal refer to?

Below one's absolute threshold for conscious awareness Signup and view all the answers

Define top-down processing.

Information processing guided by higher-level mental processes Signup and view all the answers

What is transduction in sensory systems?

Conversion of stimulus energies into neural impulses Signup and view all the answers

What does the vestibular sense relate to?

The sense of body movement and position, including balance Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Color Vision Theories

Opponent-process theory explains color vision through opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black).
For accuracy, certain cells are excited by one color and suppressed by its opposite.

Visual and Auditory Processing

The optic nerve transmits visual information from the eye to the brain.
Parallel processing allows simultaneous handling of various information aspects, crucial for visual tasks.
Place theory connects perceived pitch to stimulation location on the cochlea’s membrane.

Sensory Perception

Perception organizes and interprets sensory data, creating understanding of our environment.
Perceptual adaptation is the adjustment to visual changes, whether shifts or inversions.
Perceptual constancy allows recognition of objects as consistent despite changes in lighting or image.

Psychological Influences

Perceptual set indicates a tendency to interpret stimuli in a certain way based on experiences.
Priming activates specific associations, influencing perception and memory subconsciously.
Psychophysics examines the relationship between stimulus characteristics and our psychological experiences.

Eye Structure and Function

The pupil is the adjustable opening that allows light entry into the eye.
The retina is the inner eye layer containing receptors crucial for processing visual data.
Rods detect black, white, and gray, enabling vision in low-light conditions.

Depth and Spatial Awareness

Retinal disparity helps perceive depth by comparing images from both eyes.
Selective attention focuses awareness on specific stimuli amidst distractions.

Hearing and Sensation

Sensorineural hearing loss results from damage to the cochlea's receptor cells or auditory pathways.
Sensory adaptation is the decreased sensitivity resulting from constant stimuli exposure.
Sensory interaction highlights how one sense can influence the perceptions of another.

Detection and Processing

Signal detection theory addresses how stimuli detection is influenced by experience and psychological factors.
Subliminal refers to stimuli presented below conscious awareness.
Top-down processing uses prior knowledge and expectations for interpreting sensory information.

Energy Transformation

Transduction encompasses the conversion of different energy forms into neural signals interpreted by the brain.

Balance and Movement Senses

Vestibular sense relates to body movement awareness and balance, crucial for spatial orientation.

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Description

Test your knowledge on key vocabulary from AP Psychology Unit 4, focusing on important concepts such as opponent-process theory and optic nerve. This quiz will help you reinforce your understanding of color vision theories and the visual system. Ideal for students preparing for exams or wanting to improve their psychology vocabulary.