AP Psychology Chapter 3 Sensation & Perception

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Questions and Answers

Sensation is to _ as perception is to __.

Sensation is to _ as perception is to ___.

stimuli detection; sensory interpretation

What is the smallest change in sensation that we are able to detect 50% of the time?

just noticeable difference

The absolute threshold for vision has been determined to be a candle flame 30 miles away on a clear night.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the change from physical to neural?

transduction Signup and view all the answers

What is the least amount needed to detect a change called?

difference threshold Signup and view all the answers

What does 'perception' mean?

it means to interpret sensory information. Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon is described as not seeming so warm in a given environment?

sensory adaptation Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the least amount of stimulus intensity that can be detected?

absolute threshold Signup and view all the answers

Which human sensory system is most important for everyday perceptual functioning?

vision Signup and view all the answers

What part of the eye performs the first step in vision by bending light rays through the pupil?

cornea Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of receptors present in the eye?

cones & rods Signup and view all the answers

What is the process called by which the lens of the eye changes shape to focus objects on the retina?

accommodation Signup and view all the answers

What are the three dimensions that combine to provide colors we experience?

hue, saturation, brightness Signup and view all the answers

According to which theory of color vision do certain cells in the visual system increase their rate of firing to signal the opposing color?

opponent-process theory Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic of sound is determined by the number of cycles completed by a sound wave in one second?

frequency Signup and view all the answers

What theory proposes that each pitch we hear is determined by the particular spot along the basilar membrane of the cochlea that vibrates the most?

Place Theory Signup and view all the answers

What sensory system sends information to the limbic system, playing an important role in memory and emotion?

olfactory system Signup and view all the answers

What are the two types of hearing loss and deafness?

conductive & neural Signup and view all the answers

Gustation gives us how many distinct kinds of sensations?

five Signup and view all the answers

What sense is influenced by temperature, smell, color, and texture?

taste Signup and view all the answers

When you inadvertently lay your hand on a hot stove, at which brain structure is the neural message of heat and pain received?

somatosensory cortex Signup and view all the answers

This sense provides information about the relative position and movement of body parts.

vestibular sense Signup and view all the answers

The sense that provides information about movement and our orientation in space is called:

vestibular sense Signup and view all the answers

Recent research suggests that the connection between odor and memory peaks between the ages of _ and _, and decreases steadily thereafter.

16;20 Signup and view all the answers

It has been reported that temperature changes on small areas of the tongue can actually result in taste sensations in humans.

True Signup and view all the answers

What are the thin electromagnetic waves that we can see called?

visible spectrum Signup and view all the answers

What is the transparent covering of the colored part of the eye?

cornea Signup and view all the answers

What is the theory of color vision that states there are three types of cones?

trichromatic theory Signup and view all the answers

How is the loudness of sound measured?

decibel Signup and view all the answers

What is the distinctive quality of a sound called?

timbre Signup and view all the answers

What are the three smallest bones in the body located in the ear called?

ossicles Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the sensation of hearing?

audition Signup and view all the answers

What is it called when hair cell receptors vibrate at the same rate as sound?

bone conduction Signup and view all the answers

What is the phenomenon when chewing ice is heard in the head?

frequency theory Signup and view all the answers

What type of hearing loss can usually be helped by a hearing aid?

conductive hearing loss Signup and view all the answers

What is the home for 10 million receptor cells for smell?

olfactory epithelium Signup and view all the answers

What is the sensation of taste called?

gustation Signup and view all the answers

Where do receptor cells for taste reside?

taste buds Signup and view all the answers

What term pertains to the sense of touch?

tactile Signup and view all the answers

What is the theory that states pain signals travel slowly?

gate-control theory Signup and view all the answers

What drug blocks the action of endorphins?

naloxone Signup and view all the answers

_____ psychologists studied perception guided by the principle that 'the whole is more than just the sum of its parts.'

Gestalt Signup and view all the answers

That we seem to perceive our environment in terms of an object standing out in the midst of a background is known as the ______ principle.

figure-ground Signup and view all the answers

The principle of similarity refers to the idea that we organize our perceptual experience based, in one way, on how objects contrast with each other.

False Signup and view all the answers

When we group objects in accordance with their relative closeness in time or space, what principle are we organizing our perceptual experience according to?

similarity Signup and view all the answers

The fact that we tend to perceive objects as the same size, shape, brightness, and color even at different angles, distance, and lighting conditions is known as the phi-phenomenon.

False Signup and view all the answers

If our ______ were given a literal interpretation, we would believe that Joe, who was 5'7 and stood 3 feet away from us, was taller than John, who was 6' tall but was a block away.

distal image Signup and view all the answers

Sometimes the brilliant moonlight can change considerably the shades of red on my barn. However, even under these conditions, I still perceive the barn as its 'much-in-need-of-paint' shade of red. This tendency to perceive the correct color of familiar objects even under different conditions of illumination is known as ____.

perceptual constancy Signup and view all the answers

One interesting fact about depth perception is that, while we see the object in 3 dimensions, our eyes provide only 2-dimensional information.

True Signup and view all the answers

One important contribution to our 3-dimensional perception is ______, the phenomenon where each eye receives a slightly different view of the objects we are watching.

binocular disparity Signup and view all the answers

This illusion of apparent motion by stationary lights is known as the .

illusory motion Signup and view all the answers

Have you ever found yourself riding in a car at night and wondering if the moon was following you? If so, then you have experienced a phenomenon known as motion parallax.

True Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for false perception of actual stimuli?

illusions Signup and view all the answers

What refers to information from other than sensory channels?

extrasensory perception Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe figures that can be perceived in multiple ways, such as an old woman/young woman?

ambiguous figures Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the expectation that affects perception?

perceptual set Signup and view all the answers

What are the figures that cannot exist in reality, such as a three-pronged trident?

impossible figures Signup and view all the answers

What term describes signals below the absolute threshold?

subliminal stimuli Signup and view all the answers

What is associated with the concept 'the farther the longer'?

Muller-Lyer & Poncho Signup and view all the answers

What part of the anatomy must odor molecules reach before they are sensed?

olfactory epithelia Signup and view all the answers

Where do smell sensations first register in the brain?

olfactory bulbs Signup and view all the answers

What is the process by which we detect visual, auditory, and other stimuli?

sensation Signup and view all the answers

What is the process of organizing & interpreting the information we gather through vision, hearing, and other senses?

perception Signup and view all the answers

The _____ is that level of stimulus intensity that defines the minimum amount of stimulus that can be detected 50% of the time.

absolute threshold Signup and view all the answers

The _____ is a measure of the smallest change in a physical stimulus required to detect a change in the stimulus 50% of the time.

difference threshold Signup and view all the answers

What theory involves searching for a specific person in a crowd based on given descriptions?

signal detection theory Signup and view all the answers

If I see, hear, taste, smell, or feel, my specific sense organ has specialized cells called ____ that detect & respond to the particular stimulus.

sensory receptors Signup and view all the answers

Weber's law is used to determine the value of the absolute threshold.

True Signup and view all the answers

What does olfaction refer to?

the sense of smell Signup and view all the answers

What sense is related to movement and body awareness?

kinesthetic Signup and view all the answers

What are depth cues such as interposition, linear perspective, and relative size known as?

monocular depth cues Signup and view all the answers

Bottom-up processing is to top-down processing as is to .

familiar; unfamiliar Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sensation vs. Perception

Sensation involves stimuli detection, while perception is the interpretation of sensory information.
Just noticeable difference is the smallest detectable change in sensation, recognized 50% of the time.
Absolute threshold for vision is determined as a candle flame seen at 30 miles away on a clear night.

Sensory Processes

Transduction is the process of converting physical energy into neural signals.
Difference threshold refers to the minimum amount needed to perceive a change in stimulus intensity.
Sensory adaptation is the phenomenon where sensitivity to a stimulus decreases after prolonged exposure.

Visual System

The primary human sensory system essential for daily functioning is vision.
Cornea is the transparent outer covering of the eye that bends light rays to aid focus.
Two types of photoreceptors in the eye are cones (color vision) and rods (light sensitivity).
Adaptation refers to the lens's ability to change shape for focusing on images on the retina.

Color Vision

Colors are experienced through three dimensions: hue, saturation, and brightness.
Opponent-process theory suggests that color perception is controlled by opposing colors' interactions.
Trichromatic theory posits that there are three types of cones sensitive to blue, red, and green.

Auditory System

Frequency refers to the number of cycles a sound wave completes in one second, affecting pitch.
Place theory explains pitch perception based on the location of maximum vibration on the cochlea’s basilar membrane.
The measurement of sound loudness is quantified in decibels.

Taste and Smell

Gustation provides five distinct tastes: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami (monosodium glutamate).
Taste is influenced by temperature, smell, color, and texture.
Olfactory system processes smell information and connects closely to memory and emotion.
Olfactory epithelium houses approximately 10 million receptor cells for detecting smells.

Touch and Kinesthetic Senses

Tactile perception pertains to the sense of touch.
Somatosensory cortex processes signals for heat and pain.
Vestibular sense provides information on body position and movement.

Depth Perception

Depth cues like interposition, linear perspective, and relative size are classified as monocular cues.
Perceptual constancy allows us to perceive familiar objects as having stable color despite changes in lighting.
Phi phenomenon offers a cognitive way of perceiving depth from the slightly different images our eyes receive.

Perception Theories

Gestalt psychology emphasizes the idea that "the whole is more than the sum of its parts" in perception.
Figure-ground principle explains how we distinguish an object from its background.
Perceptual set shows how expectations influence our sensory interpretations.

Illusions and Extrasensory Perception

Illusions represent a false perception of actual stimuli.
Extrasensory perception refers to the ability to receive information beyond normal sensory processes.

Miscellaneous Facts

Motion parallax is a perceptual phenomenon experienced when moving through space.
True or false questions help reinforce key concepts; for example, concepts about thresholds, perceptions, or the sensory systems involve distinguishing facts from misconceptions.
Waves in the visible spectrum represent the thin electromagnetic waves we can perceive visually.

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Test your knowledge on sensation and perception concepts from AP Psychology Chapter 3. This quiz covers key terms and definitions, helping you solidify your understanding of how stimuli are detected and interpreted. Perfect for students preparing for exams or anyone interested in psychology.

AP Psychology Chapter 3 Sensation & Perception

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Questions and Answers

Sensation is to _____ as perception is to ______.

Sensation is to _____ as perception is to _______.

What is the smallest change in sensation that we are able to detect 50% of the time?

The absolute threshold for vision has been determined to be a candle flame 30 miles away on a clear night.

What is the term for the change from physical to neural?

What is the least amount needed to detect a change called?

What does 'perception' mean?

What phenomenon is described as not seeming so warm in a given environment?

What is the term for the least amount of stimulus intensity that can be detected?

Which human sensory system is most important for everyday perceptual functioning?

What part of the eye performs the first step in vision by bending light rays through the pupil?

What are the two types of receptors present in the eye?

What is the process called by which the lens of the eye changes shape to focus objects on the retina?

What are the three dimensions that combine to provide colors we experience?

According to which theory of color vision do certain cells in the visual system increase their rate of firing to signal the opposing color?

What characteristic of sound is determined by the number of cycles completed by a sound wave in one second?

What theory proposes that each pitch we hear is determined by the particular spot along the basilar membrane of the cochlea that vibrates the most?

What sensory system sends information to the limbic system, playing an important role in memory and emotion?

What are the two types of hearing loss and deafness?

Gustation gives us how many distinct kinds of sensations?

What sense is influenced by temperature, smell, color, and texture?

When you inadvertently lay your hand on a hot stove, at which brain structure is the neural message of heat and pain received?

This sense provides information about the relative position and movement of body parts.

The sense that provides information about movement and our orientation in space is called:

Recent research suggests that the connection between odor and memory peaks between the ages of ___ and ___, and decreases steadily thereafter.

It has been reported that temperature changes on small areas of the tongue can actually result in taste sensations in humans.

What are the thin electromagnetic waves that we can see called?

What is the transparent covering of the colored part of the eye?

What is the theory of color vision that states there are three types of cones?

How is the loudness of sound measured?

What is the distinctive quality of a sound called?

What are the three smallest bones in the body located in the ear called?

What is the term for the sensation of hearing?

What is it called when hair cell receptors vibrate at the same rate as sound?

What is the phenomenon when chewing ice is heard in the head?

What type of hearing loss can usually be helped by a hearing aid?

What is the home for 10 million receptor cells for smell?

What is the sensation of taste called?

Where do receptor cells for taste reside?

What term pertains to the sense of touch?

What is the theory that states pain signals travel slowly?

What drug blocks the action of endorphins?

_____ psychologists studied perception guided by the principle that 'the whole is more than just the sum of its parts.'

That we seem to perceive our environment in terms of an object standing out in the midst of a background is known as the ______ principle.

The principle of similarity refers to the idea that we organize our perceptual experience based, in one way, on how objects contrast with each other.

When we group objects in accordance with their relative closeness in time or space, what principle are we organizing our perceptual experience according to?

The fact that we tend to perceive objects as the same size, shape, brightness, and color even at different angles, distance, and lighting conditions is known as the phi-phenomenon.

If our ______ were given a literal interpretation, we would believe that Joe, who was 5'7 and stood 3 feet away from us, was taller than John, who was 6' tall but was a block away.

One interesting fact about depth perception is that, while we see the object in 3 dimensions, our eyes provide only 2-dimensional information.

One important contribution to our 3-dimensional perception is ______, the phenomenon where each eye receives a slightly different view of the objects we are watching.

This illusion of apparent motion by stationary lights is known as the ______ ______.

Have you ever found yourself riding in a car at night and wondering if the moon was following you? If so, then you have experienced a phenomenon known as motion parallax.

What is the term for false perception of actual stimuli?

What refers to information from other than sensory channels?

What is the term used to describe figures that can be perceived in multiple ways, such as an old woman/young woman?

What term describes the expectation that affects perception?

What are the figures that cannot exist in reality, such as a three-pronged trident?

What term describes signals below the absolute threshold?

What is associated with the concept 'the farther the longer'?

What part of the anatomy must odor molecules reach before they are sensed?

Where do smell sensations first register in the brain?

What is the process by which we detect visual, auditory, and other stimuli?

What is the process of organizing & interpreting the information we gather through vision, hearing, and other senses?

The _____ is that level of stimulus intensity that defines the minimum amount of stimulus that can be detected 50% of the time.

The _____ is a measure of the smallest change in a physical stimulus required to detect a change in the stimulus 50% of the time.

What theory involves searching for a specific person in a crowd based on given descriptions?

If I see, hear, taste, smell, or feel, my specific sense organ has specialized cells called ____ that detect & respond to the particular stimulus.

Weber's law is used to determine the value of the absolute threshold.

What does olfaction refer to?

What sense is related to movement and body awareness?

What are depth cues such as interposition, linear perspective, and relative size known as?

Bottom-up processing is to top-down processing as ____ is to ____.

Study Notes

Sensation vs. Perception

Sensory Processes

Visual System

Color Vision

Sensation is to _ as perception is to __.

Sensation is to _ as perception is to ___.

Recent research suggests that the connection between odor and memory peaks between the ages of _ and _, and decreases steadily thereafter.

This illusion of apparent motion by stationary lights is known as the .

Bottom-up processing is to top-down processing as is to .