AP Psychology Chapter 5: Sensation Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is sensation?

The minimum stimulation needed to detect a stimulus.

The study of relationships between physical characteristics of stimuli.

The process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment. (correct)

The process of interpreting sensory information.

What is perception?

The study of sensory thresholds.

The process of reducing sensory information.

The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information. (correct)

The minimum difference between two stimuli.

What is bottom-up processing?

Analysis that begins with the sense receptors and works up to the brain's integration of sensory information.

What is top-down processing?

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

What does psychophysics study?

The relationship between physical stimuli and their perception. Signup and view all the answers

What is the absolute threshold?

The minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time. Signup and view all the answers

What does the signal detection theory predict?

It predicts how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus amid background noise. Signup and view all the answers

Subliminal stimuli are above one's absolute threshold for conscious awareness.

False Signup and view all the answers

What is the difference threshold?

The minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 percent of the time. 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 is transduction in the context of sensation?

The conversion of one form of energy into another, specifically transforming stimulus energies into neural impulses. Signup and view all the answers

What does wavelength refer to?

The distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next. Signup and view all the answers

What determines the hue of a color?

The wavelength of light. Signup and view all the answers

What is intensity in the context of sound and light?

The amount of energy in a light or sound wave perceived as brightness or loudness. Signup and view all the answers

What is the pupil?

The adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters. Signup and view all the answers

What role does the iris play in vision?

The iris controls the size of the pupil opening. Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of the lens in the eye?

To change shape to help focus images on the retina. Signup and view all the answers

What is accommodation in vision?

The process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus on near or far objects. Signup and view all the answers

What does the retina contain?

The receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that process visual information. Signup and view all the answers

What is visual acuity?

The sharpness of vision. Signup and view all the answers

What condition is nearsightedness?

A condition where nearby objects are seen more clearly than distant ones. Signup and view all the answers

What is farsightedness?

A condition where faraway objects are seen more clearly than near objects. Signup and view all the answers

What are rods in the retina?

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

What do cones do?

Receptor cells concentrated near the center of the retina that function in daylight and detect fine detail. Signup and view all the answers

What is the optic nerve?

The nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain. Signup and view all the answers

What is the blind spot?

The point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a 'blind' spot. Signup and view all the answers

What is the fovea?

The central focal point in the retina where the eye's cones cluster. Signup and view all the answers

What are feature detectors?

Nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What is parallel processing?

The processing of several aspects of a problem simultaneously. Signup and view all the answers

What is Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory?

The theory that the retina contains three different color receptors for red, green, and blue. Signup and view all the answers

What is the opponent-process theory?

The theory that opposing retinal processes enable color vision. Signup and view all the answers

What is color constancy?

Perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color despite changing illumination. Signup and view all the answers

What is audition?

The sense of hearing. Signup and view all the answers

What is frequency in terms of sound?

The number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time. Signup and view all the answers

What is pitch?

A tone's highness or lowness; depends on frequency. Signup and view all the answers

What is the middle ear?

The chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones. Signup and view all the answers

What does the inner ear contain?

The cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs. Signup and view all the answers

What is the cochlea?

A coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear. Signup and view all the answers

What is place theory in hearing?

The theory that links pitch with the place where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated. Signup and view all the answers

What is frequency theory in hearing?

The theory that the rate of nerve impulses matches the frequency of a tone. Signup and view all the answers

What is conduction hearing loss?

Hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves. Signup and view all the answers

What is sensorineural hearing loss?

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

What is the gate-control theory?

The theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological 'gate' that blocks or allows pain signals. Signup and view all the answers

What is sensory interaction?

The principle that one sense may influence another. Signup and view all the answers

What is kinesthesis?

The system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts. Signup and view all the answers

What is vestibular sense?

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

What is priming?

The activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations. Signup and view all the answers

What does Weber's law state?

To be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage. Signup and view all the answers

What is a cochlear implant?

A device for converting sounds into electrical signals to stimulate the auditory nerve. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sensation and Perception

Sensation: Process where sensory receptors and the nervous system receive environmental stimulus energies.
Perception: Organizing and interpreting sensory information to recognize meaningful objects and events.

Processing Types

Bottom-up Processing: Analysis starting from sensory receptors to brain integration.
Top-down Processing: Information processing guided by higher-level mental processes shaped by experience and expectations.

Psychophysics

Psychophysics: Study of the relationship between physical stimulus characteristics and psychological experience.
Absolute Threshold: Minimum stimulation required to detect a stimulus 50% of the time.
Signal Detection Theory: Predicts how and when we detect faint stimuli in the presence of background noise, considering experience, expectations, and motivation.

Sensory Thresholds

Subliminal: Stimuli below absolute threshold for conscious awareness.
Difference Threshold: Minimum difference between two stimuli for detection 50% of the time, known as just noticeable difference (jnd).

Sensory Adaptation and Transduction

Sensory Adaptation: Reduced sensitivity due to constant stimulation.
Transduction: Conversion of stimulus energy into neural impulses.

Light Properties

Wavelength: Distance between peaks of light or sound waves; determines color in light.
Hue: Dimension of color as determined by light wavelength.
Intensity: Amount of energy in a wave perceived as brightness or loudness.

Eye Anatomy

Pupil: Adjustable opening for light entry.
Iris: Muscle tissue controlling pupil size.
Lens: Transparent structure focusing images on the retina.
Accommodation: Lens adjustment for focusing on objects at various distances.
Retina: Light-sensitive inner surface containing receptor cells.

Vision Characteristics

Acuity: Sharpness of vision.
Nearsightedness: Difficulty seeing distant objects; images focus in front of the retina.
Farsightedness: Difficulty seeing nearby objects; images focus behind the retina.
Rods: Retinal receptors for black, white, and gray; essential for low-light vision.
Cones: Cells for color detection and fine detail in well-lit conditions.

Neural Pathways and Processing

Optic Nerve: Carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain.
Blind Spot: Area lacking visual receptors where the optic nerve exits the eye.
Fovea: Central focus point in the retina with a high concentration of cones.
Feature Detectors: Neurons that respond to specific visual features like shape and angle.
Parallel Processing: Simultaneous processing of multiple sensory aspects.

Color Vision Theories

Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic Theory: Retina contains three color receptors sensitive to red, green, and blue.
Opponent-Process Theory: Color vision based on opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue).

Auditory Process

Audition: Sense of hearing.
Frequency: Number of wavelengths passing a point per second.
Pitch: Highness or lowness of a tone based on frequency.
Middle Ear: Contains tiny bones that concentrate vibrations for the cochlea.
Inner Ear: Location of cochlea and structures for balance and hearing.
Cochlea: Fluid-filled tube triggering nerve impulses from sound waves.

Hearing Theories

Place Theory: Pitch perceived based on cochlea membrane stimulation location.
Frequency Theory: Rate of nerve impulses matches tone frequency, aiding in pitch perception.

Hearing Loss Types

Conduction Hearing Loss: Damage to the mechanical system conducting sound waves.
Sensorineural Hearing Loss: Damage to cochlea receptor cells or auditory nerves.

Pain and Sensory Interaction

Gate-Control Theory: Spinal cord contains a "gate" that can block or allow pain signals.
Sensory Interaction: One sense influencing another, e.g., smell affecting taste.

Body Senses

Kinesthesis: Sensing position and movement of body parts.
Vestibular Sense: Sense of body movement and balance.

Additional Concepts

Priming: Unconscious activation of associations influencing perception or response.
Weber's Law: To perceive a difference, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage.
Cochlear Implant: Device converting sounds into electrical signals to stimulate auditory nerves.

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Description

Test your knowledge with these flashcards on the key concepts of sensation and perception from AP Psychology Chapter 5. Learn the definitions of essential terms like sensation, perception, and bottom-up processing to solidify your understanding of these crucial psychological processes.