Chapter 4 - AP Psychology Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What is sensation?

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

The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information.

The focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus.

Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere.

What is perception?

Information processing guided by higher-level mental processes.

The focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus.

The study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli and our psychological experience.

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

What is bottom-up processing?

Analysis that begins with the sensory 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 is selective attention?

The focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What is inattentional blindness?

Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere. Signup and view all the answers

What is change blindness?

Failing to notice changes in the environment. Signup and view all the answers

What is psychophysics?

The study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli and our psychological experience of them. Signup and view all the answers

What is absolute threshold?

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

What is Signal Detection Theory?

A theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus amid background stimulation. Signup and view all the answers

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

False Signup and view all the answers

What is priming?

The activation of certain associations, often unconsciously, thus predisposing one's perception or memory. Signup and view all the answers

What is difference threshold?

The minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 percent of the time. Signup and view all the answers

What is Weber's Law?

The principle that for two stimuli to be perceived as different, they must differ by a constant percentage. 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?

Conversion of one form of energy into another. Signup and view all the answers

What is wavelength?

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

What is hue?

The dimension of color determined by 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

Study Notes

Sensation and Perception

Sensation involves receiving and representing environmental stimulus energies through sensory receptors and the nervous system.
Perception organizes and interprets sensory information, allowing recognition of meaningful objects and events.

Processing Types

Bottom-Up Processing starts with sensory input and progresses to the brain's interpretation, relying on the raw data from senses.
Top-Down Processing is guided by higher mental processes, using experience and expectations to form perceptions.

Attention and Awareness

Selective Attention focuses conscious awareness on a specific stimulus, possibly ignoring other stimuli.
Inattentional Blindness occurs when visible objects are overlooked due to focusing on something else.
Change Blindness refers to the failure to notice alterations in the environment.

Psychophysics

Psychophysics examines the relationship between physical stimulus characteristics, like intensity, and psychological experiences.

Detection and Thresholds

Absolute Threshold is the minimum stimulation required to detect a stimulus 50% of the time.
Signal Detection Theory explains detection ability amid background stimulation, influenced by experience and motivation.
Difference Threshold (just noticeable difference) is the smallest detectable difference between two stimuli.

Laws and Adaptation

Weber's Law states that to perceive a difference, two stimuli must differ by a consistent percentage.
Sensory Adaptation refers to reduced sensitivity as a result of constant stimulation.

Energy and Waves

Transduction is the conversion of various forms of energy (light, sound) into neural impulses for interpretation by the brain.
Wavelength measures the distance between peaks in light or sound waves, influencing properties like color and pitch.
Hue defines the color dimension linked to light's wavelength, associated with names like blue and green.
Intensity measures the energy amount in a wave, perceived as brightness in light or loudness in sound, determined by amplitude.

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Description

Explore key concepts in AP Psychology with this flashcard quiz focused on Chapter 4. Understand the differences between sensation and perception, essential processes in how we interact with our environment. Test your knowledge and reinforce your understanding of these fundamental ideas.