Psychology Chapter 4 Flashcards

Questions and Answers

What does bottom-up processing involve?

Analysis that begins with sensory receptors (correct)

Patterns processed by supercell clusters

Activation of cortical areas

Interpretation of sensory stimuli

What is the primary concern of the study of perception?

Interpret sensory stimuli.

What illustrates top-down processing?

Stimulation of feature detectors

Initial sensory detection

Interpreting new sensory information based on past memory (correct)

Processing sensory information without prior knowledge

Sensation is to as perception is to .

detection; interpretation Signup and view all the answers

Wavelength is to as is to brightness.

hue; intensity Signup and view all the answers

What do feature detectors identified by Hubel and Weisel consist of?

Nerve cells in the brain. Signup and view all the answers

What processes complex patterns in the brain?

Supercell clusters. Signup and view all the answers

What illustrates parallel processing?

The ability to simultaneously process pitch, loudness, melody, and meaning of a song. Signup and view all the answers

Where are neural impulses from the retina first relayed?

Thalamus. Signup and view all the answers

Where have opponent-process cells been located?

Thalamus. Signup and view all the answers

What do most color-deficient people lack?

Functioning red- or green-sensitive cones. Signup and view all the answers

What is the effect of exposure to green light on the opponent-process cells?

Cells are inhibited by exposure to red light. Signup and view all the answers

What does the Young-Helmholtz theory propose?

There are three different types of color-sensitive cones. Signup and view all the answers

What does sensory adaptation refer to?

Diminishing sensitivity to an unchanging stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

What does Weber's law illustrate?

The size of the difference threshold is greater for heavier objects than for lighter ones. Signup and view all the answers

What does sensory adaptation illustrate?

Failing to realize how loudly the music is blasting after high-volume exposure. Signup and view all the answers

Which receptor of the eye functions best in dim light?

Rod. Signup and view all the answers

Where is visual information processed after rods and cones?

Ganglion cells. Signup and view all the answers

Which skin sense has definable receptors?

Pressure. Signup and view all the answers

What are the four basic sensations of touch?

Pressure, pain, warmth, and cold. Signup and view all the answers

What is the detection and encoding of stimulus energies by the nervous system called?

Sensation. Signup and view all the answers

According to the opponent-process theory, what happens when both red-sensitive and green-sensitive cones are stimulated?

A person should see yellow. Signup and view all the answers

What cue involves our perception of objects higher in our field of vision as farther away?

Relative height. Signup and view all the answers

What is the monocular depth cue in which an object blocking another object is perceived as closer?

Interposition. Signup and view all the answers

What illustrates the importance of top-down processing in pain perception?

Patients' negative expectations about the outcome of a surgical procedure can increase their postoperative pain experience. Signup and view all the answers

What study illustrated the existence of perceptual sets?

Alyosha's reaction to his normal aches and pains after hearing disease-related rumors. Signup and view all the answers

Which characteristic of stimuli influences their interpretation?

Bottom-up processing. Signup and view all the answers

According to the gate-control theory, what reduces physical aches and pains?

Activation of specific nerve fibers in the spinal cord. Signup and view all the answers

How do you perceive a wall that is partially blocked by a pole?

As nearer. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to perception when both the right and left eyes are used?

It provides a cue for depth perception. Signup and view all the answers

What are auditory stimuli that explain the sensation and perception of sound?

The ability to simultaneously process sound sequences. Signup and view all the answers

How is the size of an object perceived differently based on its distance?

The object that appears to be closer is perceived as larger. Signup and view all the answers

How do adults who are born blind but later have their vision restored typically respond?

They typically fail to recognize familiar objects. Signup and view all the answers

What does the semicircular canals relate to?

The vestibular sense. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Processing Types

Bottom-up processing starts with sensory receptors and builds up to higher levels of processing.
Top-down processing involves interpreting sensory information using past memories and experiences.

Sensation vs. Perception

Sensation refers to the detection of stimuli, while perception is the interpretation of those stimuli.
Examples illustrating the difference include sensations being raw data (like sound and light) and perceptions being the interpretation of those sensations (recognizing a familiar tune).

Color Perception

Wavelength relates to hues, while intensity corresponds to brightness.
The Young-Helmholtz theory suggests three types of color-sensitive cones in the retina.
The opponent-process theory explains how opposing colors (like red and green) interact in the neural pathways.

Visual Processing

Feature detectors, identified by Hubel and Wiesel, are nerve cells that respond to specific visual stimuli in the cortex.
Parallel processing allows simultaneous analysis of different aspects of visual information, such as color, depth, and motion.

Neural Pathways

Visual information from the retina first goes to the thalamus before being processed in the visual cortex.
Blindsight demonstrates processing of visual information without conscious awareness, typically due to damage to the visual cortex.

Sensory Adaptation

Sensory adaptation is diminishing sensitivity to constant stimulation.
For example, hearing a loud noise becomes less noticeable after prolonged exposure.

Cue and Depth Perception

Depth cues include interposition (objects in front are perceived as closer) and relative height (objects higher in the visual field are perceived as farther away).
The visual cliff apparatus is used to study depth perception in infants.

Pain and Expectations

Pain perception can be influenced by various factors, including physiology, experiences, and cultural background.
According to gate-control theory, pain can be modulated by nerve signals in the spinal cord.

Perceptual Set and Bias

Perceptual set refers to mental predispositions that can influence what we perceive.
Context can greatly affect recognition and interpretation of stimuli, as in the case of not recognizing familiar faces outside of typical settings.

Electrical Signals and Light Processing

Transduction is the conversion of sensory stimuli into neural signals, taking place in the retina.
Neural impulses are processed by bipolar cells before reaching ganglion cells.

Unique Characteristics of Senses

Each sense has specific receptor types; for example, cones in the eye are responsible for color differentiation while pressure is the only skin sense with defined receptors.
Differences in sensory thresholds, such as in pain or tone sensitivity, showcase individual variability in perception capabilities.

Theories of Perception

Kant believed in inborn organization of sensory experiences, whereas Locke favored the influence of cultural background on perception.
Experience affects the interpretation of naive perceptions, as demonstrated in studies about color perception and emotional responses.

Overview of Additional Concepts

Kinesthesis captures sensory experiences related to body movement.
Tinnitus illustrates perception of sound without external stimulus, showcasing the brain's interpretation of sensory information.

Studying That Suits You

Use AI to generate personalized quizzes and flashcards to suit your learning preferences.

Description

Test your knowledge of key concepts in Chapter 4 of Psychology. This quiz highlights important terms such as bottom-up processing, top-down processing, and the study of perception. Use these flashcards to reinforce your understanding of sensory information and perception theories.