Psychology Frequency Theory Flashcards

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Questions and Answers

What does frequency theory state about pitch?

Pitch varies with the temperature of the surrounding environment

Pitch is related to the speed of vibrations in the basilar membrane (correct)

Pitch is unrelated to the speed of vibrations

Pitch is determined solely by amplitude of sound waves

What is the volley principle?

A theory that states frequencies from about 4000Hz cause hair cells to fire in a volley pattern.

What does the term olfaction refer to?

The sensation of smell.

What comprises the somesthetic senses?

The skin senses, kinesthetic sense, and vestibular senses. Signup and view all the answers

What do skin senses detect?

Touch, pressure, temperature, and pain. Signup and view all the answers

What is the kinesthetic sense?

The awareness of where body parts are located in relation to each other and the ground. Signup and view all the answers

What are vestibular senses responsible for?

Awareness of balance, position, and movement of the body through space. Signup and view all the answers

What is sensory conflict theory?

An explanation of motion sickness caused by conflicting information from the eyes and vestibular senses. Signup and view all the answers

What is the cocktail party effect?

The ability to focus attention on a specific stimulus while filtering out others. Signup and view all the answers

What is size constancy?

The tendency to interpret an object as always being the same actual size, regardless of its distance. Signup and view all the answers

What does shape constancy refer to?

The tendency to interpret the shape of an object as constant, even when its shape changes on the retina. Signup and view all the answers

What is brightness constancy?

The tendency to perceive the apparent brightness of an object as the same even when light conditions change. Signup and view all the answers

What does figure-ground perception involve?

The tendency to perceive objects as existing on a background. Signup and view all the answers

What are reversible figures?

Visual illusions in which the figure and ground can be reversed. Signup and view all the answers

What does proximity refer to in Gestalt psychology?

The tendency to perceive objects that are close to each other as part of the same grouping. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Frequency Theory and Pitch Perception

Frequency theory links pitch perception to the speed of basilar membrane vibrations.
Higher vibration speeds correlate with higher pitches perceived by the brain.

Volley Principle

The volley principle explains pitch perception for frequencies around 4000 Hz.
Auditory neurons fire in a coordinated pattern, alternating the sequence of firings among hair cells.

Sensation of Smell

Olfaction is the technical term for the sensation of smell.

Somesthetic Senses

Somesthetic senses encompass skin senses, kinesthetic sense, and vestibular senses.
They contribute to the overall awareness of bodily sensations.

Skin Senses

Skin senses include touch, pressure, temperature, and pain sensations.
These senses are essential for tactile interactions with the environment.

Kinesthetic Sense

Kinesthetic sense provides awareness of body part positioning in relation to one another and the ground.
It plays a crucial role in movement and coordination.

Vestibular Senses

Vestibular senses help maintain awareness of balance, position, and movement in relation to gravity.
They are vital for spatial orientation and navigating within the environment.

Sensory Conflict Theory

Sensory conflict theory explains motion sickness as a mismatch between visual and vestibular information.
This conflict can lead to symptoms such as dizziness and nausea.

Cocktail Party Effect

The cocktail party effect allows individuals to focus attention on one stimulus while filtering out numerous competing stimuli.
It exemplifies selective attention in social settings.

Size Constancy

Size constancy is the perception that an object maintains a constant size despite changes in distance from the observer.
This perceptual phenomenon helps with object recognition and spatial reasoning.

Shape Constancy

Shape constancy reflects the ability to perceive an object's shape as uniform, irrespective of its angle or perspective.
This aids in recognizing objects even when they appear distorted.

Brightness Constancy

Brightness constancy allows for the perception of an object's brightness as stable, despite varying light conditions.
This compensatory mechanism enhances visual consistency across different lighting environments.

Figure-Ground Perception

Figure-ground perception is the tendency to distinguish objects (figures) from their backgrounds.
It is fundamental for interpreting visual scenes.

Reversible Figures

Reversible figures are visual illusions where the figure and background can be swapped in perception.
These demonstrate the complexity of visual processing.

Proximity in Perception

Proximity, a Gestalt principle, influences perception by grouping nearby objects as related.
This principle relies on the physical closeness of items to infer connection or singular categorization.

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Description

Explore the essential concepts related to frequency theory and its applications in understanding pitch perception. This set of flashcards includes key terms like 'frequency theory,' 'volley principle,' and 'olfaction' to aid in your learning. Perfect for psychology students looking to reinforce their knowledge on auditory processes.