Sensation and Perception Overview

The process of how sensory receptors convert physical stimuli (like light, sound, touch) into electrical signals that the brain can understand.

The minimum intensity of a stimulus that a person can detect 50% of the time.

Specialized cells or groups of cells that detect changes in the environment (light, sound, touch, etc.).

A condition where stimulation in one sense automatically leads to a sensation in another sense (e.g., hearing a sound and seeing a color).

A subset of synesthesia where certain sounds are associated with colors. For example, the sound of a trumpet might be perceived as red.

Processing that starts with the basic features of stimuli (bottom) and integrates them into a whole perception (top).

Processing that uses previous experience and expectations (top) to recognize stimuli (bottom).

The study of how our senses are sensitive to stimuli of different strengths.

The distance between two consecutive peaks or troughs of a sound wave.

The number of sound waves passing a point per second. It determines the pitch of a sound.

The range of sound frequencies that humans can hear, typically between 20 to 20,000 Hertz (Hz).

The amplitude of a sound wave determines its loudness. Higher amplitude means louder sound.

The unit for measuring loudness, indicating the intensity of sound. Each 10 dB increase represents a tenfold increase in sound intensity.

The portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to humans. It includes wavelengths from approximately 380 to 740 nanometers (nm).

The transparent outer layer of the eye that helps focus light onto the retina.

The opening in the iris that controls the amount of light entering the eye.

The minimum difference between two stimuli that can be perceived as different.

The relationship between the magnitude of a physical stimulus and the perceived intensity of the sensation it produces.

The theory that the brain interprets different sensory signals based on the specific nerves activated.

The height of a wave, indicating the intensity or strength of the signal.

The length of a wave, determining the frequency of the signal.

The number of waves passing a point per unit time.

The sense of balance and spatial orientation.

The sense of body position and movement.

The point on the retina where the optic nerve exits, containing no photoreceptor cells, resulting in a blind spot in our visual field.

Photoreceptor cells in the retina that are specialized for vision in low-light conditions, responsible for detecting shades of gray.

The theory proposing that our color vision is based on three types of cones: red, green, and blue.

The theory suggesting that color perception involves opponent processes, with specific cells responding to pairs of colors (red-green, blue-yellow, and black-white).

The sensation of seeing a color after a stimulus is removed, often the complementary color. This is explained by the opponent-process theory.

The part of the brain responsible for processing visual information, located at the back of the brain.

The pathway for processing visual information that focuses on identifying objects, their details, and their meaning. Also known as the 'What' pathway.

A depth cue that relies on the use of both eyes.

The difference in the image each eye receives of the same object, which helps us perceive depth. The greater the disparity, the closer the object appears.

A depth cue that relies on the use of only one eye.

When two parallel lines seem to converge as they recede into the distance, creating a sense of depth.

When one object partially overlaps another, the object in the foreground appears closer, creating a sense of depth.

The loss of ability to focus on near objects due to age-related changes in the lens of the eye.

The inability to see distant objects clearly, caused by the eyeball being too long or the cornea being too curved.

The inability to see close objects clearly, caused by the eyeball being too short or the cornea being too flat.

A diminished sensitivity to a stimulus that occurs after constant exposure to it.

The deliberate reduction or removal of stimuli from one or more of the senses.

The process of focusing on a particular object or stimulus while ignoring distractions.

The failure to see something that is completely visible due to lack of attention.

The sensory experience of temperature.

The sensory signal that indicates potential harm and may be perceived as pain.

The idea that things that are closer to each other tend to be perceived as a group.

The idea that similar objects tend to be grouped together.