The Science of Smell

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Which term refers to the process by which the brain selects, organizes, and interprets sensations?

Absolute threshold

Perception (correct)

Sensation

Transduction

What is the minimum amount of stimulation needed for an observer to notice a stimulus called?

Absolute threshold (correct)

Weber's law

Just noticeable difference

Signal detection theory

What is the process by which sense organs gather information about the environment and transmit it to the brain called?

Just noticeable difference

Perception

Sensation (correct)

Transduction

What is the term for the lowest level of stimulation required to sense that a change in stimulation has occurred?

Just noticeable difference Signup and view all the answers

Which principle states that sensation and perception are active, not passive?

Active perception principle Signup and view all the answers

What is the term for the process by which sensory receptors respond to environmental stimuli and generate action potentials in adjacent sensory neurons?

Transduction Signup and view all the answers

According to Fechner’s law, how does the subjective experience of intensity grow as the physical magnitude of a stimulus grows?

Arithmetically Signup and view all the answers

According to Stevens’ power law, how does subjective intensity grow as actual intensity grows?

Exponentially Signup and view all the answers

What is sensory adaptation?

The tendency of sensory systems to respond less to stimuli that continue without change Signup and view all the answers

What is subliminal perception?

The tendency to perceive information outside our conscious awareness Signup and view all the answers

Which cells in the retina are responsible for vision in dim light?

Rods Signup and view all the answers

Where are cones most concentrated in the retina?

Fovea Signup and view all the answers

What are the two processing streams involved in visual information flow from the primary visual cortex?

'What' and 'Where' pathways Signup and view all the answers

Which part of the brain is responsible for processing olfactory information?

Frontal lobes Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of taste receptors?

Transduce chemical information into neural information Signup and view all the answers

Which sense includes pressure, temperature, and pain?

Touch Signup and view all the answers

Where is the primary touch center in the brain located?

Somatosensory cortex Signup and view all the answers

According to the gate-control theory, what influences the experience of pain?

Central nervous system Signup and view all the answers

What do the proprioceptive senses provide information about?

Body's position and movement Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary function of depth perception?

Organize perception in three dimensions Signup and view all the answers

Which type of processing starts 'at the top' and is influenced by the observer's expectations and knowledge?

Top-down processing Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe perceptual expectations created by experience with the environment?

Perceptual set Signup and view all the answers

What are the two aspects of perceptual set?

Current context and schemas Signup and view all the answers

Which direction does perception proceed according to current thinking?

In both directions simultaneously Signup and view all the answers

What are the enduring knowledge structures that shape perceptual interpretation called?

Schemas Signup and view all the answers

What can influence perceptual interpretation, similar to expectations?

Motives Signup and view all the answers

Which type of processing starts 'at the bottom' and is based on sensory information?

Bottom-up processing Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe current context in perceptual set?

Contextual bias Signup and view all the answers

What is the term used to describe the influence of motives on perceptual interpretation?

Motivational bias Signup and view all the answers