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Psychology Ch. 5: Sensation

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process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment
process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events
analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up the brain's integration of sensory information
information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations
minimum stimulus needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time
predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus amid background stimulation
below one's absolute threshold for conscious awareness
activation, often unconsciously, of certain association, thus predisposing one's perception, memory, or response
minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 percent of the time
principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage
diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation
conversion of one form of energy into another.
distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next
dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light; blue, green, etc.
amount of energy in a light or sound wave, which we perceive as brightness or loudness
adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters
a ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening
transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina
process by which the eye's lens change shape to focus near or far objects on the retina
light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones
sharpness of vision
condition in which nearby objects are seen more clearly than distant objects because distant objects focus in front of the retina
condition in which faraway objects are seen more clearly than near objects because the image of near objects is focused behind the retina
retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray
retinal receptors that are concentrated near the center of the retina and detect fine detail and give rise to color sensations
nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain
point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a "blind" spot
central focal point in the retina, around which the eye's cones cluster
processing of several aspects of a problem simultaneously; contrasts with the step-by-step processing of most problem solving
theory that the retina contains three different color receptors- red, green, and blue
theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable color vision
perceiving familiar objects as having consisten color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object
sense or act of hearing
number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time
tone's experienced hightness or lowness; depends on frequency
chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) that concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochlea's oval window
innermost part of the ear, containing the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs
in hearing, theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated
in hearing, the theory that the rate of impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense its pitch
hearing loss caused by the damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea
hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea's receptor cells or to the auditory nerves
device for converting sounds into electrical signals and stimulating the auditory nerve
theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological "gate" that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain
principle that one sense may influence another, as when the smell of food influences its taste
system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts
sense of body movement and position, including the sense of balance

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