AP PSYCH: Sensation and Perception
perception
the process of selecting, organizing, and interpreting sensory information, which enables us to recognize meaningful objects and events
relative size
a depth cue whereby larger objects are perceived as closer than smaller ones
organ of corti
a group of cells that rest on the membrane; hair cells bend when the basilar membrane is moved
place theory
hair cells at a particular place on the basilar membrane respond most to a particular frequency **AKA: traveling wave theory
difference threshold/just noticeable difference (JND)
minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time
absolute threshold
minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time
frequency
rate at which the sound waves alternates between high and low air pressures
Transduction
receptors convert the stimulus into neural signals by firing an action potential and releasing neurotransmitters that send signals to neighboring cells
sensation
system of messages from the senses that make up the raw information that affects many kinds of behavior and mental processes
cornea
the curved, transparent, protective layer through which light rays enter the eye
basilar membrance
the floor of the fluid-filled duct that runs through the cochlea
retinal disparity/binocular stereopsis
a binocular cue for perceiving depth; depth cues that involve comparing the image from the two eyes
selective attention
ability to focus on a specific aspect or characteristic of a task while ignoring all other, possibly more salient, aspects (Zentall 1993) **AKA: innattentional blindness and "cocktail party phenomenon"
auditory cortex
area in the temporal lobe that is first to receive information about sounds from the thalamus
bottom-up processing
aspect of recognition that depends on basic information from sensory receptors **large-scale features (shape)
top-down processing
aspect of recognition that is guided by higher level cognitive processes and psychological factors **knowledge, expectations
auditory nerve
bundle of axons that carry stimuli from the hair cells of the cochlea to the brain
iris
colorful part of the eye, constricts and relaxes to adjust the amount of light entering the eye
loudness
determined by the amplitude of the sound wave; greater amplitude produces sensations of louder sounds
sensory adaptation
diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation **wearing a new piece of jewelry
cochlea
fluid-filled spiral structure in the ear in which auditory transduction occurs
pitch
how high or low a tone sounds; depends on frequency
light and shadow
nearby objects reflect more light into our eyes than more distant objects **closer=brighter and further=dimmer
relative motion
objects closer to a fixation point move faster and in the opposing direction to those further away
proximity
objects near each other tend to be grouped together **students in the back of the room
relative height
objects that are closer to the top of our visual field usually appears to be more distant
interposition
objects that occlude (block) other objects tend to be perceived as closer
pupil
opening in the iris of the eye where light passes to the retina, located just behind the cornea
size constancy
our brain corrects the perceived size of an object to adjust for its apparent distance
linear perspective
parallel lines appear to converge (intersect) in the distance **railroad tracks
lens
part of the eye behind the pupil that bends light rays
signal detection theory/ hit or miss grid
predicts how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus (signal) amid background noise
psychophysics
research area focused on the relationship between physical characteristics of environment and our psychological experience with them ** sound ----> volume
Weber's law
two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than amount) to be perceived as different **gained weight on a ballerina vs. football player
priming/subliminal priming
unconscious increased sensitivity to certain stimuli due to prior experience
subliminal stimulation
when stimuli is below one's absolute threshold for conscious awareness