UNIT 4 AP PSYCH

Pitch

a tone's experienced highness or lowness; depends on frequency

Frequency theory relates to which element of the hearing process? a. Rate at which the basilar membrane vibrates b. Number of fibers in the auditory nerve c. Point at which the basilar membrane exhibits the most vibration d. Decibel level of sound e. Number of hair cells in each cochlea

a. Rate at which the basilar membrane vibrates

Two monocular depth cues are most responsible for our ability to know that a jet flying overhead is at an elevation of several miles. One cue is relative size. What is the other? a. Relative motion b. Retinal disparity c. Interposition d. Light and shadow e. Linear perspective

a. Relative motion

What do we call the conversion of stimulus energies, like sights and sounds, into neural impulses? a. Transduction b. Perception c. Priming d. Signal detection theory e. Threshold

a. Transduction

Which of the following is most closely associated with hairlike receptors in the semicircular canals? a. Body position b. Smell c. Hearing d. Pain e. Touch

a. body position

Kimberly tells her brother to put on a suit on a warm summer day. Kimberly's brother knows to put on a swimsuit instead of a business suit because of a. context b. ESP c. precognition d. bottom-up processing e. clairvoyance

a. context

Bringing order and form to stimuli, which illustrates how the whole differs from the sum of its parts, is called a. grouping b. monocular cue c. binocular cue d. disparity e. motion

a. grouping

Sensing the position and movement of individual body parts is an example of which sense? a. Kinesthetic b. Vestibular c. Auditory d. Umami e. Olfactory

a. kinesthetic

A teacher used distortion goggles, which shifted the wearer's gaze 20 degrees, to demonstrate an altered perception. A student wearing the goggles initially bumped into numerous desks and chairs while walking around, but chose to wear goggles for a half hour. After 30 min, the student was able to smoothly avoid obstacles, illustrating the concept of a. perceptual adaption b. visual interpretation c. sensory restriction d. perceptual constancy e. binocular cues

a. perceptual adaption

Bottom-up processing

analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain's integration of sensory information

Retinal disparity

a binocular cue for perceiving depth: By comparing images from the retinas in the 2 eyes, the brain computes distance - the greater the disparity (difference) between the 2 images, the closer the object

Cochlear implant

a device for converting sounds into electrical signals and stimulating the auditory nerve through electrodes threaded into the cochlea

Visual cliff

a laboratory device for testing depth perception in infants and young animals

Perceptual Set

a mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another

Iris

a ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening

Frequency

the # of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time

Retina

the light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual information

Absolute threshold

the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time

Blind spot

the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain

Optic Nerve

the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain

Figure-ground

the organization of the visual field into objects (the figures) that stand out from their surroundings (the ground)

Grouping

the perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups

Sensory interaction

the principle that one sense may influence another, as when the smell of food influences its taste

Weber's law

the principle that, to be perceived as different, 2 stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than a constant amount)

Sensation

the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment

Accommodation

the process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus near or fear objects on the retina

Perception

the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events

Transduction

conversion of one form of energy into another. In sensation, the transforming of stimulus energies, such as sights, sounds, and smells, into neural impulses our brain can interpret

Sensory adaption

diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation

Wavelength

distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next

Which of the following is the best example of kinesthesia? a. Awareness of the smell of freshly brewed coffee b. Ability to feel pressure on your arm c. Ability to hear a softly ticking clock d. Ability to calculate where a kicked soccer ball will land from the moment it leaves your foot e. Awareness of the position of your arms when swimming the backstroke

e. Awareness of the position of you arms when swimming the backstroke

Top-down processing

information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations

Feature detectors

nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement

Brightness constancy

our ability to perceive an object as having a constant lightness even when its illumination - the light cast upon it - changes

Shape constancy

our ability to perceive familiar objects (such as an opening door) as unchanging in shape

Signal detection theory

- a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus (signal) amid background stimulation (noise). - assumes that there is no single absolute threshold and that detection depends partly on a person's experience, expectations, motivation, and alertness

Cochlea

-a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear -sound waves traveling through the cochlear fluid trigger nerve impulses

Cones

-retinal receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function on daylight or in well-lit conditions -the cones detect fine detail and give rise to color sensations

Difference threshold

-the minimum difference between 2 stimuli required for detection 50% of the time -we experience the difference threshold as a just noticeable difference

Parallel processing

-the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously ; the brain's natural mode of information processing for many functions, including vision -contrasts with the step-by-step (serial) processing of most computers and of conscious problem solving

Gate-control theory

-the theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological "gate" that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain -the "gate" is opened by the activity of pain signals traveling up small nerve fibers and is closed by activity in larger fibers or by information coming from the brain

Perceptual constancy

Perceiving objects as unchanging (having consistent shapes, size, brightness, and color) even as illumination and retinal images change

What do we call the illusion of movement that results for 2 or more stationary, adjacent lights blinking on and off in quick succession? a. Phi phenomenon b. perceptual constancy c. binocular cues d. retinal disparity e. depth perception

a. phi phenomenon

The view from Narmeen's left eye is slightly different from the view from her right eye. This is due to which depth cue? a. Retinal disparity b. Relative size c. Linear perspective d. Relative motion e. Convergence

a. retinal disparity

Phi phenomenon

an illusion of movement created when 2 or more adjacent lights blink on and off in quick succession

Gestalt

an organized whole. Gestalt psychologist emphasized our tendency to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes

What do we call a mental predisposition that influences our interpretation of a stimulus? a. context b. ESP c. precognition d. bottom-up processing e. clairvoyance

b. ESP

Which of the following reflects the notion that pitch is related to the number of impulses traveling up the auditory nerve in a unit of time? a. Place theory b. Frequency theory c. Volley principle d. Sound localization e. Stereophonic hearing

b. Frequency theory

Which of the following phrases accurately describes top-down processing? a. The entry-level date captured by our various sensory systems b. The effect that our experiences and expectations have on perception c. Our tendency to scan a visual field from top to bottom d. Our inclination to follow a predetermined set of steps to process sound e. The fact that information is processed by the higher regions of the brain before it reaches the lower brain

b. The effect that our experiences and expectations have on perception

Which of the following is most likely to influence our memory of a painful event? a. The overall length of the event b. The intensity of pain at the end of the event c. The reason for the pain d. The amount of rest you've had in the 24 hours preceding the event e. The scientific part of the body that experiences the pain

b. The intensity of pain at the end of the event

Which of the following is the best example of sensory interaction? a. Finding that despite its delicious aroma, a weird- looking meal tastes awful b. Finding that food tastes bland when you have a bad cold c. Finding it difficult to maintain your balance when you have an ear infection d. Finding that the cold pool water doesn't feel so cold after a while e. All of these are examples

b. finding that food tastes bland when you have a bad cold

Your best friend decides to paint her room an extremely bright electric blue. Which of the following best fits the physical properties of the color's light waves? a. No wavelength; large amplitude b. Short wavelength; large amplitude c. Short wavelength; small amplitude d. Long wavelength; large amplitude e. No wavelength; small amplitude

b. short wavelength; large amplitude

Light's________is the distance from one wave peak to the next. This dimension determines the __________we experience. a. hue; wavelength b. wavelength; hue c. hut; intensity d. wavelength; intensity e. intensity; wavelength

b. wavelength; hue

Subliminal

below one's absolute threshold for conscious awareness

Signal detection theory is most closely associated with which perception process? a. Vision b. Sensory adaption c. Absolute thresholds d. Smell e. Context effects

c. Absolute thresholds

What do we call the transparent, protective layer that light passes through as it enters the eye? a. Pupil b. Iris c. Cornea d. Lens e. Fovea

c. Cornea

Which of the following might result from a disruption of you vestibular sense? a. Inability to detect the position of your arm without looking at it b. Lost of ability to detect bitter taste c. Dizziness and a loss of balance d. An inability to detect pain e. Loss of color vision

c. Dizziness and a loss of balance

Which of the following explains reversed-color afterimages? a. Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory b. The blind spot c. Hering's opponent-process theory d. Feature detectors e. Parallel processing

c. Hering's opponent-process theory

Which of the following describes a perception process that the Gestalt psychologists would have been interested in? a. Depth perception and how it allows us to survive in the world b. Why we see an object near us as closer rather than larger c. How an organized whole is formed out of its component pieces d. What the smallest units of perception are e. The similarities between shape constancy and size constancy

c. How an organized whole is formed out of its component pieces

Our tendency to see faces in clouds and other ambiguous stimuli is partly based on what perception principle? a. Selective attention b. ESP c. Perceptual set d. Share constancy e. Bottom-up processing

c. Perceptual set

Natalia is washing her hands and adjusts the faucet handle until the water feels just slightly hotter than it did before. Natalia's adjustment until she feels a difference is an example of

c. Signal detection

When we go to the movies, we see smooth continuous motion rather than a series of still images because of which process? a. The phi phenomenon b. Perceptual set c. Stroboscopic movement d. Relative motion e. Illusory effect

c. Stroboscopic movement

What is the purpose of the iris? a. To focus light on the retina b. To process color c. To allow light into the eye d. To enable night vision e. To detect specific shapes

c. To allow light into the eye

Which of the following represents perceptual constancy? a. We recognize the taste of McDonald's food each time we eat it. b. In photos of people, the people almost always are perceived as figure and everything else as ground. c. We know that the color of a printed page has not changed as it moves from sunlight into shadow d. From the time they are very young, most people can recognize the smell of a dentist's office e. The cold water in a lake doesn't seem so cold after you have been swimming in it for a few minutes

c. We know that the color of a printed page has not changed as it moves from sunlight into shadow

What type of hearing loss is due to damage to the mechanism that transmits sound waves to the cochlea? a. Sensorineural b. Window-related c. Conduction d. Cochlear e. Basilar

c. conduction

The inner ear consists of

cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs

Neurons that fire in response to specific edges,lines, angles, and movements are called what? a. Rods b. Cones c. Ganglion cells d. Feature detectors e. Bipolar cells

d. Feature detectors

What do we call the specialized neurons in the occipital lobe's visual cortex that respond to particular edges, lines, angles, and movements? a. Rods b. Cones c. Foveas d. Feature detectors e. Ganglion cells

d. Feature detectors

Pitch depends on which of the following? a. Amplitude of a sound wave b. Number of hair cells stimulated c. Strength of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve d. Number of sound waves that reach the ear in a given time e. Decibles of a sound wave

d. Number of sound waves that reach the ear in a given time

Which of the following is produced by perceptual set? a. Not noticing that the songs change in a restaurant b. Noticing a difference in the weight of a friend from one week to the next c. Moving an arm quickly so that a mosquito flies away d. Surprise at hearing an Oklahoma cowboy speak with a British accent e. Not noticing a watch on your wrist as the day goes on

d. Surprise at hearing an Oklahoma cowboy speak with a British accent

What occurs when experiences influence our interpretation of data? a. Selective attention b. Transduction c. Bottom-up processing d. Top-down processing e. Signal detection theory

d. Top-down processing

The process by which rods and cones change electromagnetic energy into neural messages is called what? a. Adaption b. Accommodation c. Parallel processing d. Transduction e. Perceptual setting

d. Transduction

Which perception process are the hammer, anvil, and stirrup involved in? a. Processing intense colors b. Processing information related to our sense of balance c. Supporting a structural frame to hold the eardrum d. Transmitting sound waves to the cochlea e. Holding hair cells that enable hearing

d. Transmitting sound waves to the cochlea

Which of the following best represents an absolute threshold? a. A guitar player knows that his D string has just gone out of tune b. A photographer can tell that the natural light available for a photograph has just faded slightly c. Your friend amazes you by correctly identifying unlabeled glasses of Coke and Pepsi d. A cook can just barely taste the salt she has added to her soup

d. a cook can just barely taste the salt she has added to her soup

The 3 small bones of the ear are located in the a. cochlea b. outer ear c. inner ear d. middle ear e. auditory nerve

d. middle ear

Monocular cues

depth cues, such as interposition and linear perspective, available to either eye alone

Binocular cues

depth cues, such as retinal disparity, that depend on the use of 2 eyes

What principle states that to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a minimum percentage rather than a constant amount? a. Absolute threshold b. Different threshold c. Signal detection theory d. Primimg e. Weber's law

e. Weber's law

Bryanna and Charles are in a dancing competition. It is easy for spectators to see them against the dance floor because of a. the visual cliff b. the phi phenomenon c. color constancy d. sensory restriction e. figure-ground relationships

e. figure-ground relationships

Tyshane went swimming with friends who did not want to get into the pool because the water felt cold. Tyshane jumped in and after a few minutes declared, "It was cold when I first got in, but now my body is used to it. Come on in!" Tyshane's body became accustomed to the water due to a. Perceptual set b. Absolute threshold c. Difference threshold d. selective attention e. sensory adaption

e. sensory adaption

Change blindness

failing to notice changes in the environment

Inattentional blindness

failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere

Sensorineural hearing loss

hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea's receptor cells or to the auditory nerves; also called nerve deafness

Conduction hearing loss

hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea

Place theory

in hearing, the theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated

Frequency theory

in hearing, the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up to the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense its pitch

Embodied cognition

in psychological science, the influence of bodily sensations, gestures, and other states on cognitive preferences and judgments

Perceptual adaption

in vision, the ability to adjust to adjust to an artificially displaced or even inverted visual field

Color constancy

perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object

Rods

retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision, when cones don't respond

Depth perception

the ability to see objects in 3 dimensions although the images that strike the retina are 2-dimensional; allows us to judge distance

Priming

the activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing one's perception, memory, or response

Pupil

the adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters

Intensity

the amount of energy in a light or sound wave, which we perceive as brightness or loudness, as determined by the wave's amplitude

Fovea

the central focal point in the retina, around which the eye's cones cluster

Middle ear

the chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing 3 tiny bones (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) that concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochlea's oval impulses

Extrasensory Perception (ESP)

the controversial claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input; includes telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition

Hue

the dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light

Selective attention

the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus

Inner ear

the innermost part of the ear, containing the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs

Vestibular sense

the sense of body movement and position, including the sense of balance

Audition

the sense or act of hearing

Parapsychology

the study of paranormal phenomena, including ESP and psychokinesis

Psychophysics

the study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli, such as their intensity, and our psychological experience of them

Kinesthesia

the system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts

Opponent-process theory

the theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable color vision

Young-Helmholtz trichromatic (three-color) therapy

the theory that the retina contains 3 different color receptors - one more sensitive to red, one to green, one to blue - which, when stimulated in combination, can produce the perception of any color

Lens

the transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina