Unit 4: Set 1: Sensation and Perception

Iris

1. a ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening. 2. a ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around the pupil 3. controls the size of the pupil opening

Signal detection theory

1. a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus (signal) amid background stimulation (noise). Assumes there is no absolute threshold and that detection depends partly on a person's experience, expectations, motivation, and altertness. 2. a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus 3. we detect the presence of a faint stimulus

Pitch

1. a tone's experienced highness or lowness; depends on frequency. 2. tone's experienced highness or lowness 3. highness or lowness

Bottom-up processing

1. analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain's integration of sensory information. 2. analysis that begins with the sensory receptors 3. learning something fresh

Subliminal

1. below one's absolute threshold for conscious awareness. 2. below one's absolute threshold 3. below absolute threshold

Perception

1. the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events. 2. the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information 3. meaningful objects and events.

Transduction

1. 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 brains can interpret. 2. the transforming of stimulus energies, such as sights, sounds, and smells into neural impulses our brains can interpret 3. conversion of one form of energy into another

Sensory adaptation

1. diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation. 2. diminished sensitivity 3. a consequence of constant stimulation.

Change blindness

1. failing to notice changes in the environment 2. failing to notice changes 3. notice changes

Inattentional blindness

1. failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere. 2. when our attention is directed elsewhere. 3. failing to see visible objects

Top-down processing

1. information processing guided by information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations. 2. information processing guided by higher-level mental processes 3. higher-level mental processes

Feature detectors

1. nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement. 2. nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus 3. respond to specific features of the stimulus

Cones

1. retinal receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions. The cones detect fine detail and give rise to color sensations. 2. retinal receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions 3. give rise to color sensations

Rods

1. retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision, when cones don't respond. 2. retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision 3.detect black, white, and gray

Priming

1. the activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing one's perception, memory, or response. 2. the activation of certain associations predisposing one's perception, memory, or response. 3. predisposes one's memory, perception, or response

Pupil

1. the adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which lights enters. 2. adjustable opening in the center of the eye 3. through it, lights enters

Intensity

1. the amount of energy in a light or sound wave, which we perceive as brightness or loudness, as determined by the wave's amplitude. 2. the amount of energy in a light or sound wave, which we perceive as brightness or loudness 3. determined by the wave's amplitude.

Fovea

1. the central focal point in the retina, around which the eye's cones cluster. 2. focal point in the retina, around which the eye's cones cluster 3. the eye's cones cluster

Hue

1. the dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light; what we know as the color names blue, green, and so forth. 2. the dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light 3. color is determined by the wavelength of light

Wavelength

1. the distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next. Electromagnetic wavelengths vary from the short blips of comic rays to the long pulses of radio transmission. 2. the distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next 3. peak to peak

Selective attention

1. the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus. 2. the focusing of conscious awareness 3. conscious awareness

Retina

1. 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. 2. contains the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual information 3. the light-sensitive inner surface of the eye

Difference threshold

1. the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection. We experience the difference threshold as a just noticeable difference (jnd). 2. the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection. 3. just noticeable difference

Absolute threshold

1. the minimum stimulation necessary to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time. 2. the minimum stimulation necessary to detect a particular stimulus 3. minimum stilumlation to detect a stimulus

Optic Nerve

1. the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain. 2. carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain. 3. eye to the brain

Frequency

1. the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time (i.e. per second). 2. wavelengths that pass a point in a given time 3. wavelengths that pass a point

Blind Spot

1. the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a "blind" spot because no receptor cells are located there. 2. the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a "blind" spot because no receptor cells are located there 3. no receptor cells are located there

Weber's law

1. the principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant percentage (rather than a constant amount). 2. to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant percentage 3. two stimuli must differ by a constant percentage

Sensation

1. the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment. 2. sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment. 3. stimulus energies from our environment.

Accommodation

1. the process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina. 2. eye's lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina 3. changes shape to focus near or far objects

Parallel processing

1. 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. 2. the brain's natural mode of information processing for many functions, including vision 3. the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously

Audition

1. the sense or act of hearing. 2. act of hearing 3. hearing

Psychophysics

1. the study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli, such as their intensity, and our psychological experience of them. 2. the study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli 3. marraige between Psychology and Physics

Opponent-process theory

1. the theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable color vision. For example, some cells are stimulated by green and inhibited by red; others are stimulated by red and inhibited by green. 2. the theory that opposing retinal processes enable color vision 3. red-green, yellow-blue, white-black

Young-Helmholtz trichromatic (three-color) theory

1. the theory that the retina contains three different color receptors - one most sensitive to red, one to green, one to blue - which, when stimulated in combination can produce the perception of any color. 2. the theory that the retina contains three different color receptors 3. the retina contains three different color receptors

Lens

1. the transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus the images on the retina. 2. the transparent structure behind the pupil 3. help focus the images on the retina