CH. 5 AP Psychology

pitch

A tone's experienced highness or lowness; depends on frequency. Long Waves=Low Frequency=Low Pitch Short Waves=High Frequency=High Pitch

sound waves

A wave of compression and rarefaction, by which sound is propagated in an elastic medium such as air.

2. Distinguish between absolute and difference threshold

Absolute Threshold: Minimum stimulation necessary to detect a stimulation. Difference Threshold: AKA Just Noticeable Difference- Minimum difference a person can detect in a stimulus.

bipolar cells

Activate the ganglion cells.

additive color mixing

Adding wavelengths of light. Keep adding and you get white.

frequency theory

Basilar membrane vibrates at the same rate as incoming frequency.

transduction

Conversion of one form of energy into another. In sensation, the transforming of stimulus energies such as sight, sound, and smells into neurons impulses our brain can interpret. Turning energy into neural impulses.

4. Describe major structures of the eye, and explain how they guide an incoming ray of light toward the eyes receptor cells

Cornea Pupil Iris Lens Retina How light gets into eye.

Cows Push Little Idiots Into Little Rooms

Cornea Pupil Iris Lens Retina How light gets into eye.

loudness

Determined by amplitude. Greater amplitude=louder sound.

sensory adaptation

Diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation.

rods

Do not see colors. More sensitive than cones. See in dim lights.

place theory

In hearing, the theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated. Hear different pitches because different parts of basilar membrane are activated.

7. Describe the three regions of the ear (outer, middle, inner) and outline the series of events that triggers the electrical impulses sent to the brain

Middle Ear: The chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing three bones(hammer, anvil, and stirrup) that concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochlea's oval window. Cochlea: A coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner through which sound waves trigger nerve impulses. Inner Ear: The innermost part of the ear, containing the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs.

9. State the purpose of pain and describe the biopsychosocial and gate control theory perspective on pain

Pain is the body's way of telling you to change your behavior immediately. Gate Control Theory: The theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological "gate" that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass onto the brain.

PAEOOCAB

Pinna Auditory Canal Eardrum Ossicles Oval Window Cochlea Auditory Nerve Brain How sound travels through ear.

timbre

Quality of sound.

cones

See color. Concentrated in fovea. Acuity- Ability to see details is greatest in fovea. Think C for Cones, C for Color

1. Contrast sensation and perception and explain the difference between bottom-up and top-down processing

Sensation: The process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment. Perception: The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events. Bottom Up: Data Top Down: Meaning

11. Describe the sense of smell and explain why specific odors so easily trigger memories

Smell, a chemical sense, has receptor cells that send messages to the brains olfactorybulb, then to the temporal lobe and to parts of the limbic system. An odor's ability to spontaneously evoke memories and feelings is due in part to the close connections between brain areas that process smell and those involved in memory stage.

10. Describe the sense of taste and explain the principle of sensory interaction

Taste is a chemical sense that is a composite of five basic sensations: sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. Sensory Interaction: The ability of one sense to influence another.

ganglion cells

The axons of which converge to form the optic nerve.

fovea

The central focal point in the retina, around which eye's cones clusters.

thresholds

The magnitude or intensity that must be exceeded for a certain reaction, phenomenon, result, or condition to occur or be manifested.

Weber's Law

The principle that to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage. The difference is not an amount but a percentage.

5. Define parallel processing and discuss its role in visual information processing

The processing of several aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain's natural mode of information processing for many functions; including vision.

vestibular sense

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

kinesthesis

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

8. Describe the sense of touch

Touch is actually 4 senses: Pressure Warmth Cold Pain

signal detection theory

We will detect a weak stimulus not only based on signal's strength but also our frame of mind.

subtractive color mixing

When paints are mixed. Absorbs all wavelengths. Eventually all wavelengths are absorbed causing black.

6. Explain how the Young-Helmholtz and Opponent-Process theories help us understand color vision

Young Helmoltz Trichomatic Theory: The theory that the retina contains 3 different color receptors- one most sensitve to red, one to green, one to blue- which when stimulated in combination can produce the perception of any color. Opponent Process Theory: The theory that opposing retinal processes(red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable color vision.