Sensation (Psychology 7)

The sensory __________, such as the ear and eye, are sensitive to external or internal stimuli. A. organs B. receptors C. transduction D. adaptation

A. organs

When an individual registers sensory input without being aware of the process consciously, __________ occurs. A. subliminal stimulation B. sensory adaptation C. signal detection processing D. absolute threshold

A. subliminal stimulation

Gustav Theodor Fechner was a German philosopher and physicist who __________. A. founded psychophysics and developed techniques to measure sensation B. developed a psychological law that would later be known as Weber's law C. created several measurement techniques to measure light and sound D. pioneered work on the powerful effects of subliminal stimulation

A. founded psychophysics and developed techniques to measure sensation

Which of the following receptors enable balance and movement? A. mechanoreceptors B. chemoreceptors C. photoreceptors D. thermoreceptors

A. mechanoreceptors

Explain what the international research team discovered and where this discovery is located in the body

A team of international researchers discovered a hidden sensory system located throughout the blood vessels and sweat glands

Although Thomas was sitting right next to his friends in the park, he was able to smell buttered popcorn a couple of minutes before they did. He has a lower __________ for smells than his friends. A. tolerance level B. absolute threshold C. difference threshold D. sensory transduction

B. absolute threshold

The first step in sensation for some sensory systems is the __________, which modify incoming stimuli. A. sensory receptors B. accessory structures C. absolute thresholds D. thermoreceptors

B. accessory structures

The __________ lobe contains the primary sensory cortex, which controls sensations such as touch or pressure. A. occipital B. parietal C. temporal D. frontal

B. parietal

A person's willingness to respond to a particular stimulus is called __________. A. sensory bias B. response criteria C. stimuli adaptation D. internal noise

B. response criteria

Which of the following can influence one's ability to detect stimuli and increase one's responsiveness to stimuli in dangerous situations? A. stimuli criteria B. response criteria C. difference threshold D. detection threshold

B. response criteria

Stimulation of the senses through the transmission of sensory information to the central nervous system is called __________. A. stimuli B. sensation C. psychophysics D. senses

B. sensation

__________ enable humans to see and detect the color of different objects. A. Pain receptors B. Chemoreceptors C. Photoreceptors D. Mechanoreceptors

C. Photoreceptors

Which of the following best defines absolute threshold? A. The presence of stimulus for detection. B. The absence of stimulus from detection. C. The weakest amount of stimulus one can detect. D. The greatest amount of stimulus one can detect.

C. The weakest amount of stimulus one can detect.

Which of the following react directly to light, sound, or other stimuli by sending impulses to other neurons and, eventually, to the central nervous system? A. sensory adaptations B. absolute thresholds C. sensory receptors D. accessory structures

C. sensory receptors

The process occurring at the sensory receptors that converts physical energy into coded neural activity that the nervous system can process is called __________. A. thermoreceptor processing B. cerebral cortex control C. sensory transduction D. accessory restructuring

C. sensory transduction

Lucas is a sommelier, or a wine taster, whose task is to taste the slightest flavor differences between two wines. This is an example of __________. A. absolute threshold B. sensory limitation C. subliminal stimulation D. difference threshold

D. difference threshold

Which of the following is not one of the core concepts of psychophysics? A. identification B. discrimination C. detection D. individualization

D. individualization

All of the following are concepts in psychophysics except __________. A. detection B. identification C. discrimination D. introspection

D. introspection

Signal Detection Theory

Definition A theory that predicts how and when one detects the presence of weak stimuli amidst background noise. Usage Signal detection theory looks at how people make decisions under noisy conditions.

Senses

Definition Any of the faculties by which animals and humans perceive stimuli. Usage The senses allow humans and animals to see objects and hear sounds, among other things.

Sensory Receptors

Definition Nerve cells located in the sensory organs that react directly to light, sound, or other stimuli by sending impulses to other neurons and to the central nervous system. Usage Sensory receptors account for our ability to see, hear, taste, and smell and to sense touch, pain, temperature, and body position.

Sensory Adaptation

Definition The automatic process in which an organism becomes more sensitive to new stimuli and less sensitive to constant stimuli. Usage Sensory adaptation is what enables people to remark that a lemon candy no longer tastes sour.

Difference Threshold

Definition The minimum amount of difference that can be detected between two stimuli. Usage An example of difference threshold is a chef's ability to detect very faint differences between spices.

Weber's Law

Definition The principle that the difference threshold, or the just noticeable difference, is a constant proportion of the original size of the stimulus value. Usage Weber's law can be illustrated by the fact that if one is in a noisy room, one will only notice a difference if someone shouts.

Transduction

Definition The process of converting physical energy into a coded neural activity that the nervous system can process. Usage Without transduction, the brain would not be able to process physical energy.

Sensation

Definition The stimulation of the senses and the transmission of sensory information to the central nervous system. Usage Joe felt a painful sensation in his arm when the bee stung him.

Absolute Threshold

Definition The weakest amount of a stimulus one can detect. Usage The absolute threshold in humans for smell is about one drop of perfume in a small house.

True or False: According to research findings, individuals should be highly concerned about the lasting effects of exposure to subliminal messages.

False

Briefly describe signal detection theory, and explain what influences our detection of stimuli.

Signal detection theory predicts how one detects the presence of weak stimuli amidst background noise. Detection of stimuli depends on the intensity of the stimuli, environmental noise, response criteria, physical factors such as fatigue or healthiness, and psychological factors such as motivation or expectations.

True or False: An individual's experience of the world depends on both the stimuli they encounter within their environment and how they process that stimuli.

True

True or False: German philosopher and physicist Gustav Theodor Fechner founded psychophysics.

True

True or False: Noise that interferes with the ability to detect stimuli can come from any irrelevant stimuli in the environment.

True

True or False: The most complex processing of sensory information occurs in the cerebral cortex.

True

True or False: Under ideal conditions, a human can detect a candle flame 30 miles away on a clear night.

True