AP psych Unit 4 Test
According to psychologists, how many senses do we have?
At least 9
________________ processing refers to how the physical characteristics of stimuli influence their interpretation. In other words, taking in a stimulus without any frame of reference
Bottom-up
What carries the sensory information from the nose to the brain?
Olfactory nerve
bottom-up processing
analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain's integration of sensory information.
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.
The theory that the retina contains three different color receptors; red, green and blue
Young-Helmholtz trichromatic (three-color) theory
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
sensory receptors
a sensory nerve ending that responds to a stimulus in the internal or external environment of an organism
The retina is
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
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
difference threshold
the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 percent of the time. We experience the difference threshold as a just noticeable difference (or jnd).
absolute threshold
the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time.
optic nerve
the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain
When two adjacent lights blink on and off in quick succession, we perceive a single light moving back and forth between them. This is called
the phi phenomenon.
blind spot
the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a "blind" spot because no receptor cells are located there
Weber's law
the principle that, to be perceived as different, two 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 far objects on the retina
perception
the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events.
We perceive the wavelength/frequency of the electromagnetic waves as _____________
color
As your teacher dims the lights to show a movie clip, you still perceive your friend's shirt as red. Which of the following best explains this phenomenon?
color constancy
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 adaptation
diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation.
One of the ways we perceive images is by organizing stimuli into an object seen against its surroundings. What is this perceptual tendency called?
figure-ground
his explains why touch can sometimes relieve pain:
gate-control theory
Kinesthetic sense involves
information from muscles, tendons and joints
top-down processing
information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations.
Where are the three smallest bones in your body found?
middle ear
You are an artist and you are interested in completing a painting that gives a three-dimensional appearance. You want to show a beach in the foreground of the painting, people swimming in the ocean, and sailboats in the distance. Which perceptual principles will be most helpful as you complete your painting?
monocular depth cues
feature detectors
nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement
Which sense senses pain? Stubbing your toe, or biting your cheek for example.
nociception
Interposition is a cue for depth perception in which closer objects
obstruct our view of distant objects.
The gate control theory is the belief that?
only one impulse is transmitted at a time
Proposed theory for color vision with opposing retinal process for red-green, yellow-blue, white-black.
opponent process theory
The theory that opposing retinal processes enable color vision
opponent-process theory
the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain
optic nerve
Which part of the ear is responsible for capturing sound and moving it into your ear?
outer ear
The study of paranormal events that investigates claims of ESP.
parapsychology
The study of paranormal phenomena including ESP and psychokinesis
parapsychology
We rely on binocular vision to
perceive depth
Percieving future events is
precognition
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
retina
When look at a book in front of you, you probably perceive it as rectangular rather than trapezoidal as it appears to your retina. This shows the importance of
shape constancy
Although textbooks frequently cast a trapezoidal image on the retina, students typically perceive the books as rectangular objects. This illustrates the importance of
shape constancy.
Blueish colors have _______________ wavelengths
short
Which theory emphasizes that personal expectations and motivations influence the level of absolute thresholds?
signal detection theory
a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus amid background stimulation
signal detection theory
When you are expecting an incoming text message, you are much more likely to notice it the second it arrives. This best illustrates
signal detection theory.
You see a friend approaching from the far end of the school courtyard. He looks small, but you assume he is his usual height because of
size constancy
A series of vibrations you can hear
sound
How fast Does an average blink last ?
1/10 of a second
Most foods are a combination of how many basic flavors?
5
Sound waves travel through air at about _______ miles per hour
750
Prolonged exposure to sound over _________ decibels leads to hearing loss
85
What is perceptual set?
Affects what we see, hear, and taste
Torsten Wiesel
Along with David Hubel discovered feature detector groups of neurons in the visual cortex that respond to different types of visual images
What is the process of focusing on a single conversation in a crowded room, but being able to hear your name being said acrosse the room?
Cocktail Effect
Sensation is to __________ as perception is to __________.
Detecting a stimulus; recognizing a stimulus
Which of the following is an example of sensory adaptation?
Finding the cold water of a swimming pool warmer after you've spent a few minutes in it
The tendencies of humans to group stimuli by similarity and by physical proximity to each other are illustrative of
Gestalt principles
Amazingly some people don't react the same way to some odours.
Our reaction to certain smells is learned through experience.
Which of the following are true when considering pain?
Pain is helpful because it helps keep animals' bodies safe from things that could do permanent damage and Pain is a personal experience and is different for everybody
________ occurs when sensory information is organized, interpreted, and consciously experienced.
Perception
What is Extra Sensory Perception?
Perception can occur with no sensory input
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?
Relative motion
Gathers information about color, shape, and size of eye and sends to the optic nerve.
Retina
A binocular cue that allows for depth perception when images from the two eyes differ
Retinal Disparity
What happens in the inner ear?
Sound waves are converted into nerve impulses.
What are the basic tastes?
Sweet, Salty, Bitter, Umami, Sour
When brain researchers refer to brain plasticity, they are talking about
The brain's ability to change and form new connections over damaged ones
Which is True?
There are more rods than cones and rods detect black and white
Which is true of 'supertasters'?
They are more sensitive and are more likely to not like things that are bitter
Why are some smells stronger than others?
They have more smell molecules than others
Where does the optic nerve take the visual information?
To the Thalamus and then to the Occipital Lobe
The principle that two stimuli must differ by a constant proportion for their difference to be perceived is known as...
Weber's law
What is Transduction?
When stimuli is translated into nerve impulses
psychokinesis
ability to move objects with one's mind
Noticing a stimulus at least 50% of the time is which of the following?
absolute threshold
Which part of your tongue are you using when you taste something sweet
all
subliminal
below one's absolute threshold for conscious awareness.
Clues about distance requiring two eyes.
binocular depth cues
If you had two different faucets, one hot and one cold, spraying water into your hand your body would perceive them
both would seem hot
When you are trying out a new food and trying to determine the taste & flavor, you are using this process
bottom-up
Alison opened her new jigsaw but soon realized that the puzzle pieces inside had nothing to do with the picture on the box. She completed the puzzle without knowing what the finished picture would look like. Which of the following did Allison use?
bottom-up processing
analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain's integration of sensory information
bottom-up processing
Where does HEARING (interpreting the nerve impulses) take place?
brain
We perceive the height/amplitude of electromagnetic waves as intensity, or ________________
brightness
When Jason briefly turned to summon the waiter, his wife quickly switched her glass of orange soda with his glass of grape soda. Jason's failure to notice that his chosen soda had been replaced best illustrates
change blindness.
Research participants picked one of two photographed faces as more attractive. When researchers cleverly switched the photos, participants readily explained why they preferred the face they had actually rejected. Their behavior illustrated
choice blindness
The smallest difference between two stimuli that can be detected 50% of the time is called
difference threshold
the claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input
extrasensory perception
change deafness
failing to notice change in auditory stimulus
change blindness
failing to notice changes in the environment.
inattentional blindness
failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere.
The Vestibular sense is the sense that
helps you keep your balance and know which way is up
The event in which an individual fails to perceive an unexpected stimulus that is in plain sight.
inattentional blindness.
The part of your eye that gives it its color. It is a muscle that controls the size of your pupil.
iris
colored ring of muscle tissue that controls the size of the pupil opening
iris
The smell of rotting flesh is particularly bad for humans because...
it would be deadly for us to consume.
This is an example of what type of monocular depth cue? (railroad going to converge)
linear perspective
What is the amplitude and frequency of the following wave?
loud and high pitch
Organizing information into meaningful experiences is called
perception
the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events. Is this a candlestick or two people's faces depends on our
perception
A psychological factor that determines how you perceive your environment is called
perceptual set
a mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another
perceptual set
Measure of how high or low a sound is
pitch
The activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing one's perception, memory or response
priming
Photographs of people were rated more positively if the photos immediately followed a briefly flashed image of kittens. This best illustrates the impact of
priming.
The perceptual tendency to group together stimuli that are near each other is called
proximity
ability to move objects with one's mind
psychokinesis
studies the relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli such as their intensity, and our psychological experience of them
psychophysics
cones
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.
rods
retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision, when cones don't respond
retinal receptors that detect black, white and gray
rods
You are at a party at a banquet hall. Even though everyone around is talking, you can hear and understand the person you are having a conversation with. It is as if you can block out all the other conversations. Psychologists would call this ability:
selective attention
Vertigo is a condition that causes dizziness and makes objects appear they are moving when not. It can be caused by an infection of the inner ear. Which structure is most likely being effected?
semicircular canal
part of ear that provides equilibrium
semicircular canals
David Hubel
sensation and perception - discovered feature detectors
Alice is eating a piece of fruit. After a while, she notices that the fruit tastes less sweet and tangy than it did when she first bit into it. Alice is experiencing ____.
sensory adaptation
Combining senses; such as understanding flavor as not just taste, but also a combination of sight, smell and texture; is an example of
sensory interaction
(of a stimulus or mental process) below the threshold of sensation or consciousness; perceived by or affecting someone's mind without their being aware of it.
subliminal
Combining senses; such as understanding flavor as not just taste, but also a combination of sight, smell and texture; is an example of
synaesthesia
is a condition when perception in one sense is triggered by a sensation in a DIFFERENT sense. Feeling that #7 is salty for example
synaethesia
What are the organs that contain receptors associated with the sense of taste?
taste buds
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
Which of the following influence our perception of pain (choose multiple)?
the brain's interpretation of CNS activity; literally sensing the pain previous experiences with pain that influence our expectation the reaction of others the presence of a chemical that blocks the pain the presence of a placebo
fovea
the central focal point in the retina, around which the eye's cones cluster
The ability to pay attention to only one voice at a time is called
the cocktail party effect.
ESP (extrasensory perception)
the controversial claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input
hue
the dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light; what we know as the color names blue, green, and so forth
wavelength
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 cosmic rays to the long pulses of radio transmission
selective attention
the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus.
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.
parapsychology
the study of paranormal phenomena, including ESP and psychokinesis
psychophysics
the study of relationships between the physical relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli, such as their intensity, and our psychological experience of them.
opponent process theory
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
Young-Helmholtz trichromatic (three-color) theory
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.
lens
the transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina
Sensing temperature is part of
thermoception
information processing guided by your pre existing knowledge or expectations to construct perceptions.
top down processing
Assuming this says "MR. FULLER'S PSYCHOLOGY CLASS IS THE BEST!" is most likely caused by our
top-down processing
The effect of prior experience and current expectations on perception best illustrates the importance of
top-down processing
The first time Joe had to put together a bicycle, it took a long time. Now that he has built several bicycles, he can put together a bicycle quickly and easily because he knows what the final product should look like. Joe's improved speed and skill can be attributed to ____.
top-down processing
information processing guided by higher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations
top-down processing
the 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.
transduction
The process by which our sensory systems convert stimulus energies into neural messages is called
transduction.
Proposed theory for color vision with cones that are differentially sensitive to different wavelengths of light.
trichromatic theory
A $1 Million prize has been offered in the past to anyone who can put their ESP abilities to scientific testing - and no one ever won the prize.
true
Cones detect color
true
Hearing sad music can influence people to perceive a sad meaning to words they hear.
true
If you plug your nose you can't taste your food as well....
true
Most children think French fries served in a brand-name restaurant's bag tasted better than fries served in a plain white bag.
true
The structure that divides the outer ear from the middle ear is the
tympanic membrane (ear drum)
Over the summer Mr. Fuller had to do a spinning bat challenge. After spinning around the bat 20 times he lost his balance and fell down right away because his ________ sense was not working.
vestibular
the principle that to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum PERCENTAGE
weber's law
