Sensation & Perception Adv review

The point where the optic nerve exits the eye and where there are no photoreceptors.

Theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone

The sense of body orientation with respect to gravity

Specialized neurons that respond to stimuli by converting their excitation into a nerve signal.

Argues that the brain forms a perceptual whole that is more than the mere sum of its sensory parts.

Color perception is controlled by the activity of two opponent systems; blue-yellow mechanism and red-green mechanism

The Gestalt principle which states that we tend to group objects together when they are near each other.

Cortical region of the brain that receives, integrates, and processes visual information relayed from the retinas

Keeps track of body parts, relative to each other.

States that sensation depends on the characteristics of the stimulus, the background stimulation and the detector

Presenting images so quickly that the conscious mind does not perceive them, but the unconscious mind does

Spiral cavity of the inner ear containing the organ of Corti, produces nerve impulses in response to sound vibrations.

The Gestalt principle that we prefer percepts of connected and continuous figures to disconnected and disjointed ones.

Our sense of taste.

The level of stimulus necessary for a stimulus to be detected.

The study of our senses and their effect on our behavior.

Proposes we have a neural “gate” that can, under some circumstances, block incoming pain.

Light-sensitive cells (neurons) in the retina that convert light energy into neural energy.

A mental process that elaborates and assigns meaning to the incoming sensory patterns.

Analysis that emphasizes the characteristics of the stimuli rather than our concepts and expectations.

The process by which a stimulated receptor creates a pattern of neural messages that represent the stimulus in the brain

A law of magnitude that is more accurate than Fechner’s law and covers a wider variety of stimuli.

Analysis that emphasizes the perceiver’s expectations, concept memories and other cognitive factors.

This sense gathers light, focuses it, converts it to a neural signal and sends these signals on for further processing.

The number of waves that pass a fixed point in unit time, determines pitch.

The size of JND is proportional to the intensity of the stimulus

The Gestalt principle that we tend to group similar objects together in our perceptions.

Photoreceptors that are especially sensitive to dim light, but not color.

The part of the pattern that does not command attention

The bundle of neurons that carries the visual information from the retina to the brain.

The theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea’s membrane is stimulated.

Our sense of smell

Failing to notice change in the environment around us.

Failing to notice a change in a previously selected item

The Gestalt principle that we tend to group similar objects together that share a common motion or destination.

The physical strength of a wave-the “volume” of the sound; height of the wave.

Principle which states that the simplest organization, requiring the least cognitive effort, will emerge as the figure.

Includes three small bones. They are the malleus, the incus; and the stapes.

Photoreceptors that are especially sensitive to colors but not dim light.

Our sense of hearing

A readiness to detect a particular stimulus in a given situation (Ex: noises in an empty house perceived as threats)

The part of a pattern that commands attention

The smallest amount by which a stimulus can be changed and the difference be detected.

It supports hair cells, serves as the base layer of the organ of Corti

To be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than a consistent amount)

The ability to perceive an object or other stimulus that comes into contact with the surface of the skin.

The sensory process that converts energy, such as light or sound waves, into the form of neural messages.

Area in the eye with the highest concentration of rods and cones.

The diminishing responsiveness of our sensory systems to prolonged stimulation.

Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere.