DISCOVERING PSYCHOLOGY: THE
SCIENCE OF MIND CH. 5 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
sensation - Answersthe process of detecting environmental stimuli or stimuli arising
from the body
perception - Answersthe process of interpreting sensory information
transduction - Answersthe translation of incoming sensory information into neural
signals
absolute threshold - Answersthe smallest amount of stimulus that can be deteted
difference threshold - Answersthe smallest detectable difference btwn two stimuli
signal detection - Answersthe analysis of sensory and decision making processes in the
detection of faint, uncertain stimuli
sensory adaptation - Answersthe tendency to pay less attention to a non-changing
source of stimulation
bottom-up processing - Answersperception based on building simple input into more
complex perceptions
top-down processing - Answersa perceptual process in which memory and other
cognitive processes are required for interpreting incoming sensory information
psychophysics - Answersthe study of relationships btwn the physical qualities of stimuli
and the subjective responses they produce
vision - Answersthe sense that allows us to process reflected light
retina - Answerslayers of visual processing cells in the back of the eye
fovea - Answersan area of the retina that is specialized for highly detailed vision
rod - Answersa photo receptor specialized to detect dim light
cone - Answersa photo receptor in the retina that processes color
optic nerve - Answersthe nerve exiting the retina of the eye
SCIENCE OF MIND CH. 5 EXAM
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS 2026
sensation - Answersthe process of detecting environmental stimuli or stimuli arising
from the body
perception - Answersthe process of interpreting sensory information
transduction - Answersthe translation of incoming sensory information into neural
signals
absolute threshold - Answersthe smallest amount of stimulus that can be deteted
difference threshold - Answersthe smallest detectable difference btwn two stimuli
signal detection - Answersthe analysis of sensory and decision making processes in the
detection of faint, uncertain stimuli
sensory adaptation - Answersthe tendency to pay less attention to a non-changing
source of stimulation
bottom-up processing - Answersperception based on building simple input into more
complex perceptions
top-down processing - Answersa perceptual process in which memory and other
cognitive processes are required for interpreting incoming sensory information
psychophysics - Answersthe study of relationships btwn the physical qualities of stimuli
and the subjective responses they produce
vision - Answersthe sense that allows us to process reflected light
retina - Answerslayers of visual processing cells in the back of the eye
fovea - Answersan area of the retina that is specialized for highly detailed vision
rod - Answersa photo receptor specialized to detect dim light
cone - Answersa photo receptor in the retina that processes color
optic nerve - Answersthe nerve exiting the retina of the eye
