Psyc-158 Exam 1 questions and
answers
Psychophysics✔✔the study of relationships between the physical characteristics of
stimuli, such as their intensity, and our psychological experience of them
absolute threshold✔✔the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus
50 percent of the time; ex. How far away a candle has to be until you can't smell it
anymore
method of limits✔✔A psychophysical method for measuring threshold in which the
experimenter presents sequences of stimuli in ascending and descending order.
method of adjustment✔✔a psychophysical method in which the experimenter or the
observer adjusts the stimulus intensity in a continuous manner until the observer
detects the stimulus
method of constant stimuli✔✔A psychophysical method in which many stimuli,
ranging from rarely to almost always perceivable (or rarely to almost always
perceivably different from a reference stimulus), are presented one at a time.
Participants respond to each presentation: "yes/no," "same/different," and so on.
difference threshold✔✔the minimum difference between two stimuli required for
detection 50 percent of the time; ex. How many grams have to be added to a weight
to be detected as lighter or heavier than the base weight
Weber's Law✔✔the just noticeable difference of a stimulus is a constant proportion
despite variations in intensity
lesion✔✔tissue destruction. A brain _______ is a naturally or experimentally caused
destruction of brain tissue
ablation✔✔the removal of a body part or the destruction of its function
single cell recording✔✔a technique by which the firing rate and pattern of a single
receptor cell can be measured in response to varying sensory input
EEG✔✔An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across
the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
TMS✔✔the use of strong magnets to briefly interrupt normal brain activity as a way
to study brain regions
fMRI✔✔a form of magnetic resonance imaging of the brain that registers blood flow
to functioning areas of the brain
answers
Psychophysics✔✔the study of relationships between the physical characteristics of
stimuli, such as their intensity, and our psychological experience of them
absolute threshold✔✔the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus
50 percent of the time; ex. How far away a candle has to be until you can't smell it
anymore
method of limits✔✔A psychophysical method for measuring threshold in which the
experimenter presents sequences of stimuli in ascending and descending order.
method of adjustment✔✔a psychophysical method in which the experimenter or the
observer adjusts the stimulus intensity in a continuous manner until the observer
detects the stimulus
method of constant stimuli✔✔A psychophysical method in which many stimuli,
ranging from rarely to almost always perceivable (or rarely to almost always
perceivably different from a reference stimulus), are presented one at a time.
Participants respond to each presentation: "yes/no," "same/different," and so on.
difference threshold✔✔the minimum difference between two stimuli required for
detection 50 percent of the time; ex. How many grams have to be added to a weight
to be detected as lighter or heavier than the base weight
Weber's Law✔✔the just noticeable difference of a stimulus is a constant proportion
despite variations in intensity
lesion✔✔tissue destruction. A brain _______ is a naturally or experimentally caused
destruction of brain tissue
ablation✔✔the removal of a body part or the destruction of its function
single cell recording✔✔a technique by which the firing rate and pattern of a single
receptor cell can be measured in response to varying sensory input
EEG✔✔An amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across
the brain's surface. These waves are measured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
TMS✔✔the use of strong magnets to briefly interrupt normal brain activity as a way
to study brain regions
fMRI✔✔a form of magnetic resonance imaging of the brain that registers blood flow
to functioning areas of the brain
