PY 101 Exam 2
absolute threshold
The level of intensity that lifts a stimulus over the threshold of conscious
awareness; it's usually defined as the intensity level at which people can
detect the pressure of the stimulus 50% of the time
accommodation
the process through which the lens changes its shape temporarily to help
focus light on the retina
affordance
Recognizing opportunities for behavior through perception
basilar membrane
A flexible membrane running through the cochlea that, through its movement,
displaces the auditory receptor cells, or hair cells
binocular depth cues
Cues for depth that depend on comparisons between the two eyes
blind spot
,The point where the optic nerve leaves the back of the eye
bottom-up processing
Processing that is controlled by the physical message delivered to the scenes
brightness
The aspect of the visual experience that changes with light intensity; in
general, as the intensity of light increases, so does its perceived brightness
chemoreceptors
Receptor cells that react to invisible molecules scattered about in the air or
dissolved in liquids, leading to the senses of smell and taste
cochlea
The bony, snail-shaped sound processor in the inner ear where sound is
translated into nerve impulses
cold fibers
Neurons that respond to a cooling of the skin by increasing the production of
neural impulses
,cones
Receptor cells in the central portion of the retina that transduce light energy
into neural messages; they operate best when light levels are high, and they
are primarily responsible for the ability to sense color
convergence
A binocular cue for depth that is based on the extent to which the two eyes
move inward, or converge, when looking at an object
cornea
The transparent and protective outer covering of the eye
dark adaptation
The process through which the eyes adjust to dim light
difference threshold
The smallest detectable difference in the magnitude of two stimuli
feature detectors
Cells in the visual cortex that respond to very specific visual events, such as
bars or light at particular orientations
, flavor
A psychological term used to describe the gustatory experience; influenced by
taste, smell, and the visual appearance of food, as well as by expectation
about the food's quality
fovea
The "central pit" area in the retina where the cone receptors are located
frequency theory
The idea that pitch perception is determined partly by the frequency of neural
impulses traveling up the auditory pathway
gate-control theory
The idea that neural impulses generated by pain receptors can be blocked, or
gates, in the spinal cord by signals produced in the brain
Gestalt principles of organization
The organizing principles of perception proposed by the Gestalt psychologists.
These principles include the laws of prooximity, similarity, closure,
continuation, and common fate
gustation
absolute threshold
The level of intensity that lifts a stimulus over the threshold of conscious
awareness; it's usually defined as the intensity level at which people can
detect the pressure of the stimulus 50% of the time
accommodation
the process through which the lens changes its shape temporarily to help
focus light on the retina
affordance
Recognizing opportunities for behavior through perception
basilar membrane
A flexible membrane running through the cochlea that, through its movement,
displaces the auditory receptor cells, or hair cells
binocular depth cues
Cues for depth that depend on comparisons between the two eyes
blind spot
,The point where the optic nerve leaves the back of the eye
bottom-up processing
Processing that is controlled by the physical message delivered to the scenes
brightness
The aspect of the visual experience that changes with light intensity; in
general, as the intensity of light increases, so does its perceived brightness
chemoreceptors
Receptor cells that react to invisible molecules scattered about in the air or
dissolved in liquids, leading to the senses of smell and taste
cochlea
The bony, snail-shaped sound processor in the inner ear where sound is
translated into nerve impulses
cold fibers
Neurons that respond to a cooling of the skin by increasing the production of
neural impulses
,cones
Receptor cells in the central portion of the retina that transduce light energy
into neural messages; they operate best when light levels are high, and they
are primarily responsible for the ability to sense color
convergence
A binocular cue for depth that is based on the extent to which the two eyes
move inward, or converge, when looking at an object
cornea
The transparent and protective outer covering of the eye
dark adaptation
The process through which the eyes adjust to dim light
difference threshold
The smallest detectable difference in the magnitude of two stimuli
feature detectors
Cells in the visual cortex that respond to very specific visual events, such as
bars or light at particular orientations
, flavor
A psychological term used to describe the gustatory experience; influenced by
taste, smell, and the visual appearance of food, as well as by expectation
about the food's quality
fovea
The "central pit" area in the retina where the cone receptors are located
frequency theory
The idea that pitch perception is determined partly by the frequency of neural
impulses traveling up the auditory pathway
gate-control theory
The idea that neural impulses generated by pain receptors can be blocked, or
gates, in the spinal cord by signals produced in the brain
Gestalt principles of organization
The organizing principles of perception proposed by the Gestalt psychologists.
These principles include the laws of prooximity, similarity, closure,
continuation, and common fate
gustation
