Psychology: Sensation, Perception, and
Learning Key Concepts WGU Velocity Vault:
OA Challenge Drills, PA Rubric Breakdowns,
Competency Acceleration & Power Study
Blueprint
Description
The WGU Velocity Vault is a high-impact academic
success resource designed specifically for students at
Western Governors University (WGU) who want to
move through courses with greater speed, stronger
understanding, and a more strategic approach to
learning. Built around WGU’s competency-based model,
this resource is designed to help students transform
scattered studying into a focused and results-driven
system that supports both academic performance and
long-term learning confidence.
This is not a traditional study guide filled with passive
notes and generic summaries. The Velocity Vault is
designed as a complete academic performance
framework that combines application-focused practice,
,competency-based preparation, assessment strategy
development, structured revision systems, and
productivity-focused learning methods. It is specifically
created for students who want to study smarter,
improve efficiency, and approach assessments with a
clear sense of direction and control.
Whether you are preparing for an Objective
Assessment, working through a complex Performance
Assessment, or trying to stay consistent in WGU’s self-
paced learning environment, this guide is built to help
you stay organized, confident, and academically
productive.
Absolute Threshold
the smallest amount of stimulus you can detect.
difference threshold (just noticeable difference)
detecting a change between 2 stimuli.
Weber's Law
To notice change, the change has to match the size of what is started with.
signal detection theory
Detecting something based on your personal decision making, not senses.
psychophysics
relationships between physical stimuli and how we percieve them.
, transduction
converting physical energy like sound or light to neural signals the brain can understand
selective attention
focusing on one thing while ignoring others
divided attention
trying to focus on multiple things at once
cocktail party effect
focusing on a convo in a noisy room but still noticing important info from the convo
inattentional blindness
failing to notice something in plain sight due to attention focused elsewhere.
rods
detecting light and darkbut no color detection
cones
detect color and detail
fovea
middle of retina and where the vision is best.
blind spot
where the optic nerve leaves the eye so and no cones or rods so no vision.
visual cortex
area in occipital lobe where brain proccesses visual info.
trichromatic theory
3 types of cones (red, green, blue) that make the colors we see.
opponent-process theory
color is proccessed using opposing pairs (red-green, blue-yellow, black- white)
color blindness
due to malfunctioning cones
Learning Key Concepts WGU Velocity Vault:
OA Challenge Drills, PA Rubric Breakdowns,
Competency Acceleration & Power Study
Blueprint
Description
The WGU Velocity Vault is a high-impact academic
success resource designed specifically for students at
Western Governors University (WGU) who want to
move through courses with greater speed, stronger
understanding, and a more strategic approach to
learning. Built around WGU’s competency-based model,
this resource is designed to help students transform
scattered studying into a focused and results-driven
system that supports both academic performance and
long-term learning confidence.
This is not a traditional study guide filled with passive
notes and generic summaries. The Velocity Vault is
designed as a complete academic performance
framework that combines application-focused practice,
,competency-based preparation, assessment strategy
development, structured revision systems, and
productivity-focused learning methods. It is specifically
created for students who want to study smarter,
improve efficiency, and approach assessments with a
clear sense of direction and control.
Whether you are preparing for an Objective
Assessment, working through a complex Performance
Assessment, or trying to stay consistent in WGU’s self-
paced learning environment, this guide is built to help
you stay organized, confident, and academically
productive.
Absolute Threshold
the smallest amount of stimulus you can detect.
difference threshold (just noticeable difference)
detecting a change between 2 stimuli.
Weber's Law
To notice change, the change has to match the size of what is started with.
signal detection theory
Detecting something based on your personal decision making, not senses.
psychophysics
relationships between physical stimuli and how we percieve them.
, transduction
converting physical energy like sound or light to neural signals the brain can understand
selective attention
focusing on one thing while ignoring others
divided attention
trying to focus on multiple things at once
cocktail party effect
focusing on a convo in a noisy room but still noticing important info from the convo
inattentional blindness
failing to notice something in plain sight due to attention focused elsewhere.
rods
detecting light and darkbut no color detection
cones
detect color and detail
fovea
middle of retina and where the vision is best.
blind spot
where the optic nerve leaves the eye so and no cones or rods so no vision.
visual cortex
area in occipital lobe where brain proccesses visual info.
trichromatic theory
3 types of cones (red, green, blue) that make the colors we see.
opponent-process theory
color is proccessed using opposing pairs (red-green, blue-yellow, black- white)
color blindness
due to malfunctioning cones
