Psychology Test 2

Academic Skills 420 with Sanchez at Arizona State University - Tempe

About this deck

By: Elle Abbruscato
Created: 2011-02-27
Size: 112 flashcards
Views: 12

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Sensation

process of detecting a physical stimulus such as light, sound, heat, or pressure

perception

process of integrating, organizing, and interpreting sensation

sensory receptors

specialized cells unique to each sense organ that respond to a particular form of sensory stimulation

transduction

the process by which a form of physica energy is converted into a coded neural signal that can be processed by the nervous system

absolute threshold

smallest possible strength of a stimulus that can be detected half the time

ex. hearing: absolute threshold=hear a tick of a watch at 20 ft

subliminal perception

the detection of stimuli that are below the threshold of conscious awareness; nonconscious perception

mere exposure effect

the finding that repeated exposure to a stimulus increases a person's preference for that stimulus

difference threshold

smallest possible difference between 2 stimuli that can be detected half the time

aka: just noticeable difference

Weber's Law

principle of sensation that holds that the size of the just noticeable difference will vary depending on its relation to the strength of the original stimulus

sensory adaption

the decline in sensitivity to a constant stimulus

wavelength

the distance from one wave peak to another

cornea

clear membrane covering the visible part of the eye that helps gather and direct incoming light

pupil

the opening in the middle of the iris that changes size to let in different amounts of light

Iris

the colored part of the eye, which is the muscle that control the size of the pupil

Lens

a transparent structure located behind the pupil that actively focuses, or bends, light as it enters the eye

Accommodation

process by which the lens changes shape to focus incoming light so that is falls on the retina

The Retina

thin, light-sensitive membrane located at the back of the eye that contains the sensory receptors for vision

rods

long, thin, blunt sensory receptors of the eye that are highly sensitive to light

NOT to color

primarily responsible for peripheral vision and night vision

Cones

short, thick, pointed sensory receptors of the eye that detect color and are responsible for color vision and visual acuity

Fovea

small area in center of retina, composed entirely of cones, where visual info is most sharply focused

The Blind Spot

point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, producing small gap in field of vision

Optic Disk

area of the retina without rods or cones, where the optic nerve exits the back of the eye

Ganglion Cells

in the retina, specialized neurons that connect to the bipolar cells; the bundled axons form the optic nerve

bipolar cells

in the retina, the specialized neurons that connect the rods and cones with the ganglion cells

optic nerve

thick nerve that exits from back of the eye and carries visual info the the visual cortex in the brain

Optic Chiasm

point in the brain where the optic nerve fibers from each eye meet and partly cross over to the opposite side of the brain

Color

perceptual experience of different wavelengths of light, involving hue saturation and brightness

Saturation

the property of color that corresponds to the purity of the light waves

Brightness

perceived intensity of a color, corresponds to amplitude of the light wave

Trichromatic Theory of Color Vision

sensation of color results because cones in retina are especially sensitive to red light, green light, or blue light

-good explanation for colorblindness

The Opponent-Process Theory

color vision is the product of opposing pairs of color receptors, red-green, blue-yellow, and black-white, when one member of a color is stimulated, the other member is inhibited

Afterimage

visual experience that occurs after the original source of stimulation is no longer present

Outer Ear

collects sound waves

-pinna, ear canal, and eardrum

Ear Drum

tightly stretched membrane at end of the ear canal that vibrates when hit by sound waves

middle ear

amplifies sound waves

-the anvil, hammer, and stirrup

inner ear

sound is transduced into neural impulses

-cochlea and semicircular canals

cochlea

coiled, fluid-filled inner ear structure that contains the basilar membrane and hair cells

Basilar Membrane

within the cochlea of the ear that contains the hair cells

hair cells

hairlike sensory receptors for sound

Frequency Theory

basilar membrane vibrates at the same frequency as the sound wave

Place Theory

different frequencies cuase larger vibrations at different locations along the basilar membrane

Olfaction

Sense of smell

Gustation

sense of taste

Olfactory bulb

enlarged ending of the olfactory cortex at the front of the brain where snesation of smell is registered

phermones

chemical signals released by an animal that communicate info and affect the behavior of other animals of the same species

taste buds

specialized sensory receptors for taste that are located on the tongue and inside the mouth and throat

Noiceptors

specialized sensory receptors for pain that are found in the skin, muscles, and internal organs

substance P

neurotransmitter that is involed in the transmission of pain messages to the brain

Gate-Control Theory of Pain

pain is product of both physiological and psychological factors that cause spinal gates to open and relay patterns of intense stimulation to the brain, which perceives them as pain

kinesthetic sense

sense of location and position of body parts in relation to one another

proprioceptors

sensory receptors, located in the muscles and joints, provide info about body position and movement

vestibular membrane

technical sense of balance (equilibrium)

bottom-up processing

emphasizes the importance of the sensory receptors in detecting the basic features of a stimulus in the process of recognizing the whole pattern

aka: date-driven processing

top-down processing

emphasizes importance of the observer's knowledge, expectations, and other cognitive processes in arriving at meaningful perceptions

aka: conceptually driven processing

Gestalt Psychology

school of psychology founded in Germany in early 1900's. Maintained that our sensations are actively processed according to consistent perceptual rules that result in meaningful whole perceptions, or gestalts,

figure-ground relationship

gestalt principle of perceptual organization that states that we automatically seperate the elements of a perception into the feature that clearly stands out and its less distinct background

Monocular cues

distance or depth cues that an be processed by either eye alone

binocular cues

distance of depth cues that require the use of both eyes

perceptual constancies

the tendency to perceive objects, especially familiar objects, as constant and unchanging despite changes in sensory input

size constancy

the perception of an object as maintaining the same size despite changing images on the retina

shape constancy

the perception of a familiar object as maintaining the same shape regardless of the image produced on the retina

perceptual illusions

the misperception of the true characteristics of an object or an image

moon illusion

misperception that the moon is larger when it is on the horizon than when it is directly overhead

perceptual set

the tendency to perceive objects or situations from a particular frame of reference

circadian rhythm

a cycle/rhythm that is roughly 24 hours long

suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN)

cluster of neurons in the hypothalamus in the brain that governs the timing of circadian rhythms

aka: the body's clock

melatonin

a hormone manufactured by the pineal gland that produces sleepyness

Electronecephalograph

instrument that uses electrodes placed on the scalp to measure and record the brains electrical activity

REM

rapid eye movements; dreaming occurs and voluntary muscle activity is suppressed

aka: active sleep/paradoxical sleep

NREM

quiet, typically dreamless sleep in which rapid eye movements are a

NREM Stage 1

mix of alpha and theta brain waves

NREM Stage 2

sleep spindles, k complexes, theta and beginning of delta brain waves

NREM Stage 3

mix of theta and delta brain waves

NREM State 4

Delta Brain waves

Beta Brain waves

alert awakeful

alpha brain waves

relaxed wakefulness and drowsiness

hypnagogic hallucinations

vivd sensory phenomena that occur during the onset of sleep

sleep spindles

short bursts of brain activity that characterizes stage 2 NREM sleep

k complex

single but large high voltage spike of brain activity that characterizes stage 2

REM Rebound

phenomenon in which a person who is deprived of REM sleep greatly increases the amount of time spent in REM sleep at the first opportunity to sleep uninterupted

Sleep thinking

vague, bland, thoughtlike ruminations about real-life events that typically occur during NREM sleep

nightmare

a vivid and frightening or unpleasanton anxiety dream that occurs during REM

Manifest content

in Freud's psychanalytic theory, the elements of a dream that are consciously experience and remembered by the dreamer

Latent Content

In freud's psychanalytic theory, the unconscious wishes, thoughts, and urges that are concealed in the manifest content of a dream

activation

synthesis model of dreaming- the theory that brain activity during sleep produces dream images, which are combined by the brain into a dream story

dyssomnias

disruptions in amount, quality, or timing of sleep; includes insomnia, obstructive sleep apnea, and narcolepsy

parasomnias

arousal of activation during sleep or sleep transitions

ex. sleepwalking, sleep terrors, sleep sex, etc.

insomnia

a condition in which a person regularly experience inability to fall asleep, to stay asleep, or to feel adequately rested by sleep

obstructive sleep apnea

person repeatedly stops breathing during sleep

narcolepsy

excessive daytime sleepyness and brief lapses into sleep throughout the day

cataplexy

sudden loss of voluntary muscle strength and control that is usually triggered by an intense emotion

hypocretins

special class of neurotransmitters produced during the daytime to maintain a steady state of wakefulness

sleep terrors

increased physiological arousal, intense fear and panic, frightening hallucinations and no recall of the episode the next morning

NREM stage 3/4

REM sleep behavior disorder

brain's failure to suppress voluntary actions during REM sleep resulting in the sleeper verbally and physically responding to the dream story

posthynotic suggestion

suggestion made during hypnosis that the person should carry out a specific instruction following the hypnotic session

posthypnotic amnesia

inability to recall specific info because of a hynotic suggestion

hyperamnesia

supposed enhancement of a person's memory for past events through a hynotic suggestion

dissociation

splitting of consciousness into 2 or more simulaneous streams of mental activity

Neodissociation theory of hynosis

proposed by Ernest Hilgard, explains hypnotic effects as being due to the splitting of consciousness into 2 simultaneous steams of mental activity only one of which the hynotic participant is consciously aware of during hynosis

meditation

using 1 of various techniques to deliberately change conscious experience, inducing a state of focused attention and awareness

psychoactive drugs

alter consciousness by changing arousal, mood, thinking, sensations, and perceptions

dissociative anesthetics

reduce sensitivity to pain and produce feelings of detachment and dissociation

-PCP and Ketamine

drug abuse

drug taking that causes harm to self or others

psychological dependence

desire or craving for the drug

physical dependence

bodily processes change, drug becomes neccessary for daily functioning

tolerance

increase need for the drug to get same effect

withdrawal

adverse reaction when stop a drug

rebound

opposite of drug's effect

Depressants

inhibit central nervous system

-alcohol

-inhalents

-barbituates: reduce anxiety and produce sleepyness

-tranquilizers

Stimulants

increase central nervous system activity

-caffeine: most used psychoactive drug in the world

- nicotine

-amphetamines

-cocaine

-stimulant: induce psychosis

Opiates

chemically similar to morphine, addictive, relieve pain, mimic endorphins and produce euphoria

- narcotics

-natural: opium, morphine, codeine

-synthetic: heroine

Psychedelics

distort sensory perceptions

-natural: mescaline, psilybin

-synthetic: LSD

-seotonin

-marijuana: THC

-anadamide: transmitter THC effects

About this deck

By: Elle Abbruscato
Created: 2011-02-27
Size: 112 flashcards
Views: 12

About StudyBlue

“I have used this website for three exams, and I see a huge difference in my test results.”
Naj