Psychology Test Chapter 3

the point in each retina where there are no rods or cones because the cable of ganglion cells is extending through the retina wall

the fluid-filled, snail-shaped, bony chamber in the inner ear that contains the basilar membrane and its hair cells

the inability to distinguish certain colors from one another

the light-sensitive receptor cells in the retina that enable humans to see color and fine detail in adequate light but do not function in very dim light

a small area at the center of the retina that provides the clearest and sharpest vision because it has the largest concentration of cones

the number of cycles completed by a sound wave in one second, determining the pitch of the sound; measured in the unit called hertz

the theory of hearing that holds that hair cell receptors vibrate the same number of times per second as the sounds that reach them

the innermost portion of the ear, containing the cochlea, the vestibular sacs, and the semicicular canals

the transparent disc-shaped structure behind the iris and the pupil that changes shape as it focuses on objects at varying distances

the portion of the ear containing the ossicles, which connect the eardrum to the oval window and ampify sound waves

the sense of smell

two matchstick-sized structures above the nasal cavities, where smell sensations first register in the brain

the nerve that carries visual information from each retina to both sides of the brain

the theory of hearing that holds that each individual pitch a person hears is determined by the particular location along the basliar membrane of the cochlea that vibrates the most

the layer of tissue that is located on the inner surface of the eyeball and contains the sensory receptors for vision

the light-sensitive receptor cells in the retina that looks like slender cylinders and allow the eye to respond to as few as five photons of light

the minimum amount of sensory stimulation that can be detected 50% of the time

in vision, the flattening and bulging action of the lense as it focuses images of objects on the retina. in learning, the mental process of modifying existing schemes and creating new ones in order to incorporate new objects, events, experiences, and information

the measure of the loudness of a sound, expressed in the unit called the decibel

depth cues that depend on both eyes working together

information processing in which individual components of a stimulus are combined in the brain and prior knowledge is used to make inferences about these patterns

a unit of measurement for the loudness of sounds

the ability to perceive the visual world in three dimensions and to judge distances accuartely

a measurement of the smallest increase or decrease in a physical stimulus that is required to produce a difference in sensation that is noticeable 50% of the time

chemicals produced naturally by the brain that reduce pain and the stress of vigorous exercise and positively affect mood

the sense of taste

a flase perception or misperception of an actual stimulus in the environment

the phenomenon in which we shift our focus from one object to another and, in the process, fail to notice changes in objects to which we are not directly paying attention

the smallest change in sensation that a person is able to detect 50% of the time

depth cues that can be perceived by one eye alone

the visible part of the ear, consisting of the pinna and the auditory canal

the process by which sensory information is actively organized and interpreted by the brain

an expectation of what will be perceived, which can affect what actually is perceived

chemicals excreted by humans and other animals that can have a powerful effect on the behavior of other membranes of the same species

three fluid-filled tubular canals in the inner ear that sense the rotation of the head

the process through which the senses pick up visual, auditory and other sensory stimuli and transmit them to the brain

highly specialized cells in the sense organs that detect and respond to one type of sensory stimuli-light, sound or odor for example and transduce (convert) the stimuli into neural impulses

pertaining to the sense of touch

information processing in which previous experience and conceptual knowledge are applied in order to recognize the nature of a "whole" and then logically deduce the individual components of that whole

the process through which sensory receptors convert the sensory stimulation into neural impulses

the narrow band of electromagnetic waves that are visible to the human eye

the law stating that the just noticeable difference (jnd) for all the senses depends on a proportion or percentage of change in a stimulus rather than on a fixed amount of change