Chapter 4

The perceptual experience of one sense that is brought about by another sense

The act of using our sensory system to detect environmental stimulii

Recognizing and identifying sensory stimulus

Sensory receptor cells and sensory transduction

specialized cells that convert a specific form of environmental stimuli into neural impulses

The process of converting a specific form of sensory data into a neural impulse that our brain can read

The smallest amount of a stimulus that one can detect

the minimal change in stimulus that can barely be detected

The just noticeable difference of a stimulus is a constant proportion despite variations in intensity

the raw sensory data is sent to the brain and your brain uses all of that data to build a perception (new info)

use previously learned information to help recognize and interpret the data coming into your brain

the readiness to interpret a certain stimulus in a certain way

odorants > 5 mil receptors > molecule into neural impulses > olfactory bulb

Papillae > chemicals into neural impulse > thalamus > cerebral cortex

Sweet, Sour, Salt, Umami, Bitter (SSSUB)

Olfactory receptors > olfactory cortex > limbic system

Taste buds > gustatory cortex, samotosensory cortex > limbic system

Combo of skin senses

Sensory neurons > pressure > spinal cord > thalamus > somatosensory cortex

prevents messages from reaching part of the brain where they are perceived as pain

rare genetic condition associated with an inability to detect pain or temperature

tactile hallucinations of touch, pressure, vibration and pain in the body part that no long exists

Mirror box experiment is when you draw the shape you see in the mirror onto your paper.

Vibration of air

the number of cycles per second in a wave (Hz), determines pitch

The magnitude (dB), determines loudness

Sound wave enters > eardrum > thin membrane moves > middle ear > oval window > creates vibrations that moves fluid to cochlea > basilar membrane > hair cells move > neural impulses to brain

Vibration of basilar membrane at different places results in different pitches/frequencies

Different sound frequencies are converted into different rates of action potentials or firing. High frequency sounds = rapid firing

louder sounds seem closer

The ear closer to the sound hears a louder noise than the ear farther from the sound

sound waves will reach the ear closer to the source of the sound before they reach the ear farther away

Cochlea > brainstem > thalamus > auditory cortex > auditory association areas in the cortex

Information transmitted from different parts of the cochlea is projected to specific parts of the auditory cortex

Light waves > cornea > pupil > lens > retina > rods and cones transduce light waves into neural impulses > optic nerve >visual cortex

periphery and night vision, not as acute as cones, more rods than cones

Central and colour vision, very acute

ability to see fine detail

the process by which the eye maintains a clear image on the retina

near, farsightedness

There are three different sensors for colour and each type responds to a different range of wavelengths of light.

more red weakens green, remove red, see green. The activation of one cone at retinal level inhibits another cone.

are arranged in opposing cells: red-green, yellow-blue, black-white

Damage to the "what" pathway, cannot recognize objects

A form of visual agnosia in which people cannot recognize faces

Damage to the "where pathway; people ignore one side of their visual field; only doing things to one side

organize small pieces of sensory experience into meaningful wholes

visual info is organized into coherent images, the whole is more than the sum of its parts

group nearby figures together

group similar figures together

cues from both eyes

the tendency of the eyes to move toward each other as we focus on objects up close

different images of objects are cast on the retinas of each eye