Download Glossary Chapter 3 absolute threshold the minimal amount of

Glossary
Chapter 3
absolute
threshold
the minimal amount of energy that can produce a sensation
afterimage
the lingering visual impression made by a stimulus that has been removed
auditory nerve the axon bundle that transmits neural impulses from the organ of Corti to the brain
basilar
membrane
a membrane that lies coiled within the cochlea
binocular cues
stimuli suggestive of depth that involve simultaneous perception by both eyes
bipolar cells
neurons that conduct neural impulses from rods and cones to ganglion cells
blind spot
the area of the retina where axons from ganglion cells meet to form the optic nerve
bottom-up
processing
the organization of the parts of a pattern to recognize, or form an image of, the
pattern they compose
brightness
constancy
the tendency to perceive an object as being just as bright even though lighting
conditions change its intensity
closure
the tendency to perceive a broken figure as being complete or whole
cochlea
the inner ear; the bony tube that contains the basilar membrane and the organ of
Corti
color constancy the tendency to perceive an object as being the same color even though lighting
conditions change its appearance
common fate
the tendency to perceive elements that move together as belonging together
complementary descriptive of colors of the spectrum that when combined produce white or nearly
white light
cones
cone-shaped photoreceptors that transmit sensations of color
continuity
the tendency to perceive a series of points or lines as having unity
convergence
a binocular cue for depth based on the inward movement of the eyes as they attempt
to focus on an object that is drawing nearer
cornea
transparent tissue forming the outer surface of the eyeball
dark
adaptation
the process of adjusting to conditions of lower lighting by increasing the sensitivity of
rods and cones
decibel (dB)
a unit expressing the loudness of a sound
desensitization the type of sensory adaptation in which we become less sensitive to constant stimuli.
Also called negative adaptation
dichromat
a person who is sensitive to black–white and either red– green or blue–yellow and
hence is partially color-blind
difference
threshold
the minimal difference in intensity required between two sources of energy so that
they will be perceived as being different
extrasensory
perception
(ESP)
perception of objects or events through means other than the recognized sensory
organs
feature
detectors
neurons in the sensory cortex that fire in response to specific features of sensory
information such as lines or edges of objects
flavor
a complex quality of food and other substances that is based on their odor, texture,
and temperature as well their taste
fovea
an area near the center of the retina that is dense with cones and where vision is
consequently most acute
frequency
theory
the theory that the pitch of a sound is reflected in the frequency of the neural
impulses that are generated in response to the sound
ganglion cells
neurons whose axons form the optic nerve
hertz (Hz)
a unit expressing the frequency of sound waves. One hertz equals one cycle per
second
hue
the color of light, as determined by its wavelength
illusions
sensations that give rise to misperceptions
iris
a muscular membrane whose dilation regulates the amount of light that enters the
eye
just noticeable the minimal amount by which a source of energy must be increased or decreased so
difference (jnd) that a difference in intensity will be perceived
kinesthesis
the sense that informs us about the positions and motion of parts of our bodies
lens
a transparent body behind the iris that focuses an image on the retina
monochromat
a person who is sensitive to black and white only and hence color-blind
monocular cues stimuli suggestive of depth that can be perceived with only one eye
motion parallax a monocular cue for depth based on the perception that nearby objects appear to
move more rapidly in relation to our own motion
olfactory nerve the nerve that transmits information concerning odors from olfactory receptors to
the brain
opponentthe theory that color vision is made possible by three types of cones, some of which
process theory respond to red or green light, some to blue or yellow, and some to the intensity of
light
optic nerve
the nerve that transmits sensory information from the eye to the brain
organ of Corti
the receptor for hearing that lies on the basilar membrane in the cochlea
perception
the process by which sensations are organized into an inner representation of the
world
perceptual
organization
the tendency to integrate perceptual elements into meaningful patterns
perspective
a monocular cue for depth based on the convergence (coming together) of parallel
lines as they recede into the distance
photoreceptors cells that respond to light
pitch
the highness or lowness of a sound, as determined by the frequency of the sound
waves
place theory
the theory that the pitch of a sound is determined by the section of the basilar
membrane that vibrates in response to the sound
presbyopia
a condition characterized by brittleness of the lens
proximity
nearness; the perceptual tendency to group together objects that are near one
another
pupil
the black-looking opening in the center of the iris, through which light enters the eye
retina
the area of the inner surface of the eye that contains rods and cones
retinal
disparity
a binocular cue for depth based on the difference in the image cast by an object on
the retinas of the eyes as the object moves closer or farther away
rods
rod-shaped photoreceptors that are sensitive only to the intensity of light
sensation
the stimulation of sensory receptors and the transmission of sensory information to
the central nervous system
sensitization
the type of sensory adaptation in which we become more sensitive to stimuli that are
low in magnitude. Also called positive adaptation
sensory
adaptation
the processes by which organisms become more sensitive to stimuli that are low in
magnitude and less sensitive to stimuli that are constant or ongoing in magnitude
shape
constancy
the tendency to perceive an object as being the same shape although the retinal
image varies in shape as it rotates
signaldetection
theory
the view that the perception of sensory stimuli involves the interaction of physical,
biological, and psychological factors
similarity
the perceptual tendency to group together objects that are similar in appearance
size constancy
the tendency to perceive an object as being the same size even as the size of its
retinal image changes according to the object’s distance
stroboscopic
motion
a visual illusion in which the perception of motion is generated by a series of
stationary images that are presented in rapid succession
subliminal
stimulation
sensory stimulation below a person’s absolute threshold for conscious perception
taste buds
the sensory organs for taste; they contain taste cells and are located mostly on the
tongue
taste cells
receptor cells that are sensitive to taste
texture
gradient
a monocular cue for depth based on the perception that closer objects appear to
have rougher (more detailed) surfaces
top-down
processing
the use of contextual information or knowledge of a pattern in order to organize
parts of the pattern
trichromat
a person with normal color vision
trichromatic
theory
the theory that color vision is made possible by three types of cones, some of which
respond to red light, some to green, and some to blue
vestibular
sense
the sense of equilibrium that informs us about our bodies’ positions relative to
gravity
visible light
the part of the electromagnetic spectrum that stimulates the eye and produces visual
sensations
visual acuity
sharpness of vision
Weber’s
constant
the fraction of the intensity by which a source of physical energy must be increased
or decreased so that a difference in intensity will be perceived