MCAT Psychology Ch. 2 Sensation & Perception

A raw signal of sensory information

How sensation is perceived through higher order processing in relation to our internal & external environment

Include the 4 lobes of the brain, where sensation is processed

The threshold a stimulus must cross for a neuron to fire

The threshold that must be crossed in order for yo to actually recognize a stimulus, sometimes a neuron may fire, but you still won't notice the stimulus

The amount of difference needed between 2 stimuli before a person realizes that they are different (ex: person can't tell difference between 440 & 441 Hz, but can between 440 & 443 Hz)

There is a constant ratio between the change in stimulus magnitude needed to produce a just-noticeable difference & the magnitude of the original stimulus

Idea that perception is affected by nonsensory factors like experiences, motives, & expectations

Tendency of subjects to systematically respond to a stimulus in a particular way due to nonsensory factors

Provides structural support to eye

Gathers & focuses light in eye

Allows passage of light from anterior to posterior chamber in eye

Divides front of eye into anterior & posterior chambers; controls pupil size in eye; has 2 muscles: dilator pupillae - opens pupil under sympathetic stimulation, & constrictor pupillae - constricts pupil under parasympathetic stimulation

Produces aqueous humor & accomodates (shortens & lengthens) the lens in eye