Front | Back |
The activation of the sense organs by a source of physical energy
|
Sensation
|
The sorting out, interpretation, analysis, and integration of stimuli by the sense organs and brain
|
Perception
|
Energy that produces a response in a sense organ
|
Stimulus
|
The study of the relationship between the physical aspects of stimuli and our psychological experience of them
|
Psychophysics
|
The smallest intensity of a stimulus that must be present for the stimulus to be detected
|
Absolute threshold
|
An adjustment in sensory capacity after prolonged exposure to unchanging stimuli
|
Adaptation
|
The activation of neurons in the cortex by visual stimuli of specific shapes or patterns
|
Feature detection
|
The theory that there are three kinds of cones in the retina, each of which responds primarily to a specific range of wavelengths
|
Trichromatic theory of color vision
|
The theory that receptor cells for color are linked in pairs, working in opposition to each other
|
Opponent-process theory of color vision
|
The theory that different areas of the basilar membrane respond to different frequencies
|
Place theory of hearing
|
The theory that the entire basilar membrane acts like a microphone, vibrating as a whole in response to a sound
|
Frequency theory of hearing
|
Three tubelike structures of the inner ear containing fluid that sloshes through them when the head moves, signaling rotational or angular movement to the brain
|
Semicircular canals
|
Tiny, motion-sensitive crystals within the semicircular canals that sense body acceleration
|
Otoliths
|
The senses of touch, pressure, temperature, and pain
|
Skin senses
|
The theory that particular nerve receptors in the spinal cord lead to specific areas of the brain related to pain
|
Gate-control theory of pain
|