sensation
the stimulation of sensory receptors and the transmission of sensory information to the brain
perception
the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information
absolute threshold
the smallest amount of a particular stimulus that can be detected
difference threshold
the minimum difference that an individual can detect between two stimuli
signal-detection theory
the idea that distinguishing sensory stimuli takes into account not only the strength of the stimuli but also such elements as setting and one's physical state, mood, and attitudes
sensory adaptation
the process by which an organism becomes more sensitive to stimuli that are low in magnitude and less sensitive to stimuli that are constant
pupil
the opening in the center of the eye that adjusts to allow light to enter
lens
the transparent structure of the eye that focuses light on the retina
retina
the light-sensitive inner surface of the eye that contains the rods, cones, and neurons that process visual stimuli
photoreceptors
neurons that respond to light
blind spot
the part of the retina that contains no photoreceptors
visual acuity
keenness or sharpness of vision
complementary
the colors across from each other on the color circle
afterimage
the visual sensation that occurs after the original stimulus has been removed
cochlea
the fluid-filled structure of the inner ear that transmits sound impulses to the auditory nerve
auditory nerve
the cranial nerve that carries sound from the cochlea of the inner ear to the brain
conductive deafness
hearing loss caused by damage to the middle ear, thus interfering with the transmission of sound waves to the cochlea
sensorineural deafness
deafness that results from damage to the auditory nerve
olfactory nerve
the nerve that transmits information about odors from olfactory receptors to the brain
gate theory
the suggestion that only a certain amount of information can be processed by the nervous system at a given time
vestibular sense
the sense that provides information about the position of the body
kinesthesis
the sense that provides information about the position and movement of the individual body parts
closure
the tendency to perceive a complete or whole figure even when there are gaps in sensory information
proximity
the perceptual tendency to group together visual and auditory events that are near each other
similarity
the perceptual tendency to group together elements that seem alike
continuity
the perceptual tendency to group stimuli into continuous patterns
common fate
the tendency to perceive objects that are moving together as belonging together
stroboscopic motion
a visual illusion in which the perception of motion is generated by the presentation of a series of stationary images in rapid succession
monocular cues
cues for distance that may be available to either eye alone
binocular cues
visual cues for depth that require the use of both eyes
retinal disparity
a binocular cue for perceiving depth based on the difference between the two images of an object that the retina receives as the object moves closer or farther away.