Ch. 6 Perception Vocab

Selective attention: the focusing of conscious awareness on a particular stimulus, as in the cocktail party effect.

Inattentional blindness: failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere.

Visual capture: the tendency for vision to dominate the other senses.

Gestalt: an organized whole. Gestalt psychologists emphasized our tendency to integrate pieces of information into meaningful wholes.

Figure-ground: the organization of the visual field into objects (the figures) that stand out from their surroundings (the ground).

Grouping: the perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups.

Depth perception: the ability to see objects in three dimensions although the images that strike the retina are two-dimensional; allows us to judge distance.

Visual cliff: a laboratory device for testing depth perception in infants and young animals.

Binocular cues: depth cues, such as retinal disparity and convergence, that depend on the use of two eyes.

Retinal disparity: a binocular cue for perceiving depth: By comparing images fomr the two eyeballs, the brain computes distance- the greater the disparity (difference) between the two images, the closer the object.

Convergence: a binocular cue for perceiving depth; the extent to which the eyes converge inward when looking at an object. The greater the inward strain, the closer the object.

Monocular cues: depth cues, such as interposition and linear perspective, available to either eye alone.

Phi phenomenon: an illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in quick succession.

Perceptual constancy: perceiving objects as unchanging (having consistent lightness, color, shape, and size) even as illumination and retinal images change.

Perceptual adaptation: in vision, the ability to adjust to an artificially displaced or even inverted visual field.

Perceptual set: a mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another.

Human factors psychology: a branch of psychology that explores how people and machines interact and how machines and physical environments can be made safe and easy to use.

Extrasensory perception (ESP): the controversial claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input. Said to include telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition.

Parapsychology: the study of paranormal phenomena, including ESP and psychokinesis.

Check for any mistakes; I think I got all the words.

Ch. 5 (All)

sensation: the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment.
perception: the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events.
bottom-up processing: analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to the brain's integration of sensory information.
top-down processing: information processing guided by igher-level mental processes, as when we construct perceptions drawing on our experience and expectations.
psychophysics: the study of relationships between the physical characteristics of stimuli, such as their intensity, and our psychological experience of them.
absolute threshold: the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time.
signal detection theory: a theory predicting how much and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus ("signal") amid background stimulation ("noise"). Assumes there is no single absolute threshold and that detection depends partly on a person's experience, expectations, motivation, and level of fatigue.
subliminal: below one's absolute threshold for conscious awareness.
priming: the activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing one's perception, memory, or response.
difference threshold: the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50% of the time. We experience the difference threshold as a just noticeable difference.
Weber's law: the principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than a constant amount.)
sensory adaption: diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation.
transduction: conversion of one form of energy into another. In sensation, the transforming of stimulus energies, such as sights, sounds, and smells, into neural impulses our rains can interpret.
wavelength: the distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next. Electromagnetic wavelengths vary from the short blips of cosmic rays to the long pulses of radio transmission.
hue: color
intensity: brightness or loudness
pupil: the adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters.
iris: a ring of muscle tissue that forms the colored portion of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening.
lens: the transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina.
accommodation: the process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina.
retina: the light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that being the processing of visual information.
acuity: the sharpness of vision
nearsightedness: a condition in which nearby objects are seen more clearly than distant objects because distance objects focus in front of the retina.

farsightedness: a condition in which faraway objects are seen more clearly than near objects because the image of near objects is focused behind the retina.

rods: retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision, when cones don't respond.

cones: retinal receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions. The cones detect fine detail and give rise to color sensations.

optic nerve: the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain.

blind spot: the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a “blind” spot because no receptor cells are located there.

fovea: the central focal point in the retina, around which the eye's cones cluster.

feature detectors: nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angle, or movement.

parallel processing: the processing of several aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain's natural mode of information processing for many functions, including vision. Contrasts with the step-by-step (serial) processing of most computers and of conscious problem solving.

Young-Helmholtz trichromatic (three-color) theory: the theory that the retina contains three different color receptors- one most sensitive to red, one to green, one to blue- which when stimulated in combination can produce the perception of any color.

opponent-process theory: the theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable color vision. For example, some cells are stimulated by green and inhibited by red; others are stimulated by red and inhibited by green.

color constancy: perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object.

audition: the sense or act of hearing.

frequency: the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time. (per second)

pitch: a tone's experienced highness or lowness; depends on the frequency.

middle ear: the chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones (hammer, anvil and stirrup) that concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochlea's oval window.

cochlea: a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear through which sound waves trigger nerve impulses.

inner ear: the innermost part of the ear, containing the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs.

place theory: in hearing, the theory that links pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated.

frequency theory: in hearing, the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerves matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense it's pitch.

conduction hearing loss: hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea.

sensorineural hearing loss: hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea's receptor cells or to the auditory nerve; also called nerve deafness.

cochlear implant: a device for converting sounds into electrical signals and stimulating the auditory nerve through electrodes threaded into the cochlea.

gate-control theory: the theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological “gate” that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain. the “gate” is opened by the activity of pain signals traveling up small nerve fibers and is closed by activity in larger fibers or by information coming from the brain.

sensory interaction: the principle that one sense may influence another, as when the smell of food influences its taste.

kinesthesis: the system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts.

vestibular sense: the sense of body movement and position, including the sense of balance.

yay

culture the enduring behaviors, ideas, attitudes and traditions shared by a large group of people and transmitted from one generation to the next.
norm an understood rule for accepted and expected behavior. Norms prescribe “proper” behavior.
personal space the buffer zone we like to maintain around our bodies.
individualism giving priority to one's own goals over group goals, and defining one's identity in terms of personal attributes rather than group identifications.
collectivism giving priority of the goals of one's group (often one's extended family or work group) and defining one's identity accordingly.
aggression any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy.
X chromosome the sex chromosome found in both men and women. Females have two X chromosomes; males have one. An X chromosome from each parent produces a female child.
Y chromosome the sex chromosome found only in males. When paired with an X chromosome from the mother, it produces a male child.
testosterone the most important of the male sex hormones. both males and females have it, but the additional testosterone in males stimulates the growth of the male sex organs in the fetus and the development of the male sex characteristics during puberty.
role a set of expectations (norms) about a social position, defining how those in the position ought to behave.
gender role a set of expected behaviors for males and for females.
gender identity one's sense of being male or female.
gender typing the acquisition of a traditional masculine or feminine role.
social learning theory the theory that we learn social behavior by observing and imitating and being rewarded or punished.
gender schema theory the theory that children learn from their cultures a concept of what it means to be male and female and that they adjust their behavior accordingly.

Chapter 3 vocab (first half)

environment: every non genetic influence, from prenatal nutrition to the people and things around us
behavior genetics: the study of the relative power and limits of genetic and environmental influences on behavior.
chromosomes: threadlike structures made of DNA molecules that contain the genes.
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid): a complex molecule containing the genetic information that makes up the chromosomes.
genes: the biochemical units of heredity that make up the chromosomes; a segment of DNA capable of synthesizing a protein.
genome: the complete instructions for making an organism, consisting of all the genetic material in that organism's chromosomes.
identical twins: twins who develop from a single fertilized egg that splits in two, creating two genetically identical organisms.
fraternal twins: twins who develop from separate fertilized eggs. They are genetically no closer than brothers and sisters, but they share a fetal environment.
temperament: a person's characteristic emotional reactivity and intensity
heritability: the proportion of variation among individuals that we can attribute to genes. The heritability of a trait may vary, depending on the ranger of populations and environments studied.
interaction: the effect of one factor (such as environment) depends on another factor (such as heredity).
molecular genetics: the sub field of biology that studies the molecular structure and function of genes.
evolutionary psychology: the study of the evolution of behavior and the mind, using principles of natural selection.
natural selection: the principle that, among the range of inherited trait variations, those that lead to increased reproduction that survival will most likely be passed on to succeeding generations.
mutation: a random error in gene replication that leads to a change.
gender: in psychology, the biologically and socially influenced characeristics by which people define male and female.

I also have no friends

Chapter 2 vocab (2nd half)

I'm too lazy to steal Microsoft Word and spell check, just do it in your own.

lesion: tissue destruction. A brain lesion is a naturally or experimentally caused destruction of brain tissue.
electroencephalogram: an amplified recording of the waves of electrical activity that sweep across the brain's surface. These waves are ensured by electrodes placed on the scalp.
PET (positron emission tomography) scan: a visual display of brain activity that detects where a radioactive form of glucose goes while the brain performs a given task.
MRI (magnetic resonance imagine): a technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to produce computer-generated images that distinguish among different types of soft tissue; allows us to see structures within the brain.
fMRI (functional magnetic resonance imaging): a technique for revealing blood flow and, therefore, brain activity by comparing successive MRI scanes. MRI scans show brain anatomy; fMRI scans show brain function
brain stem: The oldest part and central core of the brain, beginning where the spinal cord swells as it enters the skull; the brain stem is responsible for automatic survival functions.
medulla: the base of the brain stem controls heartbeat and breathing
reticular formation: a nerve network in the brain stem that plays an important role in controlling arousal.
thalamus: the brain's sensory switchboard, located on top of the brain stem; it directs messages to the sensory receiving areas in the cortex and transmits replies to the cerebellum and medulla.
cerebellum: the "little brain" attached to the rear of the brain stem; its functions include processing sensory input and coordinating movement output and balance.
limbic system: a doughnut-shaped system of neural structures at the border of the brain stem and the cerebral hemispheres; associated with emotions such as fear and aggression and drives such as those for food and sex. Includes the hippo campus, amygdala, and the hypothalamus.
amygdala: two lima bean sized neural clusters that are components of the luimbix system and are linked to emotion
hypothalamus: a neural structure lying below the thalamus; it directs several maintenance activities (seating, drinking, body temperature0, helps govern the endocrine system via the pituitary gland, and is linked to emotion.
cerebral cortex: the intricate fabric of interconnected neural cells that covers the cerebral hemispheres; the body's ultimate control and information processing center.
glial cells (glia): cells in the nervous system that support, nourish, and protect neurons.
frontal lobes: the portion of the cerebral cortex lying just behind the forehead; involved in speaking and muscle movements and in making planes and judgments.
paritel lobes: the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the top of the head and toward the rear; receives sensory input for touch and body position
occipital lobes: the portion of the cerebral cortex lying at the back of the head; includes the visual areas, which receive visual information from the opposite visual field.
temporal lobes: the portion of the cerebral cortex lying roughly above the ears; includes the auditory areas, each of which receives auditory information primary from the opposite ear.
motor cortex: an area at the rear of the frontal lobes that controls voluntary movements
sensory cortex: the area at the front of the partial lobes that registers and processes body touch and movement sensations.
association areas: areas of the cerebral cortex that are not involved in primary motor of sensory function; rather, they are involved in higher mental functions such as learning, remembering, thinking, and speaking.
aphasia: impairment of language, usually caused by left hemisphere damage either to Broca's area (impairing speaking) or to Wenicke's area (impairing understanding).
Broca's area: controls language expression -- an area of the frontal lobe, usually in the left hemisphere, that directs the muscle movements involved in speech.
Wericke's area: controls language reception -- a brain area involved in language comprehension and expression; usually in the left temporal lobe.
plasticity: the brain's capacity for modification, as evident in brain reorganization following damage (especially in children) and in experiments on the effects of experience on brain development.
corpus callosum: the large band of neural fibers connecting the two brain hemispheres and carrying messages between them.
split brain: a condition in which the two hemispheres of the brain are isolated by cutting the connecting fibers (mainly those of the corpus collosum) between them.

First 28 Vocab in Ch. 2

Psychology Vocab Chapter 2 (first 28)

biological psychology a branch of psychology concerned with the links between biology and behavior.

neuron a nerve cell; the basic building block of the nervous system.

dendrite the bushy, branching extensions of a neuron that receive messages and conduct impulses toward the cell body.

axon the extension of a neuron, ending in branching terminal fibers, through which messages pass to other neurons or to muscles or glands.

myelin sheath a layer of fatty tissue segmentally encasing the fibers of many neurons; enables vastly greater transmission speed of neural impulses as the impulse hops from one node to the next.

action potential a neural impulse; a brief electrical charge that travels down an axon. The action potential is generated by the movement of positively charged atoms in and out of channels in the axon's membrane.

threshold the level of stimulation required to trigger a neural impulse.

synapse the junction between the axon tip of the sending neuron and the dendrite or cell body of the receiving neuron. The tiny gap at this junction is called the synaptic gap or cleft.

neurotransmitters chemical messengers that traverse the synaptic gaps between neurons. When released by the sending neuron, neurotransmitters travel across the synapse and bind to receptor sites on the receiving neuron, thereby influencing whether that neuron will generate a neural impulse.

acetylcholine (ACh) a neurotransmitter that enables learning and memory and also triggers muscle contraction.

endorphins “morphine within” - natural, opiate like neurotransmitters linked to pain control and pleasure.

nervous system the body's speedy, electrochemical communication network, consisting of all the nerve cells of the peripheral and central nervous systems.

central nervous system (CNS) the brain and spinal cord.

peripheral nervous system (PNS) the sensory and motor neurons that connect the central nervous system (CNS) to the rest of the body.

nerves neural “cables” containing many axons. These bundled axons, which are part of the peripheral nervous system, connect the central nervous system with muscles, glands, and sense organs.

sensory neurons neurons that carry incoming information from the sense receptors to the central nervous system.

motor neurons neurons that carry outgoing information from the central nervous sytem to the muscles and glands.

interneurons central nervous system neurons that internally communicate and intervene between the sensory inputs and motor outputs.

somatic nervous system the division of the peripheral nervous system that controls the body's skeletal muscles. Also called the skeletal nervous system.

autonomic nervous system the part of the peripheral nervous system that controls the glands and the muscles of the internal organs (such as the heart). Its sympathetic division arouses; its parasympathetic division calms.

sympathetic nervous system the division of the autonomic nervous system that arouses the body, mobilizing its energy in stressful situations.

parasympathetic nervous system the division of the autonomic nervous system that calms the body, conserving its energy.

reflex a simple, automatic, inborn response to a sensory stimulus such as the knee-jerk response.

neural networks interconnected neural cells. With experience, networks can learn, as feedback strengthens or inhibits connections that produce certain results. Computer simulations of neural networks show analogous learning.

endocrine system the body's “slow” chemical communication system; a set of glands that secrete hormones into the bloodstream.

hormones chemical messengers, mostly those manufactured by the endocrine glands, that are produced in one tissue and affect another.

adrenal glands a pair of endocrine glands just above the kidneys. The adrenals secrete the hormones epinephrine (adrenaline) and norepinephrine (noradrenaline), which help to arouse the body in times of stress.

pituitary gland the endocrine system's most influential gland. Under the influence of the hypothalamus, the pituitary regulates growth and controls other endocrine glands.