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Unit 3 Study Guide: Sensation and Perception (Saylor Academy)

Terms in this set (67)

sensation
the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment (a physiological process)
perception
the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events (a psychological process)
sensory
we rely on our five senses (seeing, hearing, smelling, tasting, and touching) to make sense of the world. ___________________ input allows us to make sense of our surroundings.
Along these lines, we differentiate between sensation and perception.
How does the visual system work? What is its components?
We can see because light enters our eyes (through the pupil) and our eyes' lenses focuses on it. Specifically, this focuses an image on a region of the eye's retina called the fovea. The fovea contains rods (best for dim light perception) and cones (best for bright light conditions) that help us see the image. The eye is connected to the optic nerve, which connects to various parts of the brain, including the occipital lobe that processes visual information.
pupil
light waves enter our eyes through this.
lenses
part of the eye that focuses on what we are seeing (after the light has come into our eyes through the pupil). Specifically, this focuses an image on a region of the eye's retina.
retina
the light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual information
fovea
the central focal point in the retina, around which the eye's cones cluster
-contains rods and cones.
rods
retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision, when cones don't respond; best for dim light perception.
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; best for bright light conditions.
optic nerve
the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain
-connected to various parts of the brain, including the occipital lobe.
occipital lobe
A region of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information
How does the auditory system work? What is its components?
Sound stimulation enters our auditory canal via vibrations in our eardrum which in turn move the ossicles. This movement causes the stapes to press against the cochlea which then causes fluid inside the cochlea to move. This leads to an enlargement of hair cells which then send neural messages to the brain using the auditory nerve.
auditory canal
the area that sound waves pass through to reach the eardrum
eardrum
tightly stretched membrane located at the end of the ear canal that vibrates when struck by sound waves; tympanic membrane
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