Sensation & Perception

Front

What is synesthesia?

Back

A condition in which two senses are sensed at the same time, where one type of stimulation evokes the sensation of another.

Front

What is sensation in terms of detection and encoding?

Back

The senses collect information from the environment and convert it to a signal that can travel to the brain.

Front

What is transduction?

Back

The transformation of stimulus energy to electrochemical energy of neural impulses, except for smell.

Front

What is perception?

Back

The process by which we select, organize, and interpret sensory information to recognize meaningful objects and events.

Front

What is bottom-up processing?

Back

Sensory analysis that starts with an incoming stimulus and works upwards until a representation of the object is formed in our minds.

Front

What is top-down processing?

Back

Forming perceptions starting with a larger object, concept, or idea before working towards more detailed information.

Front

What is the absolute threshold?

Back

The smallest level of stimulus that can be detected at least half the time.

Front

What is signal detection theory?

Back

A theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus amid background noise, depending on experience, expectations, motivation, and fatigue.

Front

What is the difference threshold or just noticeable difference (JND)?

Back

The amount something must be changed for a difference to be noticeable at least half the time.

Front

What is Weber’s Law?

Back

The principle that two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage to be perceived as different.