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

fluid filled tubes in inner ear that provide information about movement of the head

hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea's receptors cells or to the auditory nerves; also called nerve deafness.

the principle that one sense may influence another, as when the smell of food influences taste

sense of touch

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

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

sound information that depends on frequency (or wavelength) of sound waves

the adjustable opening in the center of the eye through which light enters.

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.

Nerve endings that signal the sensation of pain

sense of smell

the theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable color vision; useful for explaining the phenomenon of "after-images"

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

Collects and sends sounds to the eardrum

the amount of energy in a light or sound wave which we perceive as brightness or loudness

a ring of muscle tissue that forms the color portions of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening.

the system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts; enabled by feedback from proprioceptors (which provide info about the movement of muscles, tendons, joints); also called "proprioception"

the transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina.

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.

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

the theory that the spinal cord contains neurological process that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain. 

sense of taste

finger-like projections on the basilar membrane that stimulate activity of the auditory nerve

the dimension of color that is determine by the wavelength of light; what we know as the color names blue, green, and so forth.

A tight membrane that vibrates when in contact with sound waves

in psychological science, the influence of bodily sensations, gestures, and other states on cognitive preferences and judgments

nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimuli, such as shape, angle, or movement.

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

the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time; determines perception of hue in light and of pitch in sound

the process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina.

the sense of hearing

the sensory area for hearing, located on the upper side of the temporal lobe of the cerebral cortex

the cranial nerve that carries sound from the cochlea to the brain

area within the cochlea where hair cells are located

second layer of neurons in the retina that transmit impulses from rods and cones to ganglion cells; rods share these, but cones do not

the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye; no receptors cells are located there. Creates a gap in our vision that is "filled" by the brain.

a hairlike extension of a cell

ability to selectively attend to one voice among many

Receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions. They detect fine details and give rise to color sensation.

Hearing, vision, taste, smell, touch

Hot, cold, pressure, pain

the sense of body movement and position, including the sense of balance; enabled by feedback from semicircular canals in inner ear

sense of sight

the distance between successive peaks in a wave motion of a given frequency