Chapter 5

detection of physical stimuli and transmission of that info to the brain

further processing of sensory information, deeper than sensation

based on physical features of the stimulus–> perception

how knowledge/expectations affect interpretation of stimuli

general process of translating of physical properties into neural impulses

physical energy are translated into electrochemical brain signals

quantitative=rate of neurons firing, qualitative=different neural pathways

minimum intensity of stimulation that must occur before you experience a sensation (you can hear it 50% of the time)`

smallest difference between two stimuli you can notice

detecting a stimulus is subjective, depending on 1) other competing stimuli 2) judgements on ambiguous information

decrease in sensitivity to constant level of simulation

surface on the back of the eyeball

rods=levels of light, night vision cones=color in bright conditions

center of retina with densely packed cones

ventral stream (lower)=what, dorsal stream (upper)=where

uses disparity between images from two eyes to determine an object’s depth when it’s close up

brain correctly perceives objects as constant despite changing sensory details

uses information from liquid in inner ear–> sense of balance

encoding low frequency auditory stimuli by matching firing rates of hair cells to frequency of sound waves

frequency of a sound wave is coded on different areas of basilar membrane

thin layer of tissue with smell receptors

smell receptors bypass thalamus and transmit info directly here, located below frontal lobes

sense of touch

perception of where our body is in space