Psychology: Sensation & Perception

What is the process by which sensory receptors convert physical stimuli, such as light or sound waves, into neural impulses?

Transduction is the conversion of physical energy into electrical signals that the brain can interpret.

What term describes the minimum intensity of a stimulus required for a person to detect it 50% of the time?

The absolute threshold is the lowest level of stimulus energy needed for detection.

According to Weber's Law, how is the difference threshold (just noticeable difference) determined?

Weber's Law states that the just noticeable difference is a constant proportion of the original stimulus intensity.

Which theory predicts how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus amid background noise, accounting for individual psychological factors?

Signal Detection Theory suggests that detection depends on both stimulus intensity and the observer's physical/mental state.

Which part of the eye contains the photoreceptor cells known as rods and cones?

The retina is the light-sensitive inner surface of the eye where transduction occurs.

What is the Young-Helmholtz trichromatic theory of color vision?

This theory proposes that the retina contains three types of color receptors (cones) sensitive to red, green, and blue.

How does the opponent-process theory explain the phenomenon of afterimages?

It suggests that visual receptors are linked in pairs (red-green, blue-yellow, black-white) where one color inhibits the other.

What is the snail-shaped, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear that triggers nerve impulses in response to sound waves?

The cochlea is the primary organ of hearing where sound waves are converted into neural signals.

What is the difference between place theory and frequency theory in pitch perception?

Place theory links pitch to the location of vibration on the basilar membrane, while frequency theory links it to the rate of nerve impulses.

Which sensory system provides information about the position and movement of individual body parts?

Proprioception (or kinesthesis) is the sense that allows us to perceive the location and movement of our limbs.