Sensation - AP Psychology

The visual system is responsible for vision. It includes the eyes and visual processing pathways.

The occipital lobe processes visual information. It's located at the back of the brain.

The lens adjusts to focus light on the retina. It changes shape through accommodation for near and far vision.

The primary taste sensations are sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami. These five tastes cover the basic categories humans detect.

Sensation is the process of detecting external stimuli and converting them into neural signals. It's the initial step before perception interprets the signals.

The visual system is responsible for vision. It includes the eyes and visual processing pathways.

The auditory system is responsible for hearing. It detects sound waves and converts them to neural impulses.

The olfactory system is responsible for the sense of smell. It detects airborne chemical molecules through the nose.

The gustatory system processes taste. It detects chemical compounds dissolved in saliva.

Transduction is the conversion of stimuli into neural signals. It's the first step in all sensory processing.

Sensory receptors detect environmental stimuli. They are specialized cells that respond to specific energy forms.

The absolute threshold is the minimum stimulus intensity detected 50% of the time. It measures the weakest stimulus that can be reliably detected.

The difference threshold is the smallest detectable difference between two stimuli. Also called the just noticeable difference (JND).

Weber's Law states that the ratio of the increment threshold to the background intensity is constant. It explains why we notice proportional rather than absolute changes.

Signal detection theory examines decision-making processes under conditions of uncertainty. It considers both sensory and psychological factors in detection.

Sensory adaptation is the decrease in sensitivity to a constant stimulus. It prevents sensory overload from unchanging stimuli.

The retina is responsible for detecting light. It contains photoreceptors that convert light into neural signals.

Rods are responsible for vision in low light conditions. They are highly sensitive but don't detect color.

Cones are responsible for color vision and detail. They function best in bright light conditions.

The optic nerve transmits visual information from the retina to the brain. It's the pathway connecting the eye to the visual cortex.

The blind spot is an area with no photoreceptors where the optic nerve exits the eye. We normally don't notice it due to binocular vision.

The cochlea converts sound waves into neural signals. It's the snail-shaped structure in the inner ear.

Hair cells in the ear transduce sound vibrations into neural signals. They bend with sound waves and trigger nerve impulses.

The vestibular system is responsible for balance. It contains the semicircular canals and otolith organs.

Taste buds detect chemicals in food and convey taste information. They are located on the tongue and in the mouth.

The gate control theory posits that spinal 'gates' regulate pain signals to the brain. It explains how pain signals can be blocked or enhanced.

Nociceptors detect signals of pain and potential harm. They are specialized pain receptors throughout the body.

Referred pain is pain perceived at a location other than the site of the stimulus. This occurs due to shared neural pathways.

Olfactory receptors sense volatile chemicals. These airborne molecules bind to receptors in the nasal cavity.