| A | B |
|---|
| sensation | process by which sensroy receptors and nervous system receive and represent data from environment |
| perception | process of organizing and interpreting sensory data |
| bottom-up processing | analysis that begins with sense receptors and progresses to brain |
| top-down processing | processing guided by higher-level mental skills, drawing upon experiences and expectations |
| absolute threshold | minimum stimulation required to detect stimulus 50% of the time |
| signal detection theory | predicts when faint stimulus is detected among other stimulus; detection of stimulus depends upon both the stimulus and our psychological state |
| signal detection increased IF | stimulus is expected, important, and you are alert |
| Heightened responsiveness --> | increased false alarms |
| vigilance diminishes AFTER | about 30 minutes |
| subliminal | below threshold of conscious awareness |
| effect of subliminal messages | equal to that of placebo |
| difference threshold | minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 % of the time |
| just noticeable difference (jnd) | minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 % of the time |
| Weber's Law | jnd occurs in constant proportion |
| sensory adaptation | diminished sensitivty with constant stimulation |
| selective attention | focus of awareness on only limited aspect of available stimuli |
| cocktail party effect | ability to select specific voice to attend to among many |
| change blindness | unaware of change of some aspect while attending to other stimulus |
