Back to AI Flashcard MakerPsychology /AP Psychology ALL Terms Part 9
AP Psychology ALL Terms Part 9
This deck covers essential terms and concepts from AP Psychology, focusing on vision, hearing, and motivation theories.
retina
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
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Key Terms
Term
Definition
retina
the light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual inform...
acuity
the sharpness of vision
nearsightedness
a condition in which nearby objects are seen more clearly than distant objects because the lens focuses the image of distance objects in front of the ...
farsightedness
a condition in which faraway objects are seen more clearly than near objects because the image of near objects is focused behind the retina
rods
retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision, when cones don't respond
cones
receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions. The cones detect fine deta...
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
retina | 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 |
acuity | the sharpness of vision |
nearsightedness | a condition in which nearby objects are seen more clearly than distant objects because the lens focuses the image of distance objects in front of the retina |
farsightedness | a condition in which faraway objects are seen more clearly than near objects because the image of near objects is focused behind the retina |
rods | retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision, when cones don't respond |
cones | receptor cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions. The cones detect fine detail and give rise to color sensations. |
optic nerve | the nerve that carries neural impulses from the eye to the brain |
blind spot | the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye, creating a 'blind' spot because no receptor cells are located there |
fovea | the central focal point in the retina, around which the eye's cones cluster |
parallel processing | the processing of several aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain's natural mode of information processing for many functions, including vision. Contrasts with the step-by-step (serial) processing of most computers and of conscious problem solving. |
Young-Helmholtz trichromatic (three-color) theory | the theory that the retina contains three different color receptors--one most sensitive to red, one to green, and one to blue--which when stimulated in combination can produce the perception of any color |
opponent-process theory | the theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable color vision. For example, some cells are stimulated by green and inhibited by red; others are stimulated by red and inhibited by green. |
color constancy | perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the object |
audition | the sense of hearing |
frequency | the number of complete wavelengths that pass a point in a given time (for example, per second) |
pitch | a tone's highness or lowness; depends on frequency |
middle ear | 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 |
inner ear | the innermost part of the ear, containing the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs |
cochlea | a coiled, bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear through which sound waves trigger nerve impulses |
place theory | in hearing, the theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated |
frequency theory | 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 |
conduction hearing loss | hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea |
sensorineural hearing loss | hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea's receptor cells or to the auditory nerves; also called nerve deafness |
gate-control theory | theory that the spinal cord contains a neurological 'gate' that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain. The 'gate' is opened by the activity of pain signals traveling up small nerve fibers and is closed by activity in larger fibers or by information coming from the brain |
sensory interaction | the principle that one sense may influence another, as when the smell of food influences its taste |
kinesthesis | the system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts |
vestibular sense | the sense of body movement and position, including the sense of balance |
motivation | a need or desire that energizes and directs behavior |
instinct | a complex behavior that is rigidly patterned throughout a species and is unlearned |
drive-reduction theory | the idea that a physiological need creates an aroused tension state (a drive) that motivates an organism to satisfy the need |
homeostasis | a tendency to maintain a balanced or constant internal state; the regulation of any aspect of body chemistry, such as blood glucose, around a particular level |
incentive | a positive or negative environmental stimulus that motivates behavior |
hierarchy of needs | Maslow's pyramid of human needs, beginning at the base with physiological needs that must first be satisfied before higher-level safety needs and then psychological needs become active |
glucose | the form of sugar that circulates in the blood and provides the major source of energy for body tissues. When its level is low, we feel hunger. |
set point | the point at which an individual's 'weight thermostat' is supposedly set. When the body falls below this weight, an increase in hunger and a lowered metabolic rate may act to restore the lost weight. |