Advanced Placement Psychology
Unit V: Sensation
Mr. Landry
2011-2012
Terms to know
General theories & background
 Absolute threshold
 Internal response
 Bottom-up processing
 Just noticeable difference
(JND)
 Difference threshold
 Maximum threshold
 External noise
 Neural noise (Internal
 Internal noise (neural
noise)
noise)
 Parallel processing
 Perception
 Sensory adaption
 Sensory interaction
 Sensory receptors
 Signal Detection Theory
 Stimuli
 Threshold
 Top-down processing
 Transduction
 Weber’s Law
Vision
 Accommodation
 Acuity
 Additive color theory
 Amplitude
 Blind spot
 Brightness
 Color Constancy
 Dichromatic
 Electromagnetic
energy/radiation
 Feature detection
 Hue
 Hyperopia
 Intensity
 Myopia
 Opponent processing
theory
 Primary colors
 Subtractive color theory
 Trichromatic
 Wavelength
 Young-Helmholz
Trichromatic Color
Theory
Audition
 Amplitude
 Conductive hearing loss
 Decibels
 Frequency
 Frequency theory
 Hertz
 Intensity
 Localization of sounds
 Nerve deafness
 Tinnitus
 Pitch
 Volley theory
 Place theory
 Wavelength
 Sensorineural hearing loss
Touch
 Gate control theory
Body position and movement
 Kinesthesis
 Vestibular sense
Theories to know
 Signal Detection Theory
 Opponent processing theory
 Frequency theory
Gustation
 Gustation
 Equilibrium
 semicircular canal
Olfaction
 Olfaction
 vestibular sacs
 Gate control theory
 Place theory
 Young-Helmholz Trichromatic Color Theory
Major concepts to know
Know:
 How the information is transmitted from each of the senses to the brain?
 What parts of each sense organ does stimulus go through to get to the part of the brain responsible for each sense
(which parts of the senses are involved)
 Know the major parts of each of the sense organs (not just the ones that stimulus goes through to get to the brain)
 Part of the brain involved with each of the senses
 Know the name of the sensory receptors for each sense
 How the eyes and ears detect waves
 How the frequency and amplitude of a wave effects hue and intensity (vision) and pitch and intensity (sound)
 Top-down vs. bottom-up processing and examples of each
 Know each of the threshold concepts (difference among each of the theories, example of each, etc.): absolute
threshold, maximum threshold, difference threshold, just noticeable difference (JND), Weber’s Law, Signal
Detection Theory.
 Signal detection theory: signal, external noise, internal/neural noise, internal responses. Be able to recognize
examples.
 Sensory adaptation: recognize examples
 Transduction: what it is and how it relates to the senses
 Electromagnetic spectrum: what it is and how it relates to the senses. What range can we see and hear on the
spectrum? How are the waves measured?
 Know what feature detection is, be able to recognize examples
 Know what parallel processing is, be able to recognize examples.
 Difference between rods and cones
 What is color?
 Know the major theories regarding color: Young-Helmholz Trichromatic Color Theory, Additive color
theory/mixing, Subtractive color theory/mixing, opponent-process theory
 Know what the opponent colors are in opponent process theory
 Know the major visual impairments and what causes them
 Know the difference between the two different types of deafness
 What are the theories regarding how we hear?
 What are the four major senses the skin recognizes?
 What are the five major sensations that taste buds can detect.
 What is sensory interaction? What is an example?
 What makes smell unique among the senses?
 What is a vestibular sense?
 What are the two major parts of it?
Bold-Faced Words (BFW’s)
You do need to know these for the test, even if they are not listed above.
1. Absolute threshold
17. Gate control theory
2. Accommodation
18. Hue
3. Acuity
19. Inner ear
4. Audition
20. Intensity
5. Blind spot
21. Iris
6. Bottom-up processing
22. Lens
7. Cochlea
23. Middle ear
8. Color Constancy
24. Nearsightedness
9. Conductive hearing loss
25. Opponent processing theory
10. Cones
26. Optical nerve
11. Difference threshold
27. Parallel processing
12. Farsitedness
28. Perception
13. Feature detection
29. Pitch
14. Fovea
30. Place theory
15. Frequency
31. Psychophysics
16. Frequency theory
32. Pupil
Vocabulary: Due the day of the test
1. Additive color theory
2. Amplitude
3. Brightness
4. Conflicting stimulus
5. Decibels
6. Equilibrium
7. External noise
8. Gustation
9. Hertz
10. Hyperopia
11. Internal noise (neural noise)
12. Internal response
13. Kinesthesis
14. Localization of sounds
15. Maximum threshold
16. Myopia
33. Retina
34. Rods
35. Sensorineural hearing loss
36. Sensation
37. Sensory adaption
38. Sensory interaction
39. Signal Detection Theory
40. Subliminal
41. Top-down processing
42. Transduction
43. Vestibular Sense
44. Wavelength
45. Weber’s Law
46. Young-Helmholz Trichromatic
Color Theory
17. Neural noise (Internal noise)
18. Olfaction
19. Sensory receptors
20. Stimuli
21. Subtractive color theory
22. Volley theory
Previous test question breakdown: Versions A & B
 Background: 1 – 2
 Phenotype: 3
 Biological Blueprint: 4 – 9
 Evolution: 10 – 14
 Behavior Genetics: 15 – 34
 Environmental influences: 35 – 49
 Nature & Nurture of Gender: 50 – 61
 Parts & functions of the brain: 62 - 76
 Neurotransmitters: 77 – 85
 Parts & functions of the neuron: 86-100
Reading assignment due dates
Assignment
Topics covered
Reading/BFT (Unit V:
Background & Related Laws
Sensation) 193-199
“A” Day due date
“B” Day due date
Friday, October 12
Monday, October 17
Reading/BFT (Unit V:
Sensation) 199-211
Vision
Tuesday, October 18
Wednesday, October 19
Reading/BFT (Unit V:
Sensation) 212-219
Auditory
Thursday, October 20
Friday, October 21
Reading/BFT (Unit V:
Sensation) 219-228
The Rest of the Senses
Monday, October 24
Tuesday, October 25
Wednesday, October 26
Thursday, October 27
Friday, October 28
Monday, October 31
Tuesday, November 01
Wednesday, November 02
Thursday, November 03
Friday, November 04
Test/outline/vocab: Unit V
Reading/BFT (Unit VI:
Perception) 231-238 (stop at
“Depth Perception)
Reading/BFT (Unit VI:
Perception) 238-257 (257263)
Test/outline/vocab: Unit VI
Attention; Attention & Related
Concepts (Stroop Effect, Cocktail
Party Effect, Change Blindness,
visual capture); Perceptual
Organization - Gestalt
Perceptual Organization –
binocular & monocular cues;
Motion Perception; Perceptual
Constancy; Perceptual
Interpretation
Frequently Missed Questions from the Unit III test
 Make sure you understand the ideas and concepts behind the firing of a neuron, especially; the Sodium-Potassium
pump, select permeability, when is the inside of the axon slightly positive and when it is slightly negative, when
the neuron can fire, etc. And most importantly, what the point of all of the previous information is.
 Remember, any reflex action is handled by the spinal cord, not the brain.
 The more intense of a stimulus, the more frequently the neurons fire. For example, a lighter sensation may cause
neurons to fire 500/second, while a more intense sensation may cause a neuron to fire 1000/second. Because of
the all-or-none law, neurons cannot fire faster (meaning, the speed the action potential takes to get from the
dendrite to the axon button), or more intensely (you can’t have a more powerful or a less powerful action
potential; it is always the same strength).
 Know the neurotransmitters! Especially if they are excitatory or inhibitory, and their main functions. Also make
sure you know what disorders or conditions occur when there is too much or too little.
 Know the parts of the brain. Especially if you are given an example (Billy was in a car accident and his ____ was
damaged; he will probably have trouble performing which of the below actions?)
 Know the parts of the nervous system.
 Standard deviation, standard deviation, standard deviation!