Sensation, Perception, Transduction, Absolute & Difference Thresholds, Weber’s Law, Signal Detection, Sensory Adaptation, Rods & Cones, Trichromatic & Opponent-Process Theories, Gestalt & Figure-Ground, Bottom-Up & Top-Down Processing, Binocular & Monocul

Sensation, Perception, Transduction, Absolute & Difference Thresholds, Weber’s Law, Signal Detection, Sensory Adaptation, Rods & Cones, Trichromatic & Opponent-Process Theories, Gestalt & Figure-Ground, Bottom-Up & Top-Down Processing, Binocular & Monocular Cues, Classical & Operant Conditioning, Reinforcement & Punishment, Latent & Observational Learning, Memory: Encoding, Storage, Retrieval, Explicit & Implicit, Hippocampus, Amygdala, Prefrontal Cortex, Mnemonics Exam Questions Verified and Complete with A+ Graded Rationales Latest Updated 2026 Sensation detection of physical stimuli from the world around us and the sending of that info to the brain perception brains further processing of sensory info- resulting in our conscious experience of the world sensory receptors Transducers of sensory information detected by physical stimuli transduction a process by which sensory receptors change physical stimuli into signals that are eventually sent to the brain absolute threshold smallest amount of physical stimulation required to detect a sensory input half of the time it is present difference threshold the minimum difference in physical stimulation required to detect a difference between sensory input weber's law just noticeable difference = |A - B| / initial signal detection theory accounts for human judgement in sensation Hit signals, response miss signal, no response false alarm no signal, response correct rejection no signal, no response sensory adaptation decrease in sensitivity to a constant level of stimulation optic nerve bundle of axon at each ganglion cell (found in back of retina) amplitude height of light waves from base to peak (brightness) wavelength distance from peak to peak hue refers to distinctive characteristics that place a particular color in spectrum saturation intensity of color (varies because of wavelength) trichromatic theory 3 types of cone receptor cells in retina responsible for color reception. Each type responds optimally to different, but overlapping range of wavelength oppenent process theory proposal that ganglion cells in the retina receive excitatory input from one type of cone and inhibition from another, creating perception that some colors are opposite gestalt theory our brains group the perceived features of a visual scene into organized wholes figure and ground reversible images grouping visual system's organization of features and regions to create the perception of a whole, unified object bottom-up processing info based on basic stimuli- properties of the world top-down processing info based on your brain (on the top of your head)- properties of knowledge, personal experiences, and expectations faulty perception) binocular depth cues both eyes are used to perceive 3D images monocular depth cues one eye is used to perceive 2D images stroboscopic motion still images moved slightly lens adjustable, transparent structure behind pupil; focuses light on the retina, resulting in crisp visual images retina thin, inner surface of back of eyeball- contains sensory receptors rods low level of light detected by light waves cones high level of light detected by light waves temporal coding