Sensation and Perception

minimum amount of stimulus intensity needed for a receptor to react

difference in retinal image location between the two eyes, which aids depth perception

part of inner ear that converts mechanical energy of eardrum vibrations into neural signals

photoreceptor that responds best in high-light conditions to detect color and detail

transparent outer cover on the eye, which allows light to enter

perception of information without the use of the five senses or the aid of previous experience

point of clearest focus in the retina

principles that explain the human tendency to perceive whole objects as opposed to the individual parts of objects

sense of taste

sensory receptor for the auditory and vestibular systems located in the cochlea

ring of colored muscle tissue surrounding the pupil in the eye that controls the size of the pupil

minimum change in stimulus intensity that can be detected

transparent structure found behind the iris that bends light to focus on the retina

sense of smell

nerve that carries smell information to other regions of the brain, formed by the axons of neurons in the olfactory bulb

cranial nerve that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain

identification and/or interpretation of a stimulus

tendency to perceive familiar objects as unchanging, even if there are slight changes in the stimulus

human tendency to perceive some stimuli but not others and to base expectations on past experience

sense of the body's position, motion, and strength

opening in the eye formed by the iris that changes diameter to control the amount of light entering the eye

innermost layer of the wall of the eye that contains several layers, including pigmented cells, photoreceptors, and neurons

photoreceptor that responds well in low-light conditions and detects shape and motion

process of detecting an environmental stimulus and converting that stimulus into neural activity

sensory receptor cells’ decrease in response after continuous or repeated stimulation

processing of environmental stimuli without conscious awareness

brain structure below the cortex that acts as a relay station for sensory systems

conversion of an environmental stimulus energy into a neural signal

system using feedback from head movements to help maintain balance and spatial orientation