Psych 101

Receiving stimulus energies from environment and transforming them into neural energy

Organizing and interpreting sensory information

Constant stimulus we gradually adapted to

initiated by sensory input, outside world’s influence on perception

Initiated by cognitive processing, internal/mental world’s influence on perception

controls a person's state of awareness and level of consciousness

a person's willingness to exert physical or mental effort in pursuit of a goal

stimulus difference that is necessary for detection

smallest difference detected 50% of the time

mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another, especially if the stimulus is ambiguous

Environmental cues that guide perception, beliefs and expectations

Sensory receptors detect stimuli from the environment (light, sound, pressure) and convert them into electrical signals.

In Retina, Photo-Receptor cell, sensitive to even dim light but not color, function well in low illumination

In Retina, Photo-Receptor cell, respond to color operate best under high illumination

understanding that other individuals have mental states, such as knowledge, intentions, and beliefs that might be different to an individual

Retina, visual acuity(distinguish shapes and the details of objects at a given distance) is the highest, densely populated with cones (but not rods)

specialized cells in the visual cortex. Respond to size, shape, color, movement, or combination.

“seeing” all of the characteristics of a stimulus at once

combining information about a stimulus

perceptions are naturally organized according to certain patterns, whole is different from the sum of the parts

closure proximity similarity

cells and membranes in the cochlea, can overwork hair cells in ear, can cause cells to die. Damage to the inner ear or auditory neural system is generally permanent

location of stimulation is important, only explains perception of high frequencies

frequency of nerve firing allows for perception of high frequencies

cell clusters can exceed limitations of firing rate

physiological state of being engaged with the environment

brain stem, regulate behavioural arousal, consciousness and motivation, thalamus determines wakefulness

actively paying attention and putting in effort. Requires selective attention, involves prefrontal cortex

planning, problem solving, actively focusing efforts toward a goal

require little attention/conscious effort, do not interfere with other ongoing activities

between active consciousness and dreaming while asleep, wandering thoughts

waking (below surface of awareness), incubation, sleep and dreams

unconscious processes, associative learning

drug states, fatigue, illness, trauma, deprivation, meditation, hypnosis, mental disorders

cause decreased production of melatonin in the morning and increased production in the evening

flush wastes from brain. body rejuvenation and growth. The body can heal. The immune system strengthens. Neurons can be repaired

Hippocampus, cerebral cortex

decreased activity in thalamus and prefrontal cortex, inability to sustain attention, poor decision making and problem solving

Norepinephrine and brain regions associated with memory are barely active during REM sleep

manifest and latent content

information processing and memory, general life concerns, preoccupations

brain makes “sense” out of random brain activity

Slows down inhibition and judgment areas of brain, Increases GABA, Blocks REM

Nembutal/Seconal, Once widely used as sleep aids, Can lead to memory loss, breathing difficulty, and death

Narcotics, Painkillers, Can lead to euphoria, increased appetites, Highly addictive, painful withdrawal

Caffeine, Amphetamines, MDMA (Ecstasy),

Used to boost energy, stay awake, and curb appetite, Crystal meth: intense high; huge come-down

Stimulant + hallucinogen, Releases serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine, Impairs memory and cognition

states that human motivation is rooted in needs, drives, homeostasis

behaviors that were adaptive passed on to later generations

fixed, unlearned pattern of behavior throughout a species

the body's tendency to maintain a balanced state

Arousal affects task performance

Biological, Psychological, Social factors

Increase in food consumption when feeling negative emotions

Self-actualization, esteem, love and belongingness, safety, physiological needs

Competence, Relatedness, Autonomy

specific, moderately challenging, long-term purpose, short-term accomplishment

feeling, or affect, that can involve physiological arousal, conscious experience, and behavioral expression

active and engaged vs passive and calm

positive versus negative affect

broaden-and-build mode

take immediate corrective action

hit, miss, false alarm, and correct rejection

detect changes in the chemical composition of the blood

detect stimuli such as touch, pressure, vibration, and sound

detect light and turn them into signals

Intrinsic is motivation due to internal factors ex. participating in a sport because it's fun
Extrinsic is motivation due to external factors ex. participating in a sport to win an award

spontaneity, imagery, immersion, and wakefulness

regulates cycles of alertness and sleepiness by responding to light changes in our environment

brain focuses a person's attention on a particular stimulus

People who are colorblind may lack one or two color receptors, causing them not to be able to see that color.

Rapid eye movement, the stage of sleep where most dreams happen

unconscious processing of sensory information that occurs below the threshold of conscious perception

all humans have three basic psychological needs, autonomy, competence, and relatedness

Olfactory Cortex, part of the Cerebrum