Internal representations that contain the essential features of an object of perception A readiness to perceive a stimulus in a particular way based on expectations, motives, emotions, or beliefs Chemical signals found in natural body scents Protein molecules within the rods and cones whose chemical reactions when absorbing light result in the generation of nerve impulses States that sound frequencies are coded in terms of the portion of the basilar membrane where the fluid wave in the cochlea peaks; this theory accounts for perception of frequencies above 4,000 hertz The study of relations between the physical characteristics of stimuli and the sensory experiences they evoke The light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that contains the visual receptors Photoreceptors in the retina that function under low levels of illumination and do not give rise to color sensations The process by which stimuli are detected, transduced into nerve impulses Diminishing sensitivity to an unchanging stimulus with the passage of time as sensory neurons habituate to the stimulation A device for providing sensory input that can, to some extent, substitute for what cannot be supplied by the person's own sensory receptors A theory that assumes that stimulus detection is not based on a fixed absolute threshold but rather is affected by rewards, punishments, expectations, and motivational factors The illusory movement produced when adjacent lights are illuminated and extinguished at a specific time interval Weak stimuli below the perceptual threshold that are not consciously perceived A condition in which stimuli are experienced not only in the normal sensory modality but in others as well Chemical receptors for taste in the tongue and in the roof and back of the mouth that are sensitive to the qualities of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter Perceptual processing in which existing knowledge, concepts, ideas, or expectations are applied in order to make sense of incoming stimulation The conversion of one form of energy into another; in sensation, the process whereby physical stimuli are translated into nerve impulses The sense of body orientation, or equilibrium The ability to see fine detail States that to perceive a difference between two stimuli, the stimuli must differ by a constant percentage or ratio The color vision theory stating that there are three types of color receptors in the retina—one for red, one for blue, and one for green—and that combinations of activation of these receptors can produce perception of any hue in the visible spectrum  

1. Perceptual Schema

Internal representations that contain the essential features of an object of perception

2. Perceptual Set

A readiness to perceive a stimulus in a particular way based on expectations, motives, emotions, or beliefs

3. Pheromones

Chemical signals found in natural body scents

4. Photopigments

Protein molecules within the rods and cones whose chemical reactions when absorbing light result in the generation of nerve impulses

5. Place Theory of Pitch Perception

States that sound frequencies are coded in terms of the portion of the basilar membrane where the fluid wave in the cochlea peaks; this theory accounts for perception of frequencies above 4,000 hertz

6. Psychophysics

The study of relations between the physical characteristics of stimuli and the sensory experiences they evoke

7. Retina

The light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye that contains the visual receptors

8. Rods

Photoreceptors in the retina that function under low levels of illumination and do not give rise to color sensations

9. Sensation

The process by which stimuli are detected, transduced into nerve impulses

10. Sensory Adaptation

Diminishing sensitivity to an unchanging stimulus with the passage of time as sensory neurons habituate to the stimulation

11. Sensory Prosthetic Devices

A device for providing sensory input that can, to some extent, substitute for what cannot be supplied by the person's own sensory receptors

12. Signal-Detection Theory

A theory that assumes that stimulus detection is not based on a fixed absolute threshold but rather is affected by rewards, punishments, expectations, and motivational factors

13. Stroboscopic Movement

The illusory movement produced when adjacent lights are illuminated and extinguished at a specific time interval

14. Subliminal Stimulus

Weak stimuli below the perceptual threshold that are not consciously perceived

15. Synesthesia

A condition in which stimuli are experienced not only in the normal sensory modality but in others as well

16. Taste Buds

Chemical receptors for taste in the tongue and in the roof and back of the mouth that are sensitive to the qualities of sweet, sour, salty, and bitter

17. Top-Down Processing

Perceptual processing in which existing knowledge, concepts, ideas, or expectations are applied in order to make sense of incoming stimulation

18. Transduction

The conversion of one form of energy into another; in sensation, the process whereby physical stimuli are translated into nerve impulses

19. Vestibular Sense

The sense of body orientation, or equilibrium

20. Visual Acuity

The ability to see fine detail

21. Weber's Law

States that to perceive a difference between two stimuli, the stimuli must differ by a constant percentage or ratio

22. Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic Theory

The color vision theory stating that there are three types of color receptors in the retina—one for red, one for blue, and one for green—and that combinations of activation of these receptors can produce perception of any hue in the visible spectrum