A binocular cue that uses the difference between the images the two eyes see to determine the distance of objects.

The location where the optic nerve exits the retina.

The process by which sensory organs in the eyes, ears, nose, mouth, skin, and other tissues receive and detect stimuli.

The distance between wave peaks (or troughs).

The purported ability to obtain information about the world without any sensory stimuli.

Neurons in the visual cortex specialized in detecting specific features of the visual experience, such as angles, lines, and movements.

A theory explaining how various factors influence our ability to detect weak signals in the environment.

Objects are perceived as maintaining their color, even with changing sensory data.

Drawing on past experiences and knowledge to understand and interpret sensory information.

The sensation of taste.

The degree to which a sound is high or low determined by the frequency of its sound wave.

States that the perception of pitches between 400 and 4,000 Hz is made possible by neurons working together to fire in volleys.

The minimum difference between two stimuli that can be noticed 50% of the time.

States that pitch corresponds to the location of the vibrating hair cells along the cochlea.

Sensory receptors tend to become less sensitive to constant stimuli.

Perception of color derives from a special group of neurons that respond to opponent colors (red–green, blue–yellow).

The clear, outer layer of the eye that shields it from damage and focuses incoming light waves.

The law stating that each of the five senses has its own constant ratio determining difference thresholds.

An object is perceived as maintaining its size, regardless of the image projected on the retina.

Fluid-filled, snail-shaped organ of the inner ear lined with the basilar membrane.

An image that appears to linger in the visual field after its stimulus, or source, is removed.

Ability of the eyes to adjust to light after being in the dark.

Specialized light receptors responsible for our sensation of color and our ability to sense details.

The sense of hearing.

A binocular cue used to judge distance and depth based on the tension of the muscles that direct where the eyes are focusing.

Color purity.

The process of transforming stimuli into neural signals.

Cells that absorb light energy and turn it into chemical and electrical signals for the brain to process.

The ability to perceive three-dimensional objects and judge distances.

The study of extrasensory perception.

The layer of the eye that contains photoreceptor cells and the location for the transduction of light energy into neural activity.

The number of sound waves passing a given point per second; higher frequency is perceived as higher pitch, and lower frequency is perceived as lower pitch.

Specialized nerve endings primarily located in the muscles and joints that provide information about body location and orientation.

The sense of smell.

A perception incongruent with sensory data.

States that pitch is determined by the vibrating frequency of the sound wave, basilar membrane, and associated neural impulses.

The muscle responsible for changing the size of the pupil.

Depth and distance cues that require the use of only one eye.

The process by which the lens changes shape in order to focus on images near and far.

An object is perceived as maintaining its shape, regardless of the image projected on the retina.

The sense of balance and equilibrium.

Ability of the eyes to adjust to dark after exposure to brightness.

The organization and interpretation of sensory stimuli by the brain.

The tendency to perceive stimuli in a specific manner based on past experiences and expectations.

The bundle of axons from ganglion cells leading to the visual cortex.

Sensory system that conveys information about body position and movement.

The color of an object, determined by the wavelength of light it reflects.

The height of a wave; the distance from midpoint to peak, or from midpoint to the trough of a wave.

Suggests that the perception of pain will either increase or decrease through the interaction of biopsychosocial factors; signals are sent to open or close “gates” that control the neurological pathways for pain.

The perception of color is the result of three types of cones, each sensitive to particular wavelengths in the red, green, and blue spectrums.

The tendency to perceive objects in our environment as stable in terms of shape, size, and color, regardless of changes in the sensory data received.

Specialized light receptors in the retina that are responsible for sight when the light level is low; not sensitive to color, but useful for night vision.

The natural tendency for the brain to organize stimuli into a whole, rather than perceiving the parts and pieces.

A central principle of Gestalt psychology, involving the shifting of focus; as attention is focused on one object, all other features drop or recede into the background.

The weakest stimuli that can be detected 50% of the time.

Information gathered from both eyes to help judge depth and distance.

Taking basic sensory information about incoming stimuli and processing it for further interpretation.