૮ ˙Ⱉ˙ ა rawr!
SENSATION AND PERCEPTION
What is synesthesia? = neurological condition that causes certain stimuli to trigger more than one sense. ୧ grapheme-colour synesthesia ୧ music-colour synesthesia ୧ tactile-emotion synesthesia
SENSATION ( •̀ - •́ ) ୧ stimulation of sensory receptors located in the sense organs ୧ transmission of sensory information to the central nervous system ୧ activation of one's sense organs
PERCEPTION ( •̀ - •́ ) ୧ active process by which sensations are organized and interpreted - to form inner representation of the world
TOP-DOWN versus BOTTOM-UP PROCESSING
top-down ୧ use of contextual information or knowledge of a pattern in order to organize parts of the pattern bottom-up ୧ organization of the parts of a pattern to recognize, or form an image of the pattern they composed
STIMULUS vs RESPONSE
PSYCHOPHYSICS ୧ this is the study of the relationship between the physical aspects of stimuli and our psychological experience of them ୧ six major human senses: ⚝ vision, ⚝ hearing, ⚝ taste, ⚝ olfaction (smell), ⚝ touch, ⚝ vestibular, and ⚝ proprioception
THRESHOLD
୧ its not the minimum point, its the point in which you can determine the presence of a stimulus
absolute threshold ୧ weakest level of a stimulus necessary to produce a sensation, detected 50% of the time ୧ some people are more sensitive than others ( old adults, pregnant women ) ୧ the same person might have a slightly different response at different times <- ⚝ ex. the coffee that you're possibly drinking might taste sweet to you, but for others it tastes rather bitter
difference threshold ୧ minimum difference in magnitude of two stimuli required to tell them apart ୧ detected 50% of the time ⚝ ex. person a can drink a 40 degree hot coffee, while person b can't drink a hot coffee that is only 25 degrees in temperature
subliminal stimulation ୧ sensory stimulation that is below a person's absolute threshold for conscious perception - subliminal perception
SENSORY ADAPTATION sensitization (positive adaptation) ୧ one becomes more sensitive to stimuli of low magnitude desensitization (negative adaptation) ୧ one becomes less sensitive to stimuli of the same intensity
LIGHT ୧ spectrum of electromagnetic energy ୧ varies in wavelength - cosmic rays are only trillionths of an inch long - radio waves can extend for miles
୧ within visible light, color is determined by wavelength wavelength
RODS and CONES cones ୧ densely packed at the center of the retine (fovea) ୧ provides color in our vision
rods ୧ provides vision in black and white ୧ more sensitive to dim light than others
VISUAL ACUITY ୧ connected to the shape of the eye ୧ nearsighted people have to be close to an object to differentiate the details ୧ farsighted people have difficulty in focusing on nearby objects
presbyopia ୧ makes it difficult to perceive nearby visual stimuli ⚝ ex. getting a headache after reading or doing close works
LIGHT ADAPTATION dark adaptation ୧ process of adjusting to lower lighting ୧ cones reach maximum adaptation in approximately 10 minutes ୧ rods continue to adapt up to 45 minutes
PERCEPTUAL DIMENSIONS OF COLOR (continued 1) ୧ color wheel ୧ cool colors: green-blue side - considered to be cool in temperature
୧ warm colors: yellow-orange-red side - considered to be warm ୧ red-green and blue-yellow are the major complementary pairs ୧ light is the source of all colors ୧ pigments reflect and absorb selectively
CONSCIOUSNESS
what is consciousness?
୧ sensory awareness of the environment ୧ selective attention - key to self-control - cocktail party effect - selective attention make one's senses sharp and helps pick a specific stimuli among others direct inner awareness : of one's thoughts, images, emotions and memories
ALTERED STATES of CONSCIOUSNESS ⚝ sleep, ⚝ meditation, ⚝ hypnotic trance, ⚝ distorted perceptions from mind-altering drugs
⚝ SLEEPING
BIOLOGICAL and CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS circadian rhythms ⤷ cycle connected within the 24-hour period of the earth's rotation ⤷ cycle of wakefulness and the sleep is 24 hours long ⊹ extended to 25 hours if cues that signal for day or night are removed
BIOLOGICAL and CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS (cont.) ୧ series of 90-minute cycles that determines the stages of sleep ୧ suprachiasmatic nucleus ( SCN ) stimulates the pineal gland to decrease its output of melatonin once a person is awake
TYPICAL NIGHT of SLEEP ୧ one undergoes five cycles through the stages of sleep ୧ first period in stage four, where sleep is the longest ୧ sleep becomes lighter as the night wears on ୧ REM sleep becomes longer through the night
FUNCTIONS of SLEEP ୧ rejuvenates the body ୧ helps one recover from stress ୧ helps one consolidate learning ୧ may promote development of infants' bodies
REQUIRED AMOUNT of SLEEP ୧ may be genetically determined ୧ additional sleep is needed when a person is under stress ⊹ belief - as people age, they require less sleep ⤷ interrupted by physical discomfort
SLEEP, LEARNING, and MEMORY ⤷ individuals deprived of REM sleep ୧ learn more slowly ୧ forget what they have learned more quickly
DREAMS ୧ imagery is produced in the absence of external stimulation ୧ most vivid, during REM sleep ୧ vague and fleeting during NREM sleep ୧ could be in color or black & white ୧ involves memories of the day ⤷ traumatic events can lead to nightmares
ACTIVATION-SYNTHESIS MODEL of DREAMING ୧ acetylcholine and the pons stimulate responses that lead to dreaming ୧ activation of the reticular formation ⤷ arouses an individual but does not wake them ⤷ stimulates parts of the cortex involved in memory ⊹ cortex synthesizes the sources of stimulation into dreams
SLEEP DISORDERS ୧ insomnia ୧ narcolepsy and sleep paralysis ୧ sleep apnea ୧ parasomnia ⊹ parasomnia - abnormal movements and behaviours during sleep
examples of parasomnia: ↓ ⚝ sleepwalking, ⚝ sleeptalking, ⚝ groaning, ⚝ nightmares, ⚝ bedwetting, and ⚝ teeth grinding or jaw clenching
HYPNOSIS
୧ altered state of consciousness ⤷ people are suggestible and behave as though in a trance
୧ used in medical procedures and to help cope with stress ୧ hypnotic trance "induced by the hypnotist" ୧ people who are easily hypnotized have hypnotic suggestibility
the three main components of hyposis are: ⚝ absorption, ⚝ suggestibility, and ⚝ dissociation
HYPNOSIS continued.
role theory ⤷ changes in behavior can be successfull imitated when people are instructed to behave as though they were hypnotized response set theory ⤷ expectations play a role in the production of experiences suggested by the hypnotist
MEDITATION ୧ focusing one's consciousness to alter relationship between the self and the environment
transcendental meditation (TM) ୧ concentrates on mantras ୧ produces relaxation response
mindfulness meditation (MM) ୧ helps focusing on the present rather than ruminating about problems
biofeedback training (BFT) ୧ system that provides information about a bodily function in order for one to gain control over it ⤷ helps combat stress, tension and anxiety
electromyograph (EMG) ୧ used by sports psychologists ⤷ to train athletes in relaxing specific muscle groups so that anxiety and tension are controlled
ALTERING CONSCIOUSNESS through PSYCHOACTIVE SUBSTANCES ୧ drugs that distort perceptions and change moods ⚝ depressants, ⚝ stimulants, and ⚝ hallucinogens
effects ୧ physical dependence = drug tolerance, withdrawal ୧ psychological dependence = they think they need it
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS ୧ repeated use of substances leads to impaired functioning ⤷ characterized by loss of control over the use of the substance ୧ biological symptoms are suggestive of addiction ୧ tolerance ୧ abstinence syndrome : characteristic group of withdrawal symptoms ⤷ craving occurs without a substances
CASUAL FACTORS in SUBSTANCES USE DISORDERS ୧ experimentation ୧ based on the recommendation or observation of others ⊹ reinforced by peers or the drug's positive effects
ALLURES and DANGERS of DEPRESSANTS - alcohol ୧ most abused drug: alcohol ୧ linked to lowering productivity, loss of employment, and lowering social status ⊹ binge drinking is connected with aggressive behavior, poor grades, promiscuity, and accidents ୧ effects: ⚝ lowers inhibitions, and ⚝ induces feelings of euphoria & elation ୧ men are more likely to become alcoholic than women ⊹ affects women more as they have less aldehyde dehydrogenase than men ୧ asians are less likely than europeans to drink excessively ୧ can lead to physiological dependence ⊹ physiological dependence using a substance and unable to function without it.
OPIATES group of narcotics deprived from the opium poppy opiods: are produced in a laboratory includes morphine, heroin, codeine and demerol medical application = pain relief provides a strong euphoric rush
BARBITURATES depressant with medical uses relieves anxiety, tension, and pain treats epilepsy, high blood pressure, and insomnia rapidly leads to physiological and psychological dependence dangerous if mixed with alcohol
AMPHETAMINES can produce a euphoric feeling individuals may fall into deep sleep or depression ritalin and adderall used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children increases the risk for sleep disorders and loss of appetite
COCAINE produces euphoria, reduces hunger, deadens pain, and boosts self-confidence physical dangers: sudden rises in blood pressure, decreased oxygen supply to the heart, increased heart rate & respiratory, and cardiovascular collapse
overdose causes restlessness, insomnia, trevors, headaches, nausea, convulsions, hallucinations and delusions
NICOTINE addictive stimulant in tobacco smoke creates physiological dependence on tobacco products enhances memory & attention, and has a relaxing effect depresses appetite and raises metabollic rate
continuation hydrocarbons (tars) can lead to lung cancer stiffen arteries increases the risk of miscarriage, preterm births, stillborn babies, and children with learning problems in pregnant women secondhand smoke is connected to respiratory illnesses, and different types of cancer electronic cigarettes help obtain nicotine
HALLUCINOGENS - marijuana THC - psychedelic substance involved hashish is derived from resin and is more potent may alter time perception increase one's awareness of bodily sensations and heightens sexual sensations causes disorientation that may be present or threatening perceptual-motor coordination, short-term memory, and learning can be impaired strong intoxication leads to nausea and vomiting regular users may experience tolerance and withdrawal symptoms
OTHER HALLUCINOGENS flashbacks ➖distorted perceptions that mimic the LSD trip occur days, weeks, or longer after usage experience is termed hallucinogen persisting perception disorder (HPPD) ➖includes mescaline and phencyclidine