ARELLANO UNIVERSITY

Andres Bonifacio Campus

College of General Education and Liberal Arts

Department of Psychology

SY 2021-2022

INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY

SECOND SEMESTER

MIDTERM EXAM

NAME: SHAIRA KATE B. TAGURGAN SUBJECT: INTRODUCTION TO PSYCHOLOGY

COURSE: AB-PSYCHOLOGY SCHEDULE: Saturday, 2:30-5:30

Directions: Answer the following statement/questions based on our lessons.

1. Difference of sensation, perception and stimulus (5 pts)

Sensation and perception are two distinct but closely connected processes. Perception is the process through which
the brain chooses, organizes, and interprets the information received by our sensory receptors about the physical
world. In other words, the physiological basis of perception is the senses. Because each person's brain interprets
inputs differently based on their learning, memories, emotions, and expectations, perception of the same senses
might change from person to person.

2. Define the absolute threshold (5 pts)

The smallest level of stimulation that may be recognized is known as an absolute threshold, which is commonly
defined as at least half of the time. The phrase is frequently used in neuroscience and experimental research to
describe any input detectable by the human senses, including sound, touch, taste, sight, and smell. The absolute
threshold is the amount of stimulus energy that must be present in order for the stimulus to be detected 50% of the
time. Another approach to consider this is to consider how faint or soft a light or sound may be and yet be noticed
half of the time. Our sensory receptors' sensitivity may be astounding.

3. Define the sensory adaptation (5 pts)

Sensory adaptation is defined as a decrease in sensitivity to a stimuli following repeated exposure. While sensory
adaptation helps us become less conscious of a continual input, it also helps us focus our attention and energy on
other cues in our surroundings. Sensory adaptation happens when the sensory receptors are exposed to stimuli for
an extended length of time. Receptors may increase or decrease their capacity to respond, resulting in increased or
lessened sensitivity to the stimuli, depending on the stimulus. All of our fundamental five senses, including sight,
hearing, smell, touch, and taste, can be affected.
4. Discuss the absolute threshold of the 5 senses (10 pts)

Hearing:

In hearing, the absolute threshold refers to the smallest level of a tone that can be detected by normal hearing when
there are no other interfering sounds. An example of this might be measuring at what levels participants can detect
the ticking sound of clock.

Young children generally have a lower absolute threshold for sounds since the ability to hear sounds at the lowest
and highest ranges tends to decrease with age. Researchers suggest that the quietest sound those children with
normal hearing can detect is around 1,000 Hz.

Taste:

The sense of taste is equivalent to excitation of taste receptors, and receptors for a large number of specific
chemicals have been identified that contribute to the reception of taste. Despite this complexity, five types of tastes
are commonly recognized by humans:

•Sweet - usually indicates energy rich nutrients

•Umami - the taste of amino acids (e.g. meat broth or aged cheese)

•Salty - allows modulating diet for electrolyte balance

•Sour - typically the taste of acids

•Bitter - allows sensing of diverse natural toxins

Smell:

For odors, the absolute threshold involves the smallest concentration that a participant is able to smell. An example
of this would be to measure what the smallest amount of perfume that a subject is able to smell in a large room.

Vision:

In vision, the absolute threshold refers to the smallest level of light that a participant can detect. For example,
determining the absolute threshold for vision might involve measuring the distance which a participant can detect
the presence of a candle flame in the dark.
 5. Discuss each gestalt principle of vision (20 pts)
 Figure-Ground

People intuitively view objects as being in the foreground or background, according to the figure-ground principle. They
either stand out in the front (the figure) or fade into the background (the text) (the ground).

 Similarity

When items appear to be similar, we group them together, according to the principle of similarity. We also prefer to
believe they serve the same purpose. For example, in this image, the circles and squares appear to be two independent
and distinct groupings based on form.

 Proximity

Items that are near together appear to be more linked than things that are separated farther away, according to the
concept of proximity.

 Common Region

The concept of a shared territory is strongly linked to proximity. It claims that humans see items as being grouped
together when they are placed inside the same confined zone.

 Continuity

The continuity principle argues that items placed on a line or curve are regarded to be more linked than elements not
arranged on the line or curve.

 Closure

When we look at a complicated arrangement of visual components, we prefer to hunt for a single, identifiable pattern,
according to the concept of closure. To put it another way, when you view a picture with missing pieces, your brain fills
in the gaps and creates a full image, allowing you to identify the pattern.

 Focal Point

The focal point principle states that whatever stands out visually will capture and hold the viewer’s attention first.

6. Discuss the different stages of sleep (10 pts)

N1 / Stage 1

Stage 1 is simply "dozing off," and it often lasts one to five minutes. The body hasn't totally relaxed during N1 sleep,
yet body and brain functions begin to decelerate with short movements (twitches). In this stage, there are slight
changes in brain activity linked with falling asleep.
It's simple to rouse someone up during this stage of sleep, but if they aren't disturbed, they can swiftly progress to
stage 2. As the night progresses, an undisturbed sleeper may spend less time in stage 1 as they progress through the
sleep cycles.

N2 / Stage 2

The body reaches a more subdued condition during stage 2, which includes a decrease in temperature, relaxed
muscles, and decreased breathing and heart rate. At the same instant, brain waves change and eye movement
comes to a halt. The brain's activity lowers overall, but there are brief bursts of activity5 that assist the brain resist
being startled awake by external stimuli. During the initial sleep cycle, stage 2 sleep can last anywhere from 10 to 25
minutes, and each N2 stage can get longer during the night. A person normally spends roughly half of his or her
sleep time in N2 sleep.

Sleep Stages 3 and 4 – Deep Sleep

The sleep cycle's States 3 and 4 are increasingly deeper stages of sleep. Slow Wave Sleep (SWS) or delta sleep are
other names for these stages of sleep. The EEG indicates a slightly slower frequency with large amplitude impulses
during SWS (delta waves). In SWS, waking up a sleeper might be challenging. Some studies have shown that very
loud noises, up to 100 dB, do not wake some people up during SWS. Humans spend less time in slow wave deep
sleep and more time in Stage 2 sleep as they become older. Slow-wave sleep is also known as deep sleep, and it is
the deepest stage of NREM sleep. The largest arousal thresholds, such as difficulties waking up, are shown in stage
three. After being awoken, the individual will typically feel drowsy, and cognitive tests performed after being
aroused from the third stage demonstrate that mental ability is substantially hindered for up to half an hour or so,
as compared to awakenings from the other stages. Sleep inertia is the term for this phenomena. When sleep
deprivation occurs, there is usually a strong rebound of slow-wave sleep, indicating that slow-wave sleep is required.

The Sleep Cycle's Stage 5 Sleep (REM Sleep)

REM sleep, or stage 5 of the sleep cycle, is the stage of sleep linked with dreaming. It is biologically distinct from the
other phases of sleep. The EEG has a wake-like quality to it. The skeletal muscles, on the other hand, are atonic, or
non-moving. The breathing has become more uneven and chaotic. The heart rate frequently rises. Muscle atonia is
said to have developed to protect the individual from damage when sleeping.

7. What are the different sleep disorders and its meaning. (20 pts)
 Insomnia is a sleep disorder in which you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep all night.
 Sleep apnea is a condition in which you have irregular breathing patterns while sleeping. Sleep apnea comes in a
variety of forms.
 RLS is a sleep movement condition characterized by restless legs syndrome. Restless legs syndrome, also known
as Willis-Ekbom illness, is characterized by an unpleasant sensation and a strong desire to move the legs when
sleeping.
 Narcolepsy is a sleep disorder that causes severe tiredness throughout the day and causes people to fall asleep
unexpectedly.
 Somniloquy is also known as the act of conversing while sleeping. It's a kind of parasomnia, which is a sleep
disorder characterized by aberrant behavior. It's a typical event that isn't normally thought of as a medical issue.
 Somnambulism, commonly known as sleepwalking, is a condition in which a person wakes up and walks around
while sleeping. Sleepwalking is more prevalent in children than in adults, and by the teen years, most people
have outgrown it. Sleepwalking seldom does not always indicate a significant condition or necessitate medical
attention.
 Night Terrors commonly have children. This is the scream-filled, stressful episode. Fear of waking up in the
middle of the night Fever, pain, and tension are all known to cause night terrors.