THIS is the point where the optic nerve exits the eye and where there are no photoreceptors.
What is the blind spot?
100
THIS is the term for the sensory process that converts incoming sensory information into neural messages.
What is transduction?
100
THESE are the two physical properties of any sound wave.
What are frequency and amplitude?
100
THIS is the scholarly term for your sense of smell.
What is olfaction?
100
THESE cells sense painful stimuli and send unpleasant (but, useful) messages to the central nervous system.
What are nociceptors?
200
THIS cell type enables you to see blue, green and red colors.
What are cones?
200
THIS is what we call the smallest amount of stimulation necessary for a stimulus to be detected.
What is the absolute threshold?
200
THIS is the cerebral (smart) student's word for ear drum.
What is the tympanic membrane?
200
Between the nose and the brain lies THIS, which is responsible for processing scents and passing the information on to many other parts of the brain.
What is the olfactory bulb?
200
THIS condition can cause pain coming from an amputated arm or leg. The cause is unclear, but we do know it isn't imaginary. This real pain originates in the brain.
What is phantom limb?
300
No, they don't have a mood disorder...THESE cells are responsible for shuttling information gathered from the photoreceptors on to the ganglion cells
What are bipolar cells?
300
THIS is the term for the diminishing responsiveness of our sensory systems to prolonged stimulation, such as when a swimmer becomes accustomed to the temperature of the water.
What is sensory adaptation?
300
Where sound waves become actual waves. The fluid filled part of the inner ear is called THIS.
What is the cochlea?
300
Most of us are familiar with the four primary taste properties: salty, bitter, sweet and sour. But the name of THIS fifth property, which describes savory foods, might have escaped your grade school teacher.
What is umami?
300
THIS over the counter medication has been found to (surprisingly) lessen the "pain" and anxiety of social rejection.
What is Tylenol (acetaminophen)?
400
THIS special area of the brain is what creates visual images from the information imported through the eyes.
What is the visual cortex?
400
You might diagnose your friend as having THIS if they tell you "my burrito tastes yellow...".
What is synesthesia?
400
It isn't just your grandpa...we all have THESE cells in our ears. Although, ironically, grandpa probably has many fewer than you do. These cells sway and stimulate sensory nerve endings, transforming the vibrations of the basilar membrane into neural activity.
What are hair cells?
400
Humans with a very high density of taste buds probably won't secure a starring role in a comic book, but they have justified THIS nickname.
What is supertaster?
400
THIS theory explains why pain can sometimes be blocked or facilitated by our mental state. It also explains how other non-pain sensations can block pain signals to the brain.
What is gate-control theory?
500
THIS theory proposes that cells in the visual system process colors in complementary pairs - such as red or green, OR as yellow or blue.
What is opponent-process theory?
500
If you are sitting still at your desk and suddenly feel like the room is moving or spinning, it is possible that THIS sense is malfunctioning.
What is the vestibular sense?
500
Frequency determines how high or low a sound is, a quality known as THIS.
What is pitch?
500
Impress your friends with your large vocabulary and refer to your sense of taste as THIS.
What is gustation?
500
When we take an pill, we get the benefit of two types of pain relief. When we expect the pain to get better, THIS substance is released by the brain and provides pain relief of its own (in addition to whatever relief the pill provides you with).