Glossary / Lexicon

Electromagnetic spectrum is defined as continuum of electromagnetic energy that extends from very-short-wavelength gamma rays to long-wavelength radio waves. Visible light is a narrow band within this spectrum.

The electromagnetic spectrum is the range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, which includes visible light, radio waves, X-rays, and gamma rays. In psychology, the electromagnetic spectrum can be relevant in the study of visual perception, since the visible light spectrum is the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum that is visible to the human eye.

Examples of how the electromagnetic spectrum is relevant in psychology include:

• Color perception: Visible light is composed of different wavelengths that correspond to different colors. The colors that we perceive are determined by the wavelengths of light that are absorbed or reflected by objects and detected by the photoreceptor cells in our eyes.

• Light therapy: Light therapy is a treatment used to alleviate seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and other conditions that are affected by exposure to light. Different colors of light can have different effects on the body and mind, and light therapy devices can emit specific wavelengths of light to achieve therapeutic effects.

• Brain imaging: Some types of brain imaging, such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and functional MRI (fMRI), use electromagnetic waves to create images of the brain. These techniques use the magnetic properties of atoms in the body to create detailed images of the brain's structure and function.

• Radio waves and wireless communication: Radio waves are a type of electromagnetic radiation that are used for wireless communication, such as in cell phones, Wi-Fi networks, and other types of wireless devices. The study of the effects of radio waves and other types of electromagnetic radiation on human health is an area of active research in psychology and related fields.