6. Attention and perception Flashcards
What is attention?
A state of vigilance, alertness, and focus where one becomes ready to perceive stimuli.
What does attention precede?
Attention precedes perception.
What is the process of transforming sensation into perception called?
Transduction.
What does the process of transduction involve?
Converting stimulus energy (e.g., light, sound) into neural energy.
Who were the prominent Gestalt psychologists?
Köhler, Koffka, and Wertheimer.
What is form perception?
The process of organizing the visual field into meaningful wholes.
What is the principle of proximity in perceptual organization?
Objects close together in space or time are perceived as a group.
What is the principle of similarity in perceptual organization?
Objects with similar characteristics are perceived as a group.
What does the principle of continuity state?
We perceive objects as belonging together if they form a continuous pattern.
What is the principle of symmetry?
Symmetrical areas are seen as figures against asymmetrical backgrounds.
What does the principle of closure involve?
Filling gaps in objects to perceive them as whole rather than separate parts.
What is the cocktail party effect?
The ability to focus attention on one voice among many.
What are the two types of attention?
Selective attention and sustained attention.
What does sustained attention refer to?
The ability to maintain focus on an object or event for a longer duration.
What are the external factors affecting selective attention?
Size, intensity, motion, novelty, size, change, repetition, clarity, color, contrast.
What is an example of a moving object drawing attention?
Flickering lights on emergency vehicles like ambulances.
What is an example of intensity affecting attention?
A neon sign is more noticeable than a normal intensity light.
What does novelty in stimuli refer to?
New kinds of objects that quickly draw attention.
How does size affect attention?
Larger or smaller objects draw more attention than average-sized objects.
What role does change play in attracting attention?
Any change in the environment, like the stopping of a clock’s ticking, draws attention.
What does repetition do in terms of attention?
Repeated stimuli, like a horn’s sound, can draw attention.
How does clarity affect attention?
Clearer objects or sounds draw more attention.
What is the effect of color on attention?
Colorful objects are more attention-catching than black-and-white objects.
How does contrast play a role in attention?
Objects that stand out from their background, like stains on a shirt, draw attention.
What are internal factors affecting selective attention?
Need, interest, and emotional state.
How does need influence attention?
A hungry person notices even faint smells of food.
What is the effect of interest on attention?
Interesting objects or events are more readily attended to.
How does emotional state affect attention?
In a heightened emotional state, one may not be aware of other stimuli.
What is depth perception?
The process of perceiving the world in three dimensions.
What are the two main sources of information for depth perception?
Binocular cues and monocular cues.
What are monocular cues?
Cues that allow depth perception with just one eye.