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.
What is relative size in monocular cues?
Judging distance based on the size of retinal images from past experience.
What is interposition?
The perception of an object being closer when it covers another object.
What does linear perspective involve?
Parallel lines appearing to converge with increasing distance.
What is aerial perspective?
Distant objects appear hazy or blurry due to atmospheric particles.
What role does light and shade play in depth perception?
Highlights and shadows provide information about distance and depth.
What is the effect of relative height?
Larger objects are perceived as closer, smaller as farther away.
What is texture gradient?
A phenomenon where a denser visual field appears farther away.
What is the difference between sensation and perception?
Sensation is receiving stimuli, perception is interpreting them.
What is the law of closure?
The tendency to fill gaps to perceive objects as whole.
What is vigilance?
Another term for sustained attention, maintaining focus for long periods.
How does intensity influence attention?
More intense stimuli draw more attention.
What is the law of continuity?
Perceiving continuous patterns rather than disconnected ones.
What is the law of proximity?
Perceiving close objects as a group.
What is the law of similarity?
Perceiving similar objects as a group.
What does the principle of symmetry entail?
Symmetrical figures are seen as the main focus against asymmetrical backgrounds.
What is the importance of figure-ground segregation?
Distinguishing objects (figures) from their background.
What is a pragnanz?
A tendency to perceive a good figure, an organized form.
What does perceptual constancy refer to?
Perceiving objects as unchanging despite changes in sensory input.
What is the role of previous experiences in perception?
They influence how we interpret and perceive stimuli.
How does attention influence perception?
Attention organizes and filters perceptions.
What is an illusion in perception?
A misinterpretation of sensory information.
What is extra-sensory perception?
Perception that occurs without using known sensory processes.
What is selective attention?
Focusing on a specific stimulus while ignoring others.
What is the difference between selective and sustained attention?
Selective attention is choosing stimuli, sustained is maintaining focus.
What is the Gestalt approach to perception?
Understanding perception as an organized whole rather than individual parts.
What is the function of attention in cognitive processes?
It helps organize perceptions and other cognitive functions.
What is transduction?
Conversion of stimulus energy into neural energy.
How does motion affect attention?
Moving objects are more likely to draw attention than stationary ones.
What is the effect of novelty on attention?
Novel stimuli are more likely to draw attention.
What is an example of repetition affecting attention?
Repeated sounds, like a horn, catch attention.
What is the role of need in selective attention?
Biological or psychological needs can heighten attention to related stimuli.
What is interposition in depth perception?
Closer objects cover parts of farther objects.
What does the law of continuity state?
We perceive connected patterns as a whole.
What is the law of proximity?
Objects close together are perceived as a group.
What is the law of similarity?
Similar objects are perceived as a group.
What is the principle of symmetry?
Symmetrical areas are seen as the focus against asymmetrical backgrounds.
What is perceptual set?
A mental predisposition to perceive something in a particular way.
What is the effect of interest on attention?
Personal interests increase the likelihood of attending to certain stimuli.
How does emotional state influence attention?
Emotional states can heighten or diminish focus on certain stimuli.
What are the main functions of attention?
Alerting, selection, and maintaining focus.
What is binocular cue in depth perception?
Depth perception requiring both eyes.
What is monocular cue in depth perception?
Depth perception requiring only one eye.
What is the role of cultural factors in perception?
Cultural background can influence how stimuli are perceived.
What is the importance of perceptual constancy?
Maintains stable perceptions despite changes in sensory input.
How do advertisements use perceptual principles?
By using colors, contrast, and motion to draw attention.
What is the concept of figure-ground segregation?
Distinguishing the main object (figure) from the background.
What is the law of pragnanz?
The tendency to perceive the simplest, most stable form.
