CH 3: Visual Perception

Question 1

Describe how rods and cones are different from one another.

Answer 1

RODS
-grey scale detection, no color
-more light sensitive, low light
-more numerous than cones
-peripheral

CONES
-S (blue), M (green), L (red)
-brighter light, color
-fovea (central retina)

Question 2

Explain how lateral inhibition promotes edge perception.

Answer 2

-enhances edge perception by neurons in retina inhibiting the activity of their neighbor
-sharpens the differences in light intensity between adjacent areas, making edges more perceptible and contributing to our ability to see and interpret visual information.

Question 3

Describe what a “receptive field” is and describe the various types of receptive fields.

Answer 3

-center most receptive, surround least (center-surround cells)
-specific region of sensory space (like a visual field for vision)
-presence of stimulus will influence the firing rate of particular neuron.

Question 4

Describe the evidence indicating the perceiver’s active role in shaping perception of the world.

Answer 4

-Top-down/bottom-up
-gestalt/illusions
-context
-attention
-memory/expectations
(perception not merely passive reception of stimuli but active, constructive process shaped by cognitive factors, context, and individual experiences).

Question 5

Describe the various forms of perceptual constancy, and the role of “unconscious inference” in supporting constancy.

Answer 5

-size/shape/color/light/location constancy
-Unconscious inference plays crucial role in this process by integrating contextual information, prior experiences, and predictions, allowing us to interpret our sensory experiences consistently and effectively.

Question 6

Discuss the various cues we use to perceive depth.

Answer 6

Our brains use various cues to judge distance and depth, which can be categorized into two main types: monocular cues (requiring one eye) and binocular cues (requiring both eyes).