Chap 7 Flashcards
Define Sensation
The process by which our sense organs and receptors detect and respond to sensory information that stimulates them
Define Perception
The process by which we give meaning to sensory information, resulting in our personal interpretation of that information
Can we distinguish between sensation and perception?
Psychologists often distinguish between sensation and perception, however there is no clear boundary when sensations ends and perception begins
Define The Visual Perception System
Consists of the complete network of physiological structures involved in vision
Apart from the eye, what other parts of the brain are in the visual perception system?
Relevant sections of the brain - such as the primary visual cortex in the occipital lobe
8 main structures of the eye?
- Vitreous humour
- Cornea
- Pupil
- Lens
- Iris
- Aqueous humour
- Ciliary muscles
- Retina
- Optic nerve
What are the four key steps to visual perception system in order?
Reception - Transduction - Transmission - Interpretation
What is reception?
Process by which the eye receives incoming light from external environment
What is transduction?
Process by which photoreceptors change electromagnetic energy into electrical impulses which can travel along the optic nerve
What is transmission?
Involves sending information in the form of electrical impulses along the optic nerve
What is interpretation?
The process of assigning meaning to visual information so that we understand what we are looking at
What is the name of the specialist neutrons that are located on the retina, which detect and respond to light
Photoreceptors
What are the two types of photoreceptors and what do they do?
Rods - Low level of light - No colour
Cones - High level of light - Colour
What are the 3 groups of visual perception principle?
Gestalt principles
Depth principles
Perceptual constancies
Name the 4 gestalt principles?
Figure-ground
Closure
Similarity
Proximity
What is figure-ground?
Organise visual information by perceptually dividing a scene in to the ‘figure’ and the ‘ground’
What is Closure?
Tendency to mentally close up or fill images that are incomplete
What is similarity?
Tendency to perceive parts of a visual image that have similar features as belonging together in a unit, group or whole
What is proximity?
Tendency to perceive parts of a visual image which are positioned close together as belonging together in a group
Give an example of how figure ground is used in real life
An army men would wear camo to blend their figure into the ground
What are depth principles/cues?
Sources of information from the environment or from within our body that helps us to perceive how far away objects are and therefore perceive depth
How many different types of depth cues are there? What are they called?
2, monocular and binocular.
What are binocular depth cues?
Use two eyes to provide information on depth and distance
What are monocular depth cues?
Use of 1 eye to provide information on depth and distance
What are the monocular depth cues?
Retinal disparity
Convergence
Name 4 of the monocular depth cues?
Accommodation Linear perspective Interposition Texture gradient Relative size High in the visual field
Define perceptual constancy?
Tendency to perceive an object as remaining stable and unchanging despite any changes that may occur to the image cast on the retina
How many different types of perceptual constancies are there? What are they?
3, size, shape and brightness
