CHAPTER 1: Introduction to Perception

Question 1

What are the 7 steps of the perceptual process?

Answer 1

1. Information about the stimulus in the environment is carried by light (distal stimulus)
2. Distal stimulus is reflected onto the retina (proximal stimulus)
3. Receptor processes
4. Neural processing (transduction of light engery into action potentials)
5. Perception
6. Recognition
7. Action

Question 2

Explain the role of visual pigment in the receptor processes of perception

Answer 2

Pigments are found in the photoreceptors and when they are triggered, they emit a cascade of action potentials. There are two components of pigmentation: obsin and retinol. The cones adapt to a certain point and then the rods take over.

Question 3

In which brain areas does neural processing occur during perception?

Answer 3

It occurs in the cortex dedicated to processing: temporal, parietal, and occipital lobe

Question 4

What distinguishes bottom-up processing from top-down processing in perception?

Answer 4

Top-down processing: processing using previous knowledge (perception requires a lot of this previous knowledge!)
Bottom-up processing: information coming in from the environment through the stimulation of receptors

Question 5

What is the absolute threshold for measuring perception?

Answer 5

the absolute threshold for measuring perception is the minimal amount of stimulus that can be detected (this applies for any sense)

Question 6

Describe the method of limits in measuring perception

Answer 6

experimenter presents stimuli in ascending and descending order to indicate the participants’ absolute threshold