Chapter 4 Flashcards

1
Q

What is sensation?

A

Stimulation of sense organs

Sensation is the initial stage of processing sensory information better known as bottom-up processing

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2
Q

Define stimulus in the context of sensation.

A

Physiological energy that serves as ‘raw data’ about the outside world

Stimuli can be light, sound, touch, etc.

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3
Q

What are receptor cells?

A

Specialized cells that receive stimuli in the eyes, ears, skin, nose, tongue, etc.

These cells convert physical energy into neural signals.

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4
Q

What is perception?

A

Organization and interpretation of sensation

Perception helps the brain make sense of raw sensory data. Known as Top-bottom processing

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5
Q

How do retinal ganglion cells function?

A

Respond to and enhance contrast, useful for edge detection

They play a crucial role in visual processing.

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6
Q

What does the dorsal stream in the visual system represent?

A

The ‘where’ pathway related to action

It helps in locating objects in space.

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7
Q

What does the ventral stream in the visual system represent?

A

The ‘what’ pathway related to perception

It is involved in object recognition.

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8
Q

List the three laws of Gestalt psychology.

A
  • Law of Closure
  • Law of Similarity
  • Law of Proximity

These laws describe how we perceive patterns and objects.

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9
Q

What is the law of closure?

A

Organizes perception into whole rather than parts

It helps us complete incomplete figures.

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10
Q

What is the law of similarity?

A

Like things get grouped together

This law explains how we perceive similar objects as a group.

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11
Q

What is the law of proximity?

A

Things that are close together get grouped together

This affects how we perceive spatial relationships.

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12
Q

What is object recognition?

A

Involves sensing different basic features and integrating them into a perceptual whole

It is critical for identifying objects in our environment.

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13
Q

Define top-down processing.

A

Processing driven by belief and expectations about how the world is organized

It relies on prior knowledge to interpret sensory information.

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14
Q

Define bottom-up processing.

A

Processing driven by physical input contacting the sensory receptors

It starts with sensory input and builds up to perception.

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15
Q

What is presbyopia?

A

Age-related farsightedness

It occurs when the lens loses flexibility, making it hard to focus on close objects.

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16
Q

What role does the pupil play in vision?

A

Regulates the amount of light passing into the eye

The pupil adjusts its size based on lighting conditions.

17
Q

What is the function of the lens in the eye?

A

Focuses light rays to fall on the retina

The curvature of the lens adjusts for distance.

18
Q

What are rods in the context of vision?

A

Receptors for night and peripheral vision

They are sensitive to low light levels.

19
Q

What are cones in the context of vision?

A

Receptors for daylight, fine detail, and color vision

They are concentrated in the fovea and function best in bright light.

20
Q

What does the retina do?

A

Tissue lining the inside back of the eye that contains receptors for seeing

It converts light into neural signals for the brain.

21
Q

Trichromatic Theory

A

3 types of receptors with differing sensitivities to different wavelengths

22
Q

Opponent process Theory

A

Complimentary pairs of colour where one colour becomes more excited and the other becomes inhibited to display contrast in colour.
- red vs green, yellow vs blue, black vs white

23
Q

Sublimation perception

A

Detecting information you already know in a hidden context (below level of conscious awareness)

24
Q

After image

A

Sensation experienced after stimulus is removed
- should see after image of opposing colours
- current colours tire out and their complimentary are released from inhibition

25
Q

Monocular cues

A
  • clues about distanced based on image
26
Q

Motion Parallax

A

Objects at different distances move across retina @ diff. Rates

27
Q

Linear Perspective

A

Lines converge in distance

28
Q

Pitch

A

Subjective perception of frequency

29
Q

Low frequency

A

Low pitch

30
Q

High frequency

A

High pitch

31
Q

Outer ear: PINNA

A

Funnel sound waves to middle ear

32
Q

Middle ear: eardrum

A

Vibration amplification by 3 tiny bones

33
Q

Inner ear: Cochlea

A

Vibration converted into neural signals sent

34
Q

Basilar membrane

A

Lining of cochlea w/ tiny hair protrusions

35
Q

Frequency Theory

A
  • perception of pitch corresponds to frequency or rate the basilar membrane vibrates
36
Q

Place Theory

A

Perception of pitch corresponds to place of vibration along basilar membrane
- high pitch towards opening of cochlea
- low pitch towards end