Chapter 4, Sensation & Perception

Question 1

Sensation vs Perception

Answer 1

Sensation - stimulation of a sense organ
Perception - the brain’s interpretation of a sensation

Question 2

Transduction

Answer 2

When many sensors convert physical signals to neural signals

Question 3

Psychophysics

Answer 3

Methods to measure the strength of a stimulus and the observers sensitivity to that stimulus

Question 4

Absolute threshold

Answer 4

The minimal intensity of a stimulus to be detected 50% of the time

Question 5

JND (Just Noticable Difference)

Answer 5

The minimal change in a stimulus that can barely be detected

Question 6

Weber’s Law

Answer 6

The JND of a stimulus is a constant proportion despite variations in intensity
(The larger the original stimulus, the bigger the change needs to be to be noticeable)

Question 7

Noise

Answer 7

All other stimuli from internal and external environments (distractions)

Question 8

Signal detection theory

Answer 8

Response to a stimulus depends on a person’s sensitivity in the presence of noise and on a person’s decision criterion

Question 9

The four possible outcomes on a signal-detection experiment

Answer 9

Hit
Correct rejection
False alarm
Miss

Question 10

Sensory adaption

Answer 10

Sensitivity to a prolonged stimulation tends to decline over time as an organism adapts to it

Question 11

Visual acuity

Answer 11

The ability to see in fine detail

Question 12

Cornea

Answer 12

Eye part
Smooth protective outer tissue

Question 13

Retina

Answer 13

Eye part
The light sensitive tissue at the back of the eyeball

Question 14

Myopia

Answer 14

Nearsightedness
Can’t see far away

Question 15

Hyperopia

Answer 15

Farsightedness
Can’t see close up

Question 16

Two types of photoreceptors and a bit about them

Answer 16

Cones - detect color, most near middle of retina, used most in the day, less than rods
Rods - used for night vision, at peripheral vision, more than cones

Question 17

Foeva

Answer 17

The area of the retina where vision is the clearest but has no rods at all

Question 18

Accommodation

Answer 18

The process of how the eye keeps a clear image on the retina

Question 19

Retina cell order

Answer 19

Foeva (start ref), retinal ganglion cells (RGCs), bipolar cell, rods and cones.

Question 20

What makes up the optic nerve

Answer 20

Bundled RGC (retinal ganglion cell) axons

Question 21

Number and types of cone types

Answer 21

3
Red, green, blue

Question 22

Colour-opponent system

Answer 22

Pairs of visual neurons work in opposition. (Eye color fatigue)

Question 23

Visual streams
What are they and two types?

Answer 23

Two pathways from the occipital cortex to other visual areas in the brain.
The ventral stream
The dorsal stream

Question 24

Ventral stream

Answer 24

Occipital lobe > temporal lobe
Represents an objects shape and identity, “what”

Question 25

The dorsal stream

Answer 25

Occipital lobe > parietal lobe Where object is in space "where"

Question 26

Visual form agnosia

Answer 26

The inability to recognize objects by sight

Question 27

Parallel processing

Answer 27

The brains capacity to preform many activities at the same time

Question 28

Binding problem

Answer 28

How the brain links features so we see unified objects instead of random features

Question 29

Illusory conjunction

Answer 29

Where a brain incorrectly combines features

Question 30

Linking features together relies on the _____ lobe and ____ stream

Answer 30

Parietal lobe Dorsal stream

Question 31

Modular view

Answer 31

Parts of the brain that recognizes specific things like faces or houses

Question 32

Perceptual constancy

Answer 32

Even as sensory signals change, perception remains consistent (friend with different hair is still recognized as friend)

Question 33

Gestalt principles characteristics

Answer 33

Simplicity Closure Continuity Similarity Proximity Common fate

Question 34

Theories of object recognition

Answer 34

Image-based object recognition - templates of items in our heads Parts based recognition - recognize shapes and their spatial recognition to each other

Question 35

Monocular depth cues, definition and cues

Answer 35

Aspects that give info about depth when viewed with one eye Linear perspective Texture gradient Interposition (closer objects covering farther ones) Relative height

Question 36

Binocular depth cues

Answer 36

The difference in your two eyes images that give info about depth

Question 37

Waterfall illusion

Answer 37

Staring at something consistently moving before looking away making other things look like their moving

Question 38

Inattentional blindness

Answer 38

A failure to perceive objects that are not the focus of attention

Question 39

Vision cells interactions

Answer 39

Bipolar cells inhibit the ganglion cells. When cones or rods inhibit the bipolar cells, they stop inhibiting the ganglion cells so they fire