Chapter 4.1 and 4.2 Flashcards
Sensation
the process of detecting external events by sense organs and turning those stimuli into neural signals
perception
involves attending to. organizing, and interpreting stimuli that we sense
- enables us to recognize and meaning of things
bottom up
starts at sensory level and work up to higher level processing
top down
constructs perceptions from sensory input by drawing on our experience and expectations
transduction
specialized receptors transform the physical energy of the outside world into neural impulses
sensory adaptation
“habituation” the reduction of activity in sensory receptors with repeated exposure to a stimulus
absolute threshold
the minimum amount of energy or quantity of a stimulus required for it to be reliably detected at least 50% of the time
difference threshold
the smallest difference between stimuli that can be reliably detected at least 50% of the time
gestalt psychology
theory that states individual parts of an image may have little meaning on their own, but when combined takes an significant perceived form.
inattentional blindness
failure to notice clearly visible events or objects because attention is diverted elsewhere.
nearsightedness (myopia)
occurs when eyeball is slightly elongated.
- can see close up objects, but difficulty with far away objects.
farsightedness (hyperopia)
image is focused behind the retina
- can see distant objects clearly, but not close up
ventral stream
extends from the visual cortex in the occipital lobe to the anterior portions of the temporal lobe
- used for object recognition
dorsal stream
extends from occipital lobe to the parietal lobe.
- locates object, allows for visually guided movement
