Intro Flashcards
What is sensation?
The initial transduction in the sense organs (eyes, ears, nose…)
What is perception?
The neural processing that follows sensation
How are sensation and perception related?
Sensation precedes perception
Both are (usually) involved in the overall perceptual process
What is the distal stimulus
thing in the world
What is the proximal stimulus?
light arriving at the eye/ image on retina
What happens when receptors process light?
Transduction –> light into neural signals
What is neural processing?
Process info by passing between neurons
What is a percept? Give an example?
The product of perception –> thing in your mind
“this is a sink”
What is an example of perception vs recognition?
Perception –> “green thing”
Recognition –> “tree”
What parts in this diagram make up the mind and brain
Neural processing, perception, recognition, knowledge
How does neural processing relate to perception and recognition?
Cognitive processes (e.g. perception & recognition) are not steps after neural processes
Cognitive processes (e.g. perception & recognition) are neural processes
What are some examples of knowledge that influences perception and recognition
Genes/evolution
Long-term memory/learning
Current cognitive & emotional state
Environmental context
What is top down processing?
how our knowledge influences our perception and recognition
What is bottom up processing?
Info coming from senses to perception and recognition
What is the output of neural signals?
Action
What is the Principle of Representation? Give an example?
Our senses and our mind/brain do not have direct access to distal stimuli, only to representations
The thing itself is different from the representation in our mind
The light from a pipe is not a pipe
The neural activity transduced from the light is not a pipe
What is Principle of Transformation? Give an example?
Each step from distal stimulus to percept involves transformation (change) of representations
The receptor activity transduced from the light is different than the light
What are the 4 things you can look at when studying the perceptual process?
Stimulus, Physiology, Behaviour, Mind
What is the stimulus?
Proximal and distal stimulus
What is physiology?
Processing and receptors/ physical brain response
What is Behaviour? Give an example?
Action
Eye movement, pushing button
What is the mind? Can you directly observe or measure it?
Recognition and perception –> mental processes
NO
Is there a difference between the physical stimulus and the perceptual experience?
Yes
Someone is presented one light on task #1. On task #2, another light is presented. The person says that the intensity of the light in the first task is 10 and the intensity of the light in the second task is 13. Describe the Stimulus, Physiology, Behaviour, and the Mind
Stimulus is the light of intensity 10 and 20
Physiology is the firing rate of neurons
Behaviour is saying “10” and “13”
Do not have direct access to the mind
