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PSY3051 > Introduction and Visual Processing > Flashcards

Introduction and Visual Processing Flashcards

1
Q

Definition

a form of remembering characterized by a feeling of familiarity when something previously experienced is again encountered

A

Recognition

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2
Q

Definition

what takes place when many sensors in the body convert physical signals from the environment into encoded neural signals sent to the central nervous system

A

Transduction

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3
Q

Definition

any physical object or event in the external world that reflects light

A

Distal stimulus

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4
Q

Definition

The surround of a receptive field that when stimulated causes an excitation response

A

Excitatory-surround

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5
Q

Definition

a layered, multi-sensory structure. Its upper layer receives visual signals from the retina of the eye, while the lower layers process multiple signals from various other parts of the brain

A

Superior colliculus

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6
Q

Definition

a graph of the relationship between orientation an neuron firing which is determined by measuring the responses of a simple cortical cell to bars with different orientations

A

Orientation tuning curve

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7
Q

Definition

each of the paired lobes of the brain lying beneath the temples, including areas concerned with the understanding of speech

A

Temporal lobe

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8
Q

True or False:

Receptive fields overlap

A

True

Receptive fields overlap and provide accurate location information

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9
Q

Define

Cones

A

A type of specialized light-sensitive cell (photoreceptor) in the retina of the eye that provides color vision and sharp central vision

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10
Q

Definition

the tendency to give a diminished response when faced with sustained stimuli

A

Selective adaptation

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11
Q

On average, how many cones converge to each ganglion cell?

A

6 cones to 1 ganglion cell

1:1 in the fovea

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12
Q

Define

Retina

A

a layer at the back of the eyeball containing cells that are sensitive to light and that trigger nerve impulses that pass via the optic nerve to the brain, where a visual image is formed

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13
Q

Define

Sensation

A

the process that allows our brains to take in information via our five senses, which can then be experienced and interpreted by the brain

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14
Q

Define

Axon

A

the long threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells.

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15
Q

Definition

refers to antagonistic interactions between center and surround regions of the receptive fields of photoreceptor cells in the retina. It enables edge detection and contrast enhancement within the visual cortex

A

Centre-surround antagonism

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16
Q

Define

Phenomenological method

A

aims to describe, understand and interpret the meanings of experiences of human life. It focuses on research questions such as what it is like to experience a particular situation

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17
Q

Define

Method of adjustment

A

a method of testing perception where the observer or the researcher continuously adjusts the stimulus until they can or cannot perceive it

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18
Q

Definition

individual neurons—or groups of neurons—in the brain which code for perceptually significant stimuli

A

Feature detectors

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19
Q

Definition

an optical illusion characterized by “ghostlike” grey blobs perceived at the intersections of a white (or light-colored) grid on a black background

A

Hermann grid

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20
Q

Definition

the first stage of cortical processing of visual information. It contains a complete map of the visual field covered by the eyes

A

Area V1

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21
Q

Definition

a type of neuron which has two extensions (one axon and one dendrite)and are specialized sensory neurons for the transmission of sense

A

Bipolar cells

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22
Q

Definition

either of the paired lobes of the brain at the top of the head, including areas concerned with the reception and correlation of sensory information.

A

Parietal lobe

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23
Q

Define

Method of limits

A

a psychophysical procedure for determining the sensory threshold by gradually increasing or decreasing the magnitude of the stimulus presented in discrete steps

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24
Q

Definition

a layer at the back of the eyeball containing cells that are sensitive to light and that trigger nerve impulses that pass via the optic nerve to the brain, where a visual image is formed

A

Retina

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25
Q

Definition

a type of information processing that occurs in nervous systems and can be thought of as four separate yet related phenomena

A

Sensory coding

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26
Q

Define

Response expansion

A

As intensity increases, the perceived magnitude increases more quickly than the intensity

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27
Q

Define

Staircase illusion

A

a two-dimensional depiction of a staircase in which the stairs make four 90-degree turns as they ascend or descend yet form a continuous loop, so that a person could climb them forever and never get any higher

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28
Q

Define

Feature detectors

A

individual neurons—or groups of neurons—in the brain which code for perceptually significant stimuli

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29
Q

Definition

a period immediately following stimulation during which a nerve or muscle is unresponsive to further stimulation

A

Refractory period

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30
Q

Define

Primary receiving area

A

the primary cortical regions of the five sensory systems in the brain (taste, olfaction, touch, hearing and vision)

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31
Q

Define

Stimulus-perception relationship

A

the first stimulus relationship which relates stimuli to behavioural responses. This was the main relationship measured during the first 100 years of the scientific study of perception.

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32
Q

Definition

a self-initiated sequence of movements, usually with respect to some goal

A

Action

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33
Q

Definition

a mental and intellectual process in which objects and ideas are recognized, understood, compared to and differentiated from one another

A

Categorise

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34
Q

What are the three stages that perceptual processes can be observed?

A

Psychophysical approach (PP)

Physiological approach (PH1)

Physiological approach (PH2)

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35
Q

Define

Perception

A

the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses

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36
Q

Definition

An area of a receptive field that when stimulated causes an excitation response

A

Excitatory area

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37
Q

Define

Hyperpolarisation

A

movement of a cell’s membrane potential to a more negative value

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38
Q

Define

Physiological approach

A

suggests that our physiological make-up influences our behaviour, as the functioning of different areas of the brain relate to behaviour and experience

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39
Q

Define

Bipolar cells

A

a type of neuron which has two extensions (one axon and one dendrite)and are specialized sensory neurons for the transmission of sense

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40
Q

Define

Sparse coding

A

the study of algorithms which aim to learn a useful sparse representation of any given data

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41
Q

Definition

the light-absorbing molecules that mediate vision. They consist of an apoprotein, opsin, covalently linked to the chromophore cis-retinal

A

Visual pigment

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42
Q

Definition

A type of specialized light-sensitive cell (photoreceptor) in the retina of the eye that provides side vision and the ability to see objects in dim light (night vision)

A

Rods

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43
Q

Define

Inhibitory response

A

a kind of synaptic potential that makes a postsynaptic neuron less likely to generate an action potential

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44
Q

Definition

a psychophysical method in which participants judge and assign numerical estimates to the perceived strength of a stimulus

A

Magnitude estimation

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45
Q

Define

Complex cells

A

neurons in V1 that respond optimally to a stimulus with a particular orientation. But, unlike simple cells, they respond to a variety of stimuli across different locations

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46
Q

What type of neural circuit does this graph depict?

A

A circuit with convergence and lateral inhibition

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47
Q

Define

Area V1

A

the first stage of cortical processing of visual information. It contains a complete map of the visual field covered by the eyes

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48
Q

Definition

stimuli and responses created by stimuli are transformed, or changed, between the distal stimulus and perception

A

Principle of transformation

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49
Q

What are the three ways to test absolute threshold?

A

Method of limits

Method of adjustment

Method of constant stimuli

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50
Q

Definition

describes the ability of a neuron to receive input from many neurons in a network

A

Neural convergence

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51
Q

Definition

a well-known 19th century brightness illusion, comprising adjacent homogeneous grey bands of different luminance, which are perceived as inhomogeneous

A

Chevreul illusion

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52
Q

Definition

one of the elements corresponding to a small simple eye that make up the compound eye of an arthropod

A

Ommatidia

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53
Q

Definition

the outer layer of the cerebrum (the cerebral cortex ), composed of folded gray matter and playing an important role in consciousness.

A

Cerebral cortex

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54
Q

Definition

the continuing process of the creation and organization of neuron connections that occurs as a result of a person’s life experiences

A

Experience-dependent plasticity

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55
Q

Define

Ommatidia

A

one of the elements corresponding to a small simple eye that make up the compound eye of an arthropod

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56
Q

What is the type of perceptual processing based on the perceiver’s previous knowledge?

A

Top-down processing

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57
Q

Define

Neural plasticity

A

the capacity of the nervous system to modify itself, functionally and structurally, in response to experience and injury

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58
Q

Definition

the capacity of an excited neuron to reduce the activity of its neighbors

A

Lateral inhibition

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59
Q

Definition

the pattern of energy impinging on the observer’s sensory receptors

A

Proximal stimulus

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60
Q

Definition

As intensity increases, the perceived magnitude increases more quickly than the intensity

A

Response expansion

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61
Q

Definition

The centre of a receptive field that when stimulated causes an inhibitory response

A

Inhibitory-centre

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62
Q

Define

Method of constant stimuli

A

a method of testing perception where you always present all stimuli. This technique prevents the observer from being able to predict or anticipate what the next stimulus will be

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63
Q

Definition

the minimum amount of stimulation required to trigger a reaction or produce a sensation

A

Absolute threshold

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64
Q

Define

Physiological-perception relationship

A

relates physiological responses and behavioural responses

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65
Q

What law describes the difference threshold for sensation?

A

Weber’s Law

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66
Q

Define

Contrast threshold

A

the minimum contrast that can be resolved by the patient

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67
Q

Definition

aims to describe, understand and interpret the meanings of experiences of human life. It focuses on research questions such as what it is like to experience a particular situation

A

Phenomenological method

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68
Q

Definition

the minimum contrast that can be resolved by the patient

A

Contrast threshold

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69
Q

Define

Hermann grid

A

an optical illusion characterized by “ghostlike” grey blobs perceived at the intersections of a white (or light-colored) grid on a black background

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70
Q

Define

Action

A

a self-initiated sequence of movements, usually with respect to some goal

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71
Q

Definition

The centre of a receptive field that when stimulated causes an excitation response

A

Excitatory-centre

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72
Q

Definition

a kind of synaptic potential that makes a postsynaptic neuron less likely to generate an action potential

A

Inhibitory response

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73
Q

Define

Depolarisation

A

loss of polarization

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74
Q

Definition

the tools for measuring perception and performance. These tools are used to reveal basic perceptual processes, to assess observer performance, and to specify the required characteristics of a display

A

Classical psychophysical methods

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75
Q

Definition

the imbalance of electrical charge that exists between the interior of electrically excitable neurons (nerve cells) and their surroundings

A

Resting potential

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76
Q

Definition

an electrically excitable cell that communicates with other cells via specialized connections called synapses

A

Neurons

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77
Q

Define

Inhibitory-centre

A

The centre of a receptive field that when stimulated causes an inhibitory response

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78
Q

What is the method of constant stimuli?

A
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79
Q

Define

Receptor sites

A

A molecular site or the docking port on the surface of, or within, a cell, usually involving proteins that are capable of recognizing and binding with specific molecules

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80
Q

Define

Magnitude estimation

A

a psychophysical method in which participants judge and assign numerical estimates to the perceived strength of a stimulus

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81
Q

Definition

the aspect of visual acuity involving the ability to distinguish the elements of a fine grating composed of alternating dark and light stripes or squares

A

Grating acuity

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82
Q

Definition

the process that allows our brains to take in information via our five senses, which can then be experienced and interpreted by the brain

A

Sensation

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83
Q

Definition

the rearmost lobe in each cerebral hemisphere of the brain

A

Occipital lobe

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84
Q

Define

Oblique effect

A

the name given to the relative deficiency in perceptual performance for oblique contours as compared to the performance for horizontal or vertical contours

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85
Q

What is the method of adjustment?

A
  • Stimulus intensity is adjusted continuously until observer detects it
  • Repeated trials averaged for threshold
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86
Q

Define

Rat-man demonstration

A

The demonstration in which presentation of a “ratlike” or “manlike” picture influences an observer’s perception of a second picture, which can be interpreted either as a rat or a man

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87
Q

Definition

loss of polarization

A

Depolarisation

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88
Q

Definition

relates physiological responses and behavioural responses

A

Physiological-perception relationship

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89
Q

Definition

a relay center in the thalamus for the visual pathway. It receives a major sensory input from the retina

A

Lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN)

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90
Q

Definition

the part of the visual cortex that is involved in processing visual information. It is the first cortical visual area that receives input from the lateral geniculate nucleus in the thalamus

A

Striate cortex

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91
Q

Define

Contextual modulation

A

the influence of a surround pattern on either the perception of, or the neural responses to, a target pattern

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92
Q

Definition

a cell that responds primarily to oriented edges and gratings (bars of particular orientations). These cells were discovered by Torsten Wiesel and David Hubel in the late 1950s

A

Simple cortical cell

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93
Q

Define

Sensory coding

A

a type of information processing that occurs in nervous systems and can be thought of as four separate yet related phenomena

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94
Q

True or False

Perception can be both conscious and unconscious

A

True

Perception is largely unconscious but, at times conscious effort is needed to interpret sensory data

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95
Q

Define

Cerebral cortex

A

the outer layer of the cerebrum (the cerebral cortex ), composed of folded gray matter and playing an important role in consciousness.

96
Q

Definition

An area of a receptive field that when stimulated causes an inhibitory response

A

Inhibitory area

97
Q

Definition

the capacity of the nervous system to modify itself, functionally and structurally, in response to experience and injury

A

Neural plasticity

98
Q

Define

Psychophysics

A

the branch of psychology that deals with the relationships between physical stimuli and mental phenomena

99
Q

Define

Neurotransmitters

A

a chemical substance that is released at the end of a nerve fiber by the arrival of a nerve impulse and, by diffusing across the synapse or junction, causes the transfer of the impulse to another nerve fiber, a muscle fiber, or some other structure

100
Q

Describe the magnitude estimation for brightness and electric shock

A
101
Q

Define

Centre-surround organisation

A

a type of neural organisation that allows ganglion cells to transmit information not merely about whether photoreceptor cells are exposed to light, but also about the differences in firing rates of cells in the center and surround

102
Q

Definition

the second stimulus relationship which depicts the relationship between stimuli and physiological responses

A

Stimulus-physiology relationship

103
Q

Define

Recognition

A

a form of remembering characterized by a feeling of familiarity when something previously experienced is again encountered

104
Q

Why is the difference threshold for electric shock smaller than for light intensity?

A

A small change in electric shock (pain) can cause a drastic change in injury whereas something like light intensity is less important

105
Q

Define

Principle of representation

A

everything a person perceives is based not on direct contact with stimuli but on representations of stimuli that are formed on the receptors and the resulting activity in the person’s nervous system

106
Q

Definition

everything a person perceives is based not on direct contact with stimuli but on representations of stimuli that are formed on the receptors and the resulting activity in the person’s nervous system

A

Principle of representation

107
Q

Define

End-stopped cell

A

a type of visual processing neuron in the mammalian cerebral cortex. They are defined by the property of end-stopping, which is a decrease in firing strength with increasingly larger stimuli

108
Q

Define

Centre-surround antagonism

A

refers to antagonistic interactions between center and surround regions of the receptive fields of photoreceptor cells in the retina. It enables edge detection and contrast enhancement within the visual cortex

109
Q

Definition

The demonstration in which presentation of a “ratlike” or “manlike” picture influences an observer’s perception of a second picture, which can be interpreted either as a rat or a man

A

Rat-man demonstration

110
Q

Definition

Experiential paradigm wherein an organism is brought up from arrival or from the time that the eyes open under circumstances that limit its optical experience

A

Selective rearing

111
Q

What is the output of a centre-surround receptive field for each of these situations?

Excitatory area is stimulated:

Inhibitory area is stimulated:

Both areas are stimulated:

A
112
Q

Define

Excitatory area

A

An area of a receptive field that when stimulated causes an excitation response

113
Q

Define

Reaction time

A

the amount of time it takes to respond to a stimulus

114
Q

Definition

inhibitory neurons, and they project their dendritic arbors onto the inner plexiform layer (IPL), they interact with retinal ganglion cells and/or bipolar cells

A

Amacrine cells

115
Q

What is the type of perceptual processing based on incoming stimuli?

A

Bottom-up processing

116
Q

Definition

neurons in V1 that respond optimally to a stimulus with a particular orientation. But, unlike simple cells, they respond to a variety of stimuli across different locations

A

Complex cells

117
Q

Define

Grating acuity

A

the aspect of visual acuity involving the ability to distinguish the elements of a fine grating composed of alternating dark and light stripes or squares

118
Q

Definition

a short branched extension of a nerve cell, along which impulses received from other cells at synapses are transmitted to the cell body

A

Dendrites

119
Q

Definition

an impairment in recognition of visually presented objects

A

Visual form agnosia

120
Q

Definition

suggests that our physiological make-up influences our behaviour, as the functioning of different areas of the brain relate to behaviour and experience

A

Physiological approach

121
Q

Definition

a synapse in which an action potential in a presynaptic neuron increases the probability of an action potential occurring in a postsynaptic cell.

A

Excitatory synapse

122
Q

Definition

the primary cortical regions of the five sensory systems in the brain (taste, olfaction, touch, hearing and vision)

A

Primary receiving area

123
Q

Definition

As intensity increases, the perceived magnitude increases more slowly than the intensity

A

Response compression

124
Q

Definition

the ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses

A

Perception

125
Q

Define

Absolute threshold

A

the minimum amount of stimulation required to trigger a reaction or produce a sensation

126
Q

Define

Orientation tuning curve

A

a graph of the relationship between orientation an neuron firing which is determined by measuring the responses of a simple cortical cell to bars with different orientations

127
Q

Definition

the influence of a surround pattern on either the perception of, or the neural responses to, a target pattern

A

Contextual modulation

128
Q

Definition

a chemical substance that is released at the end of a nerve fiber by the arrival of a nerve impulse and, by diffusing across the synapse or junction, causes the transfer of the impulse to another nerve fiber, a muscle fiber, or some other structure

A

Neurotransmitters

129
Q

Definition

The surround of a receptive field that when stimulated causes an inhibitory response

A

Inhibitory-surround receptive field

130
Q

Define

Mach bands

A

an optical illusion that exaggerates the contrast between edges of the slightly differing shades of gray, as soon as they contact one another, by triggering edge-detection in the human visual system

131
Q

Define

Transduction

A

what takes place when many sensors in the body convert physical signals from the environment into encoded neural signals sent to the central nervous system

132
Q

Define

Dendrites

A

a short branched extension of a nerve cell, along which impulses received from other cells at synapses are transmitted to the cell body

133
Q

Definition

the collection of facts, information and experience that a person has collected throughout their life and education that they are able to use and apply to new life experiences

A

Knowledge

134
Q

Define

Ganglion cells

A

the projection neurons of the vertebrate retina, conveying information from other retinal neurons to the rest of the brain

135
Q

Definition

a portion of sensory space that can elicit neuronal responses when stimulated

A

Receptive field

136
Q

What does Weber’s law say about difference threshold?

A
137
Q

Define

Knowledge

A

the collection of facts, information and experience that a person has collected throughout their life and education that they are able to use and apply to new life experiences

138
Q

Definition

the projection neurons of the vertebrate retina, conveying information from other retinal neurons to the rest of the brain

A

Ganglion cells

139
Q

Define

Horizontal cells

A

the laterally interconnecting neurons having cell bodies in the inner nuclear layer of the retina of vertebrate eyes. They help integrate and regulate the input from multiple photoreceptor cells

140
Q

Definition

A type of specialized light-sensitive cell (photoreceptor) in the retina of the eye that provides color vision and sharp central vision

A

Cones

141
Q

Define

Parietal lobe

A

either of the paired lobes of the brain at the top of the head, including areas concerned with the reception and correlation of sensory information.

142
Q

Define

Perceptual process

A

the sequence of psychological steps that a person uses to organize and interpret information from the outside world

143
Q

Define

Inhibitory area

A

An area of a receptive field that when stimulated causes an inhibitory response

144
Q

Definition

the range of wavelengths or frequencies over which electromagnetic radiation extends

A

Electromagnetic spectrum

145
Q

Define

Excitatory synapse

A

a synapse in which an action potential in a presynaptic neuron increases the probability of an action potential occurring in a postsynaptic cell.

146
Q

On average , how many rods converge to each ganglion cell?

A

120 rods per ganglion cell

147
Q

Definition

a two-dimensional depiction of a staircase in which the stairs make four 90-degree turns as they ascend or descend yet form a continuous loop, so that a person could climb them forever and never get any higher

A

Staircase illusion

148
Q

Definition

the laterally interconnecting neurons having cell bodies in the inner nuclear layer of the retina of vertebrate eyes. They help integrate and regulate the input from multiple photoreceptor cells

A

Horizontal cells

149
Q

Define

Classical psychophysical methods

A

the tools for measuring perception and performance. These tools are used to reveal basic perceptual processes, to assess observer performance, and to specify the required characteristics of a display

150
Q

What are the two interacting aspects of perception?

A

Bottom-up processing

Top-down processing

151
Q

What is the method of limits?

A
  • Stimuli of different intensities presented in ascending and decending order
  • Observer responds to whether she perceived the stimulus
  • Cross-over point is the threshold
152
Q

What process in the brain allows us to see edges?

A

Lateral inhibition

153
Q

Define

Sensory receptors

A

a structure that reacts to a physical stimulus in the environment, whether internal or external

154
Q

Definition

a method of testing perception where the observer or the researcher continuously adjusts the stimulus until they can or cannot perceive it

A

Method of adjustment

155
Q

Define

Neurons

A

an electrically excitable cell that communicates with other cells via specialized connections called synapses

156
Q

Define

Synapse

A

a junction between two nerve cells, consisting of a minute gap across which impulses pass by diffusion of a neurotransmitter

157
Q

Define

Neural circuits

A

a population of neurons interconnected by synapses to carry out a specific function when activated

158
Q

Define

Occipital lobe

A

the rearmost lobe in each cerebral hemisphere of the brain

159
Q

Definition

the sequence of psychological steps that a person uses to organize and interpret information from the outside world

A

Perceptual process

160
Q

Definition

arise from a pool of photoreceptors On-center and off-center fields in retinal bipolar and ganglion cells form by pooling the response of groups of photoreceptors

A

Centre-surround receptive fields

161
Q

Definition

a psychophysical procedure for determining the sensory threshold by gradually increasing or decreasing the magnitude of the stimulus presented in discrete steps

A

Method of limits

162
Q

Definition

a junction between two nerve cells, consisting of a minute gap across which impulses pass by diffusion of a neurotransmitter

A

Synapse

163
Q

Define

Cell body

A

the spherical part of the neuron that contains the nucleus

164
Q

Define

Resting potential

A

the imbalance of electrical charge that exists between the interior of electrically excitable neurons (nerve cells) and their surroundings

165
Q

Define

Excitatory-centre

A

The centre of a receptive field that when stimulated causes an excitation response

166
Q

Define

Visual form agnosia

A

an impairment in recognition of visually presented objects

167
Q

What three lightness perception phenomena can be explained by lateral inhibition?

A

The Hermann Grid

Mach Bands

Simultaneous Contrast

168
Q

Define

Inferotemporal (IT) cortex

A

cortex covering the inferior side of the temporal lobe, it is thought to be especially important to visual processing and visual object recognition.

169
Q

Define

Stimulus-physiology relationship

A

the second stimulus relationship which depicts the relationship between stimuli and physiological responses

170
Q

Definition

the phase of the action potential caused by an increase permeability to K+

A

Falling phase of the action potential

171
Q

Define

Psychophysical approach

A

the tools for measuring perception and performance. These tools are used to reveal basic perceptual processes, to assess observer performance, and to specify the required characteristics of a display

172
Q

Definition

an explanation for perception that involves starting with an incoming stimulus and working upwards until a representation of the object is formed in our minds

A

Bottom-up processing

173
Q

Definition

the study of algorithms which aim to learn a useful sparse representation of any given data

A

Sparse coding

174
Q

Define

Receptive field

A

a portion of sensory space that can elicit neuronal responses when stimulated

175
Q

Define

Temporal lobe

A

each of the paired lobes of the brain lying beneath the temples, including areas concerned with the understanding of speech

176
Q

Define

Excitatory-surround

A

The surround of a receptive field that when stimulated causes an excitation response

177
Q

Define

Population coding

A

a method to represent stimuli by using the joint activities of a number of neurons. Each neuron has a distribution of responses over some set of inputs, and the responses of many neurons may be combined to determine some value about the inputs

178
Q

Define

Bottom-up processing

A

an explanation for perception that involves starting with an incoming stimulus and working upwards until a representation of the object is formed in our minds

179
Q

Define

Chevreul illusion

A

a well-known 19th century brightness illusion, comprising adjacent homogeneous grey bands of different luminance, which are perceived as inhomogeneous

180
Q

Define

Inhibitory-surround receptive field

A

The surround of a receptive field that when stimulated causes an inhibitory response

181
Q

Definition

a type of neural organisation that allows ganglion cells to transmit information not merely about whether photoreceptor cells are exposed to light, but also about the differences in firing rates of cells in the center and surround

A

Centre-surround organisation

182
Q

Definition

the idea that an object could be represented by the firing of a specialised neuron that responds only to that object

A

Specificity coding

183
Q

Definition

how our brains make use of information that has already been brought into the brain by one or more of the sensory systems

A

Top-down processing

184
Q

Define

Response compression

A

As intensity increases, the perceived magnitude increases more slowly than the intensity

185
Q

Definition

a method to represent stimuli by using the joint activities of a number of neurons. Each neuron has a distribution of responses over some set of inputs, and the responses of many neurons may be combined to determine some value about the inputs

A

Population coding

186
Q

Definition

describes the occipital lobe - the place where signals from the retina and LGN first reach the cortex

A

Visual receiving area

187
Q

Define

Superior colliculus

A

a layered, multi-sensory structure. Its upper layer receives visual signals from the retina of the eye, while the lower layers process multiple signals from various other parts of the brain

188
Q

Define

Top-down processing

A

how our brains make use of information that has already been brought into the brain by one or more of the sensory systems

189
Q

Are rods or cones more sensitive to light? Why?

A

Rods are more sensitive to light than cones.

  • Rods take less light to respond
  • Rods have greater convergence which results in summation of the inputs of many rods into ganglion cells increasing the likelihood of response
  • Trade-off is that rods cannot distinguish detail
190
Q

Define

Simple cortical cell

A

a cell that responds primarily to oriented edges and gratings (bars of particular orientations). These cells were discovered by Torsten Wiesel and David Hubel in the late 1950s

191
Q

Define

Action potential

A

the change in electrical potential associated with the passage of an impulse along the membrane of a muscle cell or nerve cell

192
Q

Define

Electromagnetic spectrum

A

the range of wavelengths or frequencies over which electromagnetic radiation extends

193
Q

Define

Specificity coding

A

the idea that an object could be represented by the firing of a specialised neuron that responds only to that object

194
Q

Define

Categorise

A

a mental and intellectual process in which objects and ideas are recognized, understood, compared to and differentiated from one another

195
Q

Definition

the change in electrical potential associated with the passage of an impulse along the membrane of a muscle cell or nerve cell

A

Action potential

196
Q

Definition

the amount of time it takes to respond to a stimulus

A

Reaction time

197
Q

Definition

the long threadlike part of a nerve cell along which impulses are conducted from the cell body to other cells.

A

Axon

198
Q

Define

Frontal lobe

A

each of the paired lobes of the brain lying immediately behind the forehead, including areas concerned with behaviour, learning, personality, and voluntary movement

199
Q

Define

Falling phase of the action potential

A

the phase of the action potential caused by an increase permeability to K+

200
Q

Define

Rods

A

A type of specialized light-sensitive cell (photoreceptor) in the retina of the eye that provides side vision and the ability to see objects in dim light (night vision)

201
Q

Definition

each of the paired lobes of the brain lying immediately behind the forehead, including areas concerned with behaviour, learning, personality, and voluntary movement

A

Frontal lobe

202
Q

Definition

an optical illusion that exaggerates the contrast between edges of the slightly differing shades of gray, as soon as they contact one another, by triggering edge-detection in the human visual system

A

Mach bands

203
Q

Define

Selective rearing

A

Experiential paradigm wherein an organism is brought up from arrival or from the time that the eyes open under circumstances that limit its optical experience

204
Q

Definition

A molecular site or the docking port on the surface of, or within, a cell, usually involving proteins that are capable of recognizing and binding with specific molecules

A

Receptor sites

205
Q

Definition

the spherical part of the neuron that contains the nucleus

A

Cell body

206
Q

Define

Striate cortex

A

the part of the visual cortex that is involved in processing visual information. It is the first cortical visual area that receives input from the lateral geniculate nucleus in the thalamus

207
Q

Define

Selective adaptation

A

the tendency to give a diminished response when faced with sustained stimuli

208
Q

Definition

a method of testing perception where you always present all stimuli. This technique prevents the observer from being able to predict or anticipate what the next stimulus will be

A

Method of constant stimuli

209
Q

Define

Difference threshold

A

the smallest amount by which two sensory stimuli can differ in order for an individual to perceive them as different

210
Q

Define

Distal stimulus

A

any physical object or event in the external world that reflects light

211
Q

Define

Visual receiving area

A

describes the occipital lobe - the place where signals from the retina and LGN first reach the cortex

212
Q

Definition

a structure that reacts to a physical stimulus in the environment, whether internal or external

A

Sensory receptors

213
Q

Define

Visual pigment

A

the light-absorbing molecules that mediate vision. They consist of an apoprotein, opsin, covalently linked to the chromophore cis-retinal

214
Q

Define

Neural convergence

A

describes the ability of a neuron to receive input from many neurons in a network

215
Q
A
216
Q

Define

Centre-surround receptive fields

A

arise from a pool of photoreceptors On-center and off-center fields in retinal bipolar and ganglion cells form by pooling the response of groups of photoreceptors

217
Q

Define

Refractory period

A

a period immediately following stimulation during which a nerve or muscle is unresponsive to further stimulation

218
Q

Define

Principle of transformation

A

stimuli and responses created by stimuli are transformed, or changed, between the distal stimulus and perception

219
Q

Define

Lateral inhibition

A

the capacity of an excited neuron to reduce the activity of its neighbors

220
Q

Definition

cortex covering the inferior side of the temporal lobe, it is thought to be especially important to visual processing and visual object recognition.

A

Inferotemporal (IT) cortex

221
Q

Define

Lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN)

A

a relay center in the thalamus for the visual pathway. It receives a major sensory input from the retina

222
Q

Define

Thresholds

A

the change in a stimulus that is detectably different 50% of the time

223
Q

Definition

the smallest amount by which two sensory stimuli can differ in order for an individual to perceive them as different

A

Difference threshold

224
Q

Definition

the change in a stimulus that is detectably different 50% of the time

A

Thresholds

225
Q

Definition

a type of visual processing neuron in the mammalian cerebral cortex. They are defined by the property of end-stopping, which is a decrease in firing strength with increasingly larger stimuli

A

End-stopped cell

226
Q

Define

Experience-dependent plasticity

A

the continuing process of the creation and organization of neuron connections that occurs as a result of a person’s life experiences

227
Q

Definition

the name given to the relative deficiency in perceptual performance for oblique contours as compared to the performance for horizontal or vertical contours

A

Oblique effect

228
Q

Definition

a population of neurons interconnected by synapses to carry out a specific function when activated

A

Neural circuits

229
Q

Definition

the first stimulus relationship which relates stimuli to behavioural responses. This was the main relationship measured during the first 100 years of the scientific study of perception.

A

Stimulus-perception relationship

230
Q

Define

Proximal stimulus

A

the pattern of energy impinging on the observer’s sensory receptors

231
Q

Definition

the branch of psychology that deals with the relationships between physical stimuli and mental phenomena

A

Psychophysics

232
Q

Why are simple circuits considered ineffecient?

A
233
Q

Definition

the tools for measuring perception and performance. These tools are used to reveal basic perceptual processes, to assess observer performance, and to specify the required characteristics of a display

A

Psychophysical approach

234
Q

Define

Amacrine cells

A

inhibitory neurons, and they project their dendritic arbors onto the inner plexiform layer (IPL), they interact with retinal ganglion cells and/or bipolar cells

235
Q

Definition

movement of a cell’s membrane potential to a more negative value

A

Hyperpolarisation

236
Q

Definition

the phase of the action potential caused by an influx of Na+

A

Rising phase of the action potential

237
Q

Define

Rising phase of the action potential

A

the phase of the action potential caused by an influx of Na+

PSY3051 (11 decks)

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