Introduction to Perception

Question 1

What is Anosmia?

Answer 1

A condition where you can’t smell

Question 2

List 4 parts of our life that senses are central to…

Answer 2

Communication
Threat Detection
Object Detection
Navigation

Question 3

Vision detects which form of energy?

Answer 3

Electromagentic Radiation

Question 4

Hearing detects which form of energy?

Answer 4

Mechanical Vibrations

Question 5

Touch detects which form of energy?

Answer 5

Mechanical perturbations of the skin

Question 6

Smell detects which form of energy?

Answer 6

Chemical properties of gases

Question 7

Taste detects which form of energy?

Answer 7

Chemical properties of solids and liquids on the contact of the tongue

Question 8

Temperature detects which form of energy?

Answer 8

Presence of lack of heat

Question 9

Who “invented” the term Psychophysics?

Answer 9

Fechner (1860) - In the book “Elements of Psychophysics”

Question 10

What is the “Absolute Threshold”?

Answer 10

The smallest amount of energy detected for an observer to detect a stimulus

Question 11

Describe a “Method of a limits” test and give an example

Answer 11

This test is used to zoom into a threshold level. For example, a hearing test where they ask you “Can you hear that?” with a yes or no answer. If they answer is no, they would turn it down and check again.

Question 12

Describe a “Method of adjustment”

Answer 12

This is where a person that is being tested is in control of the response. For example, they would be in control of pushing the button or twidling a knob as a reaction to the stimulus.

Question 13

What is a “Staircase Method” (smart limits)?

Answer 13

This is a smarter way of applying the Method of Limits where the energy of the stimulus is under computer control to zoom into the threshold.

Question 14

What is the “Just Noticeable Difference” (JND)? List 1 example.

Answer 14

The smallest difference detected between two stimuli. An example would be line length.

Question 15

What is a “Magnitude Estimation” test? Give one non-linear and one linear example

Answer 15

Where you find the relationship between a perceived magnitude and stimulus intensity. Non-linear would be provididing different levels of brightness and assign a number to represent how bright it was perceived. A linear example would be apparent length.

Question 16

Who provided the “Fundamental criteria” of theories and list the 3 associated

Answer 16

Popper (1960)

1st - Explanatory - It should explain the theory, and not just redescribe the experiment.

2nd - Falsifiable - It should predict the results of experiments, so you can then move on and say that theory is not true.

3rd - Parsimonious - You should go for the simplest type of theory that’s easy to understand so that you avoid complex explanations.

Question 17

List 3 levels of explanation for theoretical approaches

Answer 17

Anatomical and Physiological
Behavioural and Psychological
Theoretical and Philosophical

Question 18

List three perceptual theory approaches and state whether they are indirect or direct

Answer 18

Physiological approach (indirect)
Ecological approach (direct)
Computational approach (indirect)

Question 19

Name the chief proponent of the “Physiological Approach”, state the main idea and the chief techniques associated

Answer 19

Barlow ( 1921-)

The main idea states that by understanding how neurones work, how they react to perceptual stimuli and how they react to each other is the key to understanding perception.

The techniques are single-unit electrophysiology coupled with psychophysics - So placing an electrode on a neurone and recording activity. More recently, neuroimaging.

Question 20

Name the chief proponent of the “Ecological Approach”, state the main idea and the chief techniques associated

Answer 20

Gibson (1904-)

The main idea states that there is little to be gained by laboratory experiments and perception must be studied in the “real world”.

The techniques are observations of behaviour in a natural environment and and analysing the “optic array” as it changes when we move around the world. More recently, extensive use of virtual reality.

Question 21

Name the chief proponent of the “Computational Approach”, state the main idea and the chief techniques associated

Answer 21

Marr (1945-)

The main idea states that perception is information processing. This can be recorded as that the successive transformation of sensory data from one form to another.

Computer-based analysis of information content of images from which properties of perceptual systems can be inferred.

Question 22

Name 4 other theoretical approaches for perception

Answer 22

Perception for action (Milner) - How we use perceptional aspects to move and navigate the world

Bayesian (Mamassian) - Top down aspects

Active Vision (Findlay) - Focuses on eye movements

Predictive Coding (Friston) - Top down aspects