Lecture 1: Intro to Perception

Question 1

7 Steps of Process of Perception

Answer 1

1) Environmental stimulus
2) light is reflected and transformed
3) Receptor processes
4) Neural processing
5) Perception occurs
6) Recognition occurs
7) Action occurs

Question 2

Steps 1 and 2

Answer 2

Environmental stimuli are all objects in environment available to the observer and the observer selectively attends to object. Stimulus impinges on receptors resulting in internal representation

Question 3

Principle of transformation

Answer 3

When stimuli and responses created by stimuli are transformed between environment stimuli and perception

Question 4

Step 3 (how the receptor processes/transduction)

Answer 4

Sensory receptors (specialised to respond to environment energy), visual pigment reacts to light, transduction occurs which changes environmental energy to nerve impulses

Question 5

Where are receptors located and what are they?

Answer 5

In the eye, rods and cones

Question 6

Step 4 (Neural Processing)

Answer 6

Neural processing is the changes that occur as signals that are transmitted through the maze of neurons

Question 7

3 Primary Receiving Areas of Neural Processing

Answer 7

1) Occipital lobe
2) Temporal lobe
3) Parietal lobe

Question 8

Main function of Occipital lobe

Answer 8

vision

Question 9

Main function of Temporal lobe

Answer 9

hearing

Question 10

Main function of Parietal lobe

Answer 10

touch

Question 11

Steps 5-7: Behavioural Responses

Answer 11

5) Perception occurs as a conscious experience
6) Recognition occurs when an object is placed in a category giving it meaning
7) Action occurs when the perceiver initiates motor activity in response to recognition

Question 12

Bottom-up Processing

Answer 12

processing based on incoming stimuli from the environment (also known as data-based processing)

Question 13

Top-down Processing

Answer 13

processing based on the perceivers previous knowledge (cognitive factors) (also known as knowledge-based processing)

Question 14

3 Historical Perspectives of Perception

Answer 14

1) Emmanation Theory (Galen)
2) Alhazen
3) Aranzi

Question 15

Emmanation Theory

Answer 15

visual perception is accomplished by eye beams

Question 16

Alhazen

Answer 16

believed optical image formed in the eye

Question 17

Aranzi

Answer 17

crucial discovery, retinal image starting point for vision

Question 18

3 Factors of Indirect Approach to perception

Answer 18

1) Ambiguity in retinal image resolved by adding meaningful interpretations to it
2) Based on stored knowledge, memory, cognitive processes
3) Information not present in picture, must be added

Question 19

2 Implications of Indirect Approach

Answer 19

1) explanation must therefore lie within the actor, mechanisms within actor explain perception
2) environment is devalued, merely an impoverished 2D retinal image