NOR - Chapter 4 - Motion perception and action

Question 1

Optic array

Answer 1

The structual pattern of light falling on the retina

Question 2

Optic flow

Answer 2

The changes in the pattern of light reaching an observer when there is movement of the observer and/or aspects of the environment

Question 3

Focus expansion

Answer 3

The point towards which someone in motion is moving; it does not appear to move

Question 4

Invariants

Answer 4

Properties of the optic array that remain constant even though other aspects vary; part of Gibson’s theory.

Question 5

Affordances

Answer 5

The potential uses of an object which Gibson claimed are perceived directly

Question 6

Retinal flow field

Answer 6

The changing patterns of light on the retina produced by movement of the observer relative to the environment as well as by eye and head movements.

Question 7

Efference copy

Answer 7

An internal copy of a motor command (e.g., to the eyes); it can be used to identify movement within the retinal image that is not due to object movement in the environment.

Question 8

Tangent point

Answer 8

From a driver’s perspective, the point on a road at which the direction of its inside edge appears to reverse.

Question 9

Proprioception

Answer 9

An individual’s awareness of the position and orientation of parts of their body.

Question 10

Limb apraxia

Answer 10

A condition caused by brain damage in which individuals have impaired ability to make skilled goal-directed movements towards objects even though they possess the physical ability to perform them.

Question 11

Mirror neuron system

Answer 11

Neurons that respond to actions whether performed by oneself or someone else; it is claimed these neurons assist in imitating (and understanding) the actions of others.

Question 12

Apraxia

Answer 12

A condition caused by brain damage in which there is greatly reduced ability to perform purposeful or planned bodily movements in spite of the absence of muscular damage.

Question 13

Change blindness

Answer 13

Failure to detect various changes (e.g. in objects) in the visual environment.

Question 14

Inattentional blindness

Answer 14

Failure to detect a unexpected object appearing in the visual environment.

Question 15

Change blindness blindness

Answer 15

The tendency of observers to overestimate greatly the extent to which they can detect visual changes and so avoid “change blindness.

Question 16

Serial dependence

Answer 16

Systematic bias of current visual perception towards recent visual input

Question 17

Visual crowding

Answer 17

The inability to recognise objects in peripheral vision due to the presence of neighbouring objects.