Perception Flashcards
the process by which our sense receptors and nervous system represent our external environment
sensation
the process by which we mentally organize and interpret sensory information
perception
analysis that begins with the sensory receptors and works up to higher levels of processing
bottom-up processing
information processing that creates meaning from sensory input by drawing on our experiences and expectations/information processing
top-down processing
converting one form of energy into another that our brain can use
transduction
the point at which we detect a stimulus 50% of the time
absolute threshold
a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimulus (signal) amid background stimulation (noise). Assumes there is no single absolute threshold and that detection depends partly on a person’s experience, expectations, motivation, and alertness.
signal detection theory
that point at which we detect a stimulus less than 50% of the time
subliminal
unconscious activation of certain associations
priming
the minimum difference a person can detect between any two stimuli 50% of the time
difference threshold(just-noticeable Difference)
the principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percent-age (rather than a constant amount).
Weber’s Law
our diminishing sensitivity to an unchanging stimulus
sensory adaptation
a mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another
perceptual set
distance from one wave peak to the next (determines hue)
wavelength
the dimension of color that is determined by the wavelength of light; what we know as the color names blue, green, and so forth
hue
the amount of energy in lightwaves which is determined by amplitude from peak to trough
wave intensity
multilayered tissue lining the back of the eye (RED GREEN BLUE color receptors)
retina
the process by which the eye’s lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina
accomodation
detect black, white, grey more light sensitive
rods
the nerve that carries information to the brain “information highway”
optic nerve
where the optic nerve leaves the eye, there are no receptor cells here
blind spot
the central focal point in the retina, around which the eye’s cones cluster
fovea
the theory that the retina contains three different types of color receptors – one most sensitive to red, one to green, one to blue — which, when stimulated in combination, can produce the perception of any color
Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic Theory
the theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable color vision. For example, some cells are stimulated by green and inhibited by red; others are stimulated by red and inhibited by green.
opponent-process theory
nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimulus, such as shape, angel, or movement
feature detectors
the processing of many aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain’s natural mode of information processing for many functions, including vision
parallel processing
3 basic steps of all sensory systems
receive, transform, deliver
______ sensory stimulation, via specialized cells
receive
_______ that stimulation into neural impulses
tranform
________ that neural information to the brain
deliver
2 characteristics of light
wave length and wave intensity
what color do shorter wavelengths produce
bluish colors
what color do longer wavelengths produce
reddish colors
what color does a wave with a great amplitude produce
bright colors
what color does a wave with a smaller amplitude produce
dull colors
eye’s small opening
pupil
color muscles that dilates/constricts pupil
iris
focuses incoming rays
lens
lobe connected to the optic nerve
occiptal lobe
near is clear, objects further away are blurry
myopia
cannot see near clearly, but they can see far away
presbyopia
decreased ability to see color differences
Color-Vision Deficiency
jostling molecules of air
soundwaves
determines LOUDNESS
amplitude
determines PITCH
Frequency
what does the outer ear contain
auditory canal and eardrum
what does the middle ear contain
hammer, anvil, stirrup [like a piston]
what does the inner ear contain
cochlea, oval window, basilar membrane
what is the basilar membrane connected to
auditory cortex
damage to cochlea’s receptor cells
Nerve Deafness
translates sound into electrical signals
cochlear implant
Damage to auditory nerves can be caused by: (4 things)
disease, genetic, aging, prolonged exposure to loud noise
Four senses of touch:
pressure, warmth, cold, pain
five senes of taste
sweet, salty, sour, bitter, umami
what is taste connected to?
temporal lobe
how many times do you inhale and exhale a day?
20,000 times
how many receptors for smell do we have on each nasal cavity
5 million
where do the receptor cells in the nose send their messages to
olfactory bulb
the sense of the position and movement of individual body parts
kinesthesia
what are the three motion sensors
muscles, tendons, joints
the sense of the position and movement of individual body parts including the sense of balance
Vestibular Sense
organizing pieces of information into a whole
Perceptual Organization
to perceive any object (figure) as distance from its surroundings (ground)
Figure/Ground
What is the first task in perception
Figure/Ground
organizing the figure into meaningful form
Grouping
what is the second task of perception
Grouping
what are the five rules in grouping
proximity, similarity, continuity, closure, connectedness
group nearby figures together
proximity
group together figures that are the same
similarity
perceive smooth continuous lines/patterns rather then discontinuous lines
continuity
fill in gaps to create a whole
closure
perceive spots, lines, or areas as a single unit when uniform and linked
connectedness
allows us to estimate/judge the distance an object is from us
depth perception
6-14 months were reluctant
Visual Cliff
depth cues using both eyes
Binocular Cues
the greater the difference the retina receives of an object the closer the object is to us
Retinal Disparity
a muscular cue that indicates the extent to which the eyes move inward
Convergence
depth cues available to each eye separately
monocular cues
ability to perceive objects as unchanging while stimuli from it change
Perceptual Constancy
