Perception Flashcards
What is the ponzo illusion?
A misinterpreted depth cue where the horizontal line higher up in the image appears longer than the horizontal line towards the bottom. Both lines are actually the same size. This uses linear perspective.
What is the Müller-lyer illusion?
A misinterpreted depth cue where the horizontal line with outgoing arrows or fins is perceived as longer than the other horizontal line but they are both the same length.
What is Rubin’s vase?
An ambiguous figure. You should be able to perceive this image as either a vase or as two faces staring at each other. Both interpretations are ‘correct’ so your brain cannot decide which one to focus on.
What is the Ames room?
A misinterpreted depth cue. It has a viewing peephole through which people look. If two people are stood on either side of the back wall, one of them looks much bigger. The trick is in the shape of the room.
What is sensation?
Physical stimulation of sense receptors by the environment, such as light striking the retina at the back of the eye, or sound waves processed by the ear.
What is perception?
The organisation and interpretation of sensory information by the brain in order to understand the world around us. This may involve basic perceptual processed, such as separation objects from the background, or more complex processed, such as knowing what to do with a tin opener.
What are visual cues?
Visual information from the environment about movement, distance etc
What are visual constancies?
Our ability to see an object as the same even if the actual image received by the eye has changed, for example as we get closer to it or move around it.
What are binocular depth cues?
Depth cues that require both eyes. Only animals who have eyes on the front of their head can make use of binocular cues.
What are monocular depth cues?
Perceptual depth cues that allow a person to judge depth and distance using just one eye. If you were to cover one eye the depth cue would still work.
What are two examples of binocular depth cues?
Retinal disparity
Convergence
What are 4 examples of monocular depth cues?
Height in plane
Occlusion
Relative size
Linear perspective
What is retinal disparity?
When you close 1 eye, the object looks like it jumps because there is roughly 6cm between our eyes
What is convergence?
When you bring the object closer to your face, your eyes go cross eyes so your eyes are strained so you know it’s closer.
What is height in plane?
Objects higher up (visually) appear further away. It acts as a depth cue.
What is relative size?
When objects appear smaller in the visual field they are perceived as further away
What is occlusion?
Objects that are behind or obscured by other objects that are further away.
What is linear perspective?
Lines that are parallel appear to get closer together and come to a point in the distance. (Like a railway track)
What is fiction?
When a figure is perceived even though it is not part of the image or stimulus presented.
What is ambiguity?
The way in which some images or stimuli can be perceived in more than one way.
What are misinterpreted depth cues?
The brain perceives distance when it is not actually there and we apply the rule of size constancy when it should not be used.