Problem 1 Flashcards
What is the Perceptual Process ?
The perceptual process begin with stimuli in the environment and ends with the behavioral responses of
- perceiving
- recognizing
- taking action
Principle of Transformation
Stimuli and the responses created by stimuli are transformed between environmental stimulus and perception
Eye’s optical system
- consists of the cornea + lens
–> they form a sharp picture of the stimulus on the receptors of the retina
Principle of representation
Everything a person perceives is based on representations of stimuli that are formed on the receptors and the activity in the persons NS
What are sensory receptors ?
Cells specialized to respond to environmental energy with each sensory systems receptors specialized to respond to a specific type of energy
ex.: visual receptors - light, auditory receptors - pressure changes in air
Function of Visual receptors
- Transforming environmental energy into electrical energy (Transduction)
- Shaping perception by the way they respond to stimuli
Transduction
Transformation of one form of energy to another form
Visual pigment
Light sensitive chemical that reacts to light
- found in visual receptors
- transforms light into electrical energy
- without it perception wouldn’t occur because the information about the representation of the stimulus in the retina wouldn’t reach the brain
Function of the network of neurons
- Transmits signals from receptors (retina) to the brain
- Changes these signals because there are multiple routes with signals
a) traveling in the opposite directions
b) being amplified
c) being reduced or prevented from entering
Primary receiving area
Receives signals from each sense
–> located in the cerebral cortex
Which lobe can you assign to which sense ?
Occipital lobe –> vision
Temporal lobe –> hearing
Parietal lobe –> touch
Frontal lobe –> all senses, plays important role in coordination of information received from 2 or more senses
Perception
Conscious awareness of the stimulus (active)
–> top down processing
Recognition
Placing an object in a category, that gives it meaning
Visual form of agnosia
Inability to recognize objects /
Perceiving parts of the object, but not being able to identify the whole object
Action
Refers to the mere act of looking at different parts of the stimulus, no need to interact with it
–> usually involves motor activities
Knowledge
Any information the perceiver brings to a situation
- -> can affect a number of steps in the perceptual process
- -> can be recently acquired information or acquired years ago
Bottom up processing
Processing, that is based on stimuli reaching the receptors
–> ‘incoming data’
Top down processing
Processing based on knowledge (Schemas)
Psychophysical approach/
Psychophysics
Measures the relationship between the stimuli and behavioral response
–> presenting a stimulus and determining the persons response
Oblique effect
There is a better detail vision for vertical and horizontal lines than slanted lines