psy exam 2 chapter 4

Question 1

Sensation

Answer 1

Initial process of detecting and encoding outside stimuli. Involved stimulation of sensory receptors in transmission of information to the brain

Question 2

Perception

Answer 2

Process of organizing and interpreting sensory information, involved high-order cognitive processes that go beyond just sensory input.

Question 3

Light

Answer 3

Electromagnetic energy that travels in waves.

Question 4

Light Wavelength

Answer 4

Determines the perceived color of a light wave

Question 5

Retina

Answer 5

(Eye Structure)
Light-sensitive layer of tissue at the back of the eye. Contains photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) that convert light into neural signals

Question 6

Rods

Answer 6

(Eye Structure)
Photoreceptors that are highly sensitive to light and enable vision in low-light conditions. Responsible for peripheral vision and do not contribute to color vision.

Question 7

Cones

Answer 7

(Eye Structure)
Photoreceptors that are less sensitive to light but enable color vision and high visual acuity. Concentrated in the fovea.

Question 8

Fovea

Answer 8

(Eye Structure)
Small central region of the retina that contains a high density of cones and is responsible for sharp, detailed vision.

Question 9

Blind Spot

Answer 9

(Eye Structure)
The point where the optic nerve exits the eye, creating a small area in the visual field where there are no photoreceptors, thus no vision.

Question 10

Optic Chiasm

Answer 10

(Eye Structure)
The point at which the optic nerves from each eye cross over, allowing visual information from both eyes to be processed in both hemispheres of the brain

Question 11

Neural Wiring / Neural Pathways in vision

Answer 11

Visual info from the right is processed in the left hemisphere of the brain and vice versa

Question 12

Thalamus

Answer 12

Plays a crucial role in relaying sensory information, including visual information, to the appropriate areas of the cortex

Question 13

Feature Detectors

Answer 13

Specialized neurons in the visual cortex that respond to specific features of visual stimulus (lines, edges, angles, or movement). Play a key role in the recognition and perception of objects and scenes.

Question 14

Trichromatic Theory

Answer 14

Explains color vision at the level of the cones. Says there are three types of cones in the retina, each sensitive toa difference range of wavelengths (short, medium, and long)(blue, green, and red). Combined, these cones allow us to perceive a wide range of colors. (both theories are necessary)

Question 15

Opponent-Process Theory

Answer 15

Explains color vision at the higher levels of visual processing. Says color vision is based on opposing pairs of color receptors (red-green,blue-yellow,black-white). Activity of one member of the pair inhibits activity of the other. This theory explains afterimages and color blindness. (both theories are necessary)

Question 16

Reversible figures

Answer 16

Ambiguous images that can be perceived in multiple ways, showing the active role of the perceiver in interpreting sensory information

Question 17

Perceptual Sets

Answer 17

Mental predispositions or expectations that influence how we perceive stimuli. Our past experiences and thoughts can shape our future interpretation of information

Question 18

Feature Analysis

Answer 18

Process of breaking down complex objects into simpler features or components for recognition.

Question 19

Top-Down Processing

Answer 19

Perception that is guide by higher-level cognitive processes, such as expectation, knowledge, and context

Question 20

Bottom-Up processing

Answer 20

Perception that is driven by the sensory input itself, starting with the analysis of basic features and building up to a more complex representation.

Question 21

Proximity

Answer 21

(Gestalt Principle) Group nearby objects together

Question 22

Similarity

Answer 22

(Gestalt Principle) Group similar objects together

Question 23

Continuity

Answer 23

(Gestalt Principle) We perceive smooth, continuous patterns rather than discontinuous ones

Question 24

Closure

Answer 24

(Gestalt Principle) We tend to fill in gaps to create complete objects

Question 25

Connectedness

Answer 25

(Gestalt Principle) We perceive elements that are connected as a single unit

Question 26

Figure-Ground

Answer 26

(Gestalt Principle) We organize visual information into a figure (the object of interest) and a ground (the background)

Question 27

Binocular Cues

Answer 27

Depth cues that rely on the use of both eyes

Question 28

Retinal Disparity (Binocular cues)

Answer 28

Slight difference in the images projected onto each retina, which the brain uses to compute depth

Question 29

Convergence (Binocular cues)

Answer 29

Inward turning of the eyes when focusing on a nearby object, which provides information about the objects distance.

Question 30

Monocular Cues

Answer 30

Depth cues that can be perceived with one eye alone.

Question 31

Relative Size (Monocular Cues)

Answer 31

Smaller objects are perceived as farther away

Question 32

Interposition (Monocular Cues)

Answer 32

If one object partially blocks another, the blocked object is perceived as farther away

Question 33

Linear Perspective (Monocular Cues)

Answer 33

Parallel Lines appear to converge in the distance

Question 34

Texture Gradient (Monocular Cues)

Answer 34

Texture of objects becomes less detailed and denser as they recede into the distance

Question 35

Motion Parallax (Monocular Cues)

Answer 35

Closer objects appear to move faster than farther objects when the observer is in motion

Question 36

Perceptual Constancy

Answer 36

The tendency to perceive objects as stable and unchanging despite changes in their sensory information

Question 37

Size Constancy (Perceptual Constancy)

Answer 37

Perceived size of an object remains constant even when its retinal image changes due to distance

Question 38

Shape Constancy (Perceptual Constancy)

Answer 38

Perceived shape of an object remains constant even when its reinal image changes due to viewing angle

Question 39

Brightness Constancy (Perceptual Constancy)

Answer 39

Perceived brightness of an object remains constant even when the illumination changes

Question 40

Color Constancy (Perceptual Constancy)

Answer 40

Perceived color of an object remains constant even when the lighting conditions change

Question 41

Optical Illusions

Answer 41

Misperceptions of visual stimuli that demonstrate the ways in which our vision system can be tricked. They provide insights into the processes involved in perception.

Question 42

Muller-Lyer Illusion

Answer 42

A classic illusion where two lines of equal length appear to be different lengths due to the presence of inward or outward pointing fins at their ends. Susceptibility of the illusion varies across cultures, people from cultures with less square and rectangular buildings/furniture tend to be less susceptible. Shows the culture influence perception.

Question 43

Pictorial Depth Cues

Answer 43

Techniques that artists use to create a sense of three dimensionality on a flat surface. (Linear perspective, relative size, ect…)

Question 44

M.C. Escher

Answer 44

His art played with perceptual ambiguity, challenging our understanding of reality through impossible figures.

Question 45

Contrast Effects

Answer 45

Shows that we judge things not in isolation but in relativity to other things. This can be exploited through things like the door-in-the-face technique.

Question 46

Door-In-The-Face technique

Answer 46

Uses contrast effects by starting with an outrageous request, then scaling back. The scaled back version, but comparison, seems much more reasonable.

Question 47

Comparators

Answer 47

The things we compare against. They greatly influence our judgments. Manipulating these can dramatically alter our perceptions.