psyc terms 2 Flashcards
sensation
the processing of basic information from the external world via receptors in the sense organs
perception
the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information
preferential looking technique
a method for studying visual attention in infants that involves showing infants two images simultaneously to see if they prefer one over the other (extended by longer looking)
Fantz 1961
visual acuity
the sharpness and clarity of vision
contrast sensitivity
the ability to detect differences in light and dark areas in a visual pattern
cone cells
light-sensitive neurons that are highly concentrated in the fovea (central region of the retina)
smooth pursuit eye movements
visual behaviour in which the viewer’s gaze shifts at the same rate and angle as a moving object
perceptual constancy
the perception of objects as being of constant size, shape, colour etc in spite of physical differences in the retinal image of the object
object segregation
the identification of separate objects in a visual array
violation of expectancy
a procedure used to study infant cognition in which infants are shown an event that should evoke surprise or interest if it goes against something the infant knows
optical expansion
a depth cue in which an object occludes increasingly more of the background, indicating that the object is approaching
binocular disparity
the difference between the retinal image of an object in each eye that results in two slightly different signals being sent to the brain
stereopsis
the process by which the visual cortex combines the differing neural signals caused by binocular disparity, resulting in the perception of depth
monocular depth (or pictorial) cues
the perceptual cues of depth (such as the relative size and interposition) that can be perceived by one eye alone
auditory localization
perception of the location in space of a sound source
reflexes
fixed patterns of action that occur in response to particular stimulation
rooting reflex
when stroked on cheek, infants turn their head in direction of the touch and open their mouths
when hungry
affordances
the possibilities for action offered, or afforded, by objects and situations
Gibson 1988
stepping reflex
a neonatal reflex in which an infant lifts first one leg and then the other un a coordinated pattern like walking
pre-reaching movements
clumsy swiping movements by young infants toward objects they see
self locomotion
the ability to move oneself around in the environment
age 8 months
scale error
the attempt by a young child to perform an action on a miniature object that is impossible due to the large discrepancy in the relative sizes of the child and object
classical conditioning
a form of learning that consists of associating an initially neutral stimulus with a stimulus that always evokes a particular reflexive response
unconditioned stimulus
a stimulus that evokes a reflexive response
