psychology Flashcards
what is the cornea
-covering that protects the front part of the eye
what is the function of the cornea
focuses light rays
what is the Aqueous Humour
The aqueous humor is a clear, watery fluid found in the anterior chamber of the eye, situated between the cornea and the lens
what is the function of the aqueous humor
It maintains intraocular pressure, nourishes the cornea and lens, and removes waste products
why there is a blind spot in the eye
The blind spot, also known as the optic disc, is a small area on the retina where there are no photoreceptors (rods or cones). This occurs because the optic nerve exits the eye at this point, and the space occupied by the nerve fibers does not have the cells necessary for detecting light.
how to find the retina in an eye dissection
when the lens is removed you will be able to see a thin delicate membrane which is the inner lining of the eye, this is the retina
what are cones
The photoreceptor cones are specialized cells in the retina responsible for color vision and visual acuity
what are rods
The photoreceptor rods are specialized cells in the retina that play a critical role in vision, particularly in low-light conditions
compare and contrast rods and cones
- overall rods and cones complement each other to provide a wide range of visual capabilities, enabling humans to see in various lighting conditions and perceive colour and detail
- rods are critical for vision
- cones are critical for colour
perceptual set
Perceptual set is a psychological concept that refers to a tendency to perceive things in a certain way based on expectations, experiences, emotions, or cultural background. It influences how we interpret sensory information and can affect our perceptions of objects, events, and situations
Describe the effects of miraculin and which part of gustatory perception it affects.
- the effects included the altering of taste perception, primarily making sour food taste sweet
- Miraculin primarily affects the sweet taste perception within the gustatory system. By modifying how sour tastes are interpreted, it engages with the sweet taste receptors on the taste buds, resulting in a sweet sensation even in the presence of sour stimuli.
what is a supertaster
A supertaster is an individual who has a heightened sensitivity to certain tastes, particularly bitter flavors. This heightened sensitivity is typically linked to the number of taste buds a person has; supertasters often possess a significantly higher density of taste buds than non-supertasters.
what characteristics one might expect to find in a supertaster
- Taste sensitivity
- Texture awareness
- Food preferences
Explain the relevance of other senses to gustatory perception
olfaction (smell)- odour molecules travel to our olfactory receptors, enhancing our experience
touch- sensations of temperature and texture influences overall taste perception
vision- appearance of food can affect our expectations
sound- sounds can influence eating experience
memory and experiences- past experiences with food and interplay into how we smeel, tough, see and interact with food
Identify a biological factor that would influence gustatory perception
genetics
Identify a psychological factor that would influence gustatory perception
expectations and past experiences
Identify a social factor that would influence gustatory perception
cultural influences
Be able to identify the six steps of Sensation and Perception
Steps of sensation - at sensory organ (eg. eye):
Reception (Real)
- sensory receptor
- receives sensory stimulus
- eg. cells in retina get light information
Transduction (Tik)
- energy must be converted into electrochemical impulse
- the process where the receptors change the energy of the detected sensory information into a form which can travel along the neural pathways to the brain.
- This step is about energy conversion-neurons communicate using electrochemical energy
Transmission (Tok)
- Transmission is the process of sending the sensory information to the brain
Steps of perception (at brain level):
Selection (Stars)
- Brain chooses what sensory info is relevant
Organisation (Own)
- seeking of patterns in the data
Interpretation (It)
- makes sense of information
Define synaesthesia, and explain why it might be an advantage and a disadvantage
- Synaesthesia is a neurological condition in which stimulation of one sensory pathway leads to involuntary experiences in another sensory pathway.
advantage: enhanced memory, creative thinking
disadvantage: sensory overload, difficulty in communication
what is the pupil and its function
The opening in the center of the iris that allows light to enter the eye. The size of the pupil adjusts (dilates or constricts) in response to light levels, helping regulate the amount of light that reaches the retina.
what is the iris and its function
The colored part of the eye surrounding the pupil. It controls the size of the pupil and thus the amount of light entering the eye, helping to protect the retina and improve visual acuity.
what is the lens and its function
A flexible, transparent structure that further focuses light onto the retina. It can change shape (a process called accommodation) to focus on objects at varying distances.
what is the retina and its function
The thin layer of tissue at the back of the eye that contains photoreceptor cells (rods and cones). The retina converts light into electrical signals that are sent to the brain via the optic nerve, allowing us to see.
what is the optic nerve and its function
The nerve that transmits visual information from the retina to the brain, where it is processed into images.
top-down processing
when we draw on our experience and exceptions to shape our perceptions
bottom-up processing
when we gather a range of sailent sensory data, using our sense of smell as well as taste to form our perceptions
what is the iris
coloured part of the eye
iris function
expands and contracts to change the size of the pupil
what is the pupils function
Controls the
amount of
light that
enters the eye
what is the lens
Transparent
structure
behind the
pupil
function of the lens
Helps to focus
light onto
retina
retina function
Converts light that
enters into your
eye into electrical
signals your optic
nerve sends to your
brain which creates
the images you see
optic nerve function
Transmits the
visual
information from
the eye to the
occipital lobe
what is the sclera
The white layer
of the eye
sclera function
Helps maintain
shape of the eye
ciliary body function
Produces fluid for
the eye called
aqueous humour
Also contains the
ciliary muscle which
changes the shape of
the lens when your
eyes focus on a near
object
aquaeous humor function
Maintains pressure
within the eye
what is the auqaeous humor
A fluid that provides
moisture to the lens
what is figure ground
Figure-ground is the ability to focus on a specific figure while perceiving the rest of the details as the background. In this image, Brooke is the main focus, while the soccer goals and other elements serve as the background
what is closure
Closure is the process by which we fill in gaps to recognize something familiar, even if we can’t see it fully.
what is proximity
Proximity refers to our tendency to group objects that are close to one another.
what is similarity
Similarity is when we identify and group objects based on shared characteristics, such as colour, shape, and size.
what is retinal disparity + how does it cue depth perception
- refers to the slight difference in images seen by each eye. Each eye captures a slightly different view of the same object, and the brain combines these two images to create a single, 3D perception.
size constancy
Size constancy, much like relative size, refers to how we perceive the size of an object based on how large or small it appears on our retina, even though we understand that the object’s actual size has not changed.
shape constancy
Shape constancy is our recognition that an object’s shape remains the same, even when we see it from different angles. Although a rigid object may look different based on our perspective, we understand that its actual shape does not change.
focused attention
the cognitive process of directing and maintaining full concentration on a specific stimulus or task while ignoring distractions. It allows an individual to process information selectively and efficiently, prioritizing what is most relevant at the moment
sustained attention
is the ability to maintain focus and remain attentive to a specific task, stimulus, or activity over an extended period. It is essential for tasks that require continuous monitoring, vigilance, or prolonged effort
divided attention
refers to the ability to focus on multiple tasks or stimuli simultaneously. It involves splitting cognitive resources to process information or perform actions in parallel. While not as effective as focused attention, it is often used in everyday situations requiring multitasking
selective attention
is the cognitive process of focusing on one specific stimulus or task while ignoring other irrelevant stimuli in the environment. It allows individuals to prioritize and process important information effectively
compare and contrast sensation and perception
sensation is about gathering raw data, while perception is about interpreting that data to understand the world around us
compare and contrast top-down processing and bottom-up processing
Bottom-up: Starts with the raw data (sensory input) and builds up to understanding.
Top-down: Starts with existing knowledge or expectations and uses that to interpret the incoming data.
identify factors that influence visual illusions
- context/environment
- shadows/lighting
- distance
- colour/contrast
how does the ames room work
How the Ames Room Works:
Shape: The room is built with slanted walls and a skewed floor that make the shape appear normal when viewed from a specific vantage point (through a peephole). From this single viewpoint, the room looks like a regular rectangular room.
Perception of Size: Because of the distorted shape, objects or people at one end of the room appear much larger than those at the other end, even though they are actually the same size. This effect happens because the brain interprets the scene based on the angle and depth cues from the room, assuming that the walls and floor are parallel and perpendicular, as they would be in a typical room.
which constancies does the ames room use
size, shape and depth
