Sensation Flashcards
depth perception
one’s cognitive understanding of how close or distant objects (or parts of objects) are located
form perception
one’s cognitive understanding of an object’s visible shape and configuration
motion perception
one’s cognitive understanding of an object’s speed and direction
constancy perception
one’s cognitive understanding that despite variable views of an object, it is still the same object with the same intrinsic characteristics
visual cues
perceptual strategies used by our brains to perceive optic information
includes binocular and monocular cues
binocular cues
visual cues that rely on visual information from both eyes
includes retinal disparity and convergence
retinal disparity
a binocular cue based on the idea that each eye provides a slightly different view of an object and comparing these two views aids our brain with depth perception
convergence
a binocular cue based on the idea that our eyes turn inward to a greater degree when looking at objects up close, and our brains consider the degree of inward turning to enhance their depth perception
monocular cues
visual cues that rely on information from a single eye
includes relative size, interposition, relative height, shading and contour, motion parallax (relative motion), size/shape/color constancy
relative size
a monocular cue based on the idea that when object A is visually smaller than object B, object A is perceived to be smaller (form perception) and farther away (depth perception)
interposition
a monocular cue based on the idea that when object A is obstructing one’s view of object B, object A is perceived to be farther away (depth perception)
relative height
a monocular cue based on the idea that when object A is visually shorter or higher up in the visual field than object B, object A is perceived to be farther away (depth perception)
shading and contour
a monocular cue in which shadows and outlines are used by the brain to enhance depth perception
motion parallax (relative motion)
a monocular cue in which fast-moving objects are perceived as being close and slow-moving objects are perceived as being distant (depth perception)
size constancy
a monocular cue in which the brain perceives an object as having a constant largeness despite one view of it being visually larger than another view (constancy perception)
shape constancy
a monocular cue in which the brain perceives an object as having a constant form despite one view of it being visually different than another view (constancy perception)
color constancy
a monocular cue in which the brain perceives an object as having a constant coloration despite one view of it being visually different than another view (constancy perception)
sensory adaption
the process by which receptors become less sensitive to a constant stimuli over time
auditory sensory adaptation
hearing becomes less sensitive over time due to contraction of the inner ear muscle
tactile sensory adaptation
touch sensing nerves become saturated and less sensitive with constant stimuli
olfactory sensory adaptation
desensitization to smell when exposed to the same smell for an extended period of time
sight sensory adaptation
process of up or downregulation of sensitivity in order to adjust to the amount of ambient light
Weber’s Law
states that there is a linear relationship between the background intensity and the threshold of the just noticeable difference
deltaI/I=k
just noticeable difference
the smallest change in stimuli that can be sensed
related to intensity through Weber’s Law
Weber’s Law equation
deltaI/I=k, where I is the original intensity of the stimulus, deltaI is the smallest just noticeable difference, and k shows that this ratio equals some constant
absolute threshold of sensation
the lowest amount of stimulation that can still be detected more than 50% of the time
subliminal stimuli
stimuli that are perceived less than 50% of the time (below the absolute threshold of sensation)
vestibular system
apparatus that helps with balance and positioning, relies heavily on the inner ear
cochlea
part of the inner ear that contains sensory receptors
semicircular canals
anterior, lateral, and posterior tubes of the inner ear that contain endolymph to help determine speed and direction of head movement
endolymph
fluid in the inner ear that helps with the detection of movement
otolithic organs
the part of the inner ear that allows for the sensation of linear and angular acceleration (includes the utricle and saccule)
calcium carbonate crystals of hair cells
these structures allow for the detection of movement in the inner ear because they move with acceleration
vertigo
a sensation of loss of balance or spinning resulting from issues in the inner ear
signal detection theory
the idea that the perception of a stimulus is dependent on both the intensity of the stimulus and the uncertainty around the stimuli
noise in signal detection
random factors that interfere with the correct discernment of a stimulus including the physiological state of the individual and random errors with equipment
hit in signal detection
when a stimulus is present and sensed
false alarm in signal detection
when a stimulus is not present but something is said to have been perceived
miss in signal detection
when a stimulus is present but it is not perceived
correct rejection in signal detection
when a stimulus is not perceived when not present
conservative strategies of signal detection
a method in which one will not say there is not a stimulus unless 100% certain that there is one
this minimizes false alarms, but results in many misses
liberal strategies of signal detection
a method in which one will say there is a signal unless 100% certain there is not one
this minimizes misses, but results in many false alarms
ideal observer
a person who minimizes misses and false alarms in signal detection
bottom up processing
a method of stimulus perception that begins with the stimulus, considered to be data driven
top down processing
a method of stimulus perception that begins with a person’s background knowledge, considered to be theory driven
Gestalt principles
a set of laws that aim to explain how a whole object can be perceived differently than simply the sum of its parts
includes laws of similarity, Pragnanz, proximity, continuity, closur
law of similarity
Gestalt principle that explains the grouping together of like objects
law of Pragnanz
Gestalt principle that explains how ambiguous objects are perceived in the simplest way possible
law of proximity
Gestalt principle that explains the grouping together of items that are physically close to each other
law of continuity (Law of Good Continuation)
Gestalt principle that explains the likelihood of perceiving uninterrupted lines over perceiving sharp or jagged lines
law of closure
Gestalt principle that explains the grouping of items to form whole objects rather than seeing them as discontinuous segments
