Sensation and Perception

Question 1

What is difference between bottom-up and top-down processing?

Answer 1

bottom-up - starts with raw sensory data that feed up to the brain. (listening to a song for the first time)

top-down - starts with observer’s expectations and knowledge (listening to a song for the 100th time)

Question 2

What are absolute thresholds?

Answer 2

• minimal amount of stimulation that can be detected

- Occurs when person can detect signal 50% of the time

Question 3

What are difference thresholds?

Answer 3

lowest level of stimulation required to sense that a change in stimulation has occurred

Question 4

What is sensory adaptation?

Answer 4

Tendency of sensory systems to respond less to stimuli that continue without change

Question 5

What is the Gestalt approach?

Answer 5

the whole is greater than the sum of its sensory parts

Question 6

What are binocular cues for depth (retinal (binocular) disparity and convergence)?

Answer 6

retinal (binocular) disparity - images produce different image on each retina

convergence -turning inward of eyes toward nearby object
-Closer object -> greater convergence