Sensation & Perception

Question 1

bottom-up processing

Answer 1

object recognition by parallel processing and feature detection. the brain takes the individual sensory stimuli and combines them together to create a cohesive image before determining what the object is.

Question 2

top-down processing

Answer 2

driven by memories and expectations that allow the brain to recognize the whole without needing to analyze specific parts

Question 3

Gestalt principles

Answer 3

the brain fills in missing parts of a picture when a picture is incomplete based on a) proximity, b) similarity, c) good continuation, d) subjective contours, e) closure

Question 4

parallel processing

Answer 4

the ability to simultaneously analyze and combine information regarding color, shape, and motion. these features can be compared to our memories to determine what is being viewed.

Question 5

feature detection

Answer 5

(neuroscience) our visual pathways contain cells specialized in detection of either color, shape, or motion

Question 6

parvocellular cells

Answer 6

detect shape. high color spatial resolution, permits us to see fine detail, but low temporal resolution

Question 7

magnocellular cells

Answer 7

detect motion. high temporal resolution but low spatial resolution.

Question 8

sclera

Answer 8

white of the eye

Question 9

choroidal vessels

Answer 9

supplies the eye with nutrients; a complex intermingling of blood vessels between the sclera and the retina

Question 10

retinal vessels

Answer 10

supplies the eye with nutrients

Question 11

retina

Answer 11

innermost layer of the eye which contains the actual photoreceptors that transduce light into electrical information the brain processes

Question 12

cornea

Answer 12

clear, domelike window in the front of the eye which gathers and focuses light

Question 13

anterior chamber

Answer 13

anterior to iris, posterior to cornea; contains aqueous humor

Question 14

iris

Answer 14

composed of dilator pupillae and constrictor pupillae, muscles which dilate/constrict the pupil. continuous with the choroid

Question 15

choroid

Answer 15

vascular layer of eye, contains connective tissue, continuous with iris. lies between retina and sclera

Question 16

canal of Schlemm

Answer 16

drains aqueous humor

Question 17

cones

Answer 17

~6m. used for color vision and to sense fine details. most effective in bright light and come in three forms: S (blue), M (green), and L (red)

Question 18

rods

Answer 18

~120m. function in reduced light and only allow sensation of light and dark because they all contains a single pigment: rhodopsin. low sensitivity to details, permit night vision.

Question 19

macula lutea

Answer 19

spot of dense cone concentration in retina (“yellow spot”)

Question 20

fovea centralis

Answer 20

central spot of the macula lutea that contains only cones; highest visual acuity

Question 21

bipolar cells

Answer 21

connect with rods and cones; synapse with ganglion cells

Question 22

ganglion cells

Answer 22

group together to form the optic nerve

Question 23

amacrine cells and horizontal cells

Answer 23

receive input from multiple retinal cells in the same area before the information is passed on to ganglion cells; important for edge detection and detection of contrasts

Question 24

optic chiasm

Answer 24

fibers from the nasal half of each retina cross pathways; first event of the visual pathway

Question 25

optic tracts

Answer 25

the reorganized pathways of optic fibers once past optic chiasm. all fibers corresponding to the left visual field project into the right side of the brain, while those corresponding to the right visual field project into the left side.

Question 26

LGN

Answer 26

lateral geniculate nucleus, part of the thalamus; optic tracts proceed here after optic chiasm

Question 27

superior colliculus

Answer 27

receives visual input and responsible for some reflexive eye movements