Sternberg Chapter 3 Flashcards
Perception
set of processes by which we recognize, organize, and make sense of the sensations we receive from environmental stimuli. Perception encompasses many psychological phenomena, but visual perception is the most widely studied perceptual modality.
Distal Object
(aka far) is the object in the external world
Information Medium
Proximal Stimulation
Perceptual Object
Sensory Adaptation
is a phenomenon where receptor cells adapt to constant stimulation by ceasing to fire until there is a change in stimulation. Basically, we stop detecting a stimulus after a while unless it changes
What does Ganzfeld mean and what does it refer to?
german for “complete field”it refers to an unstructured visual field
Percept
Human can only perceive what range of wavelengths?
380-750 nanometers
Cornea
protective clear dome covering the eye, that light passes through
Pupil
Opening at the center of Iris, which light passes through
What is a gel-like substance that makes up the majority of the eye?
Fovea
small think region of the retina, where vision is most acute
How many layers is the retina made up of?
Three: Gangalion, neuronal cells and photoreceptors
Ganglion Cells
first level on the outward-facing surface of the eye. Their axons make up the optic nerve
Neuronal Cells
Amacrine Cells, Horizontal Cells, and Bipolar Cells
“interneuron cells”
They make a single horizontal connection among adjacent areas of ht eretina in the middle layer of cells. The bipolar cells make dual connections forward and outward to the ganglion cells, as well as backward and inward to the third layer of retinal cells (the photoreceptors)
Photoreceptors
this is the third layer of the retina. Photoreceptors convert light energy (light wavelengths) into electrochemical energy that is transmitted by neurons to the brain. There are two types of photoreceptors
Name the two types of photoreceptors
Rods: 120 million per eye, are long and thin shaped photoreceptors that are more concentrated in the periphery of the retina. They are responsible for night vision and are sensitive to light and dark stimuli.
Cones: 8 million per eye, are short and thick photoreceptors that allow for the perception of color. They are more highly concentrated in the foveal region of the retina
Both rods and cones contain
“photopigments,” or chemical substances that react to light and transform physical electromagnetic energy into an electrochemical neural impulse that can be understood by the brain
What forms the optic nerve and where do they cross?
The axons of the ganglion cells in the eye collectively form the optic nerve for that eye.
The optic nerve then go to the brain (where they cross at the optic chiasma) and extend to the opposite hemisphere of the brain
Pathways to Perceive the What and the Where?
visual pathways are the path that information takes from its entering the human perceptual system through to eyes to its being completely processed
Name the 2 pathways to perceive the what and the where.
- The Dorsal Pathway, aka the “where” pathway- responsible for processing location and motion information.
- The Ventral Pathway, aka the “What” Pathway- responsible for processing the color, shape, and identity of visual stimuli.
Name the alternative to the what/where process.
An alternative to the above “what/where hypothesis” is the “What/How” hypothesis.
- The What Pathway: like before, is found in the ventral stream and is responsible for the identification of objects.
- The How Pathway: is located in the Dorsal stream (instead of the above “where” hypothesis), and controls movements in relation to the objects that have been identified through the “what pathway.”
Name the two theories that explain HOW we perceive the world.
Bottom-Up Theories describe approaches where perception starts with the stimuli whose appearance you can take in through your eye. Perception happens when light information is transported to your brain. They’re Data- Driven (aka Stimulus-Driven) theories.
-Top-Down Theories believe that perception is driven by high-level cognitive processes, existing knowledge, and the prior expectations that influence perception. These theories then work their way down to considering the sensory data, such as perceptual stimuli. You perceive building as big in the background because you already know these buildings are bigger than they appear. From this viewpoint, expectations are important.