Topic 2: sensation, perception and attention

Question 1

Direct perception

Indirect perception

Answer 1

direct perception (gibson)

• perception is a passive copy of the distal stimulus

indirect perception

• perception is an inferred representation of the distal stimulus (computational -> modules)

Question 2

perception

Answer 2

Question 3

Sensory memories/ buffers

iconic memory

echoic memory

Answer 3

• iconic memory (visual sensory memory)
• echoic memory (auditory sensory memory)

experience is based on contents of sensory memories

1. time for object recognition and attention
2. provides the sensory world with the body
3. enhanced veridicality

Question 4

Iconic store

Sperling’s experiment

Answer 4

Sperling’s experiment measures duration of iconic store

• found large capacity and short temporal duration (around 250 ms)

Question 5

Echoic store

Answer 5

• small capacity and long temporal duration )few seconds)
• different capacity and durations reflect functions

Question 6

Echoic store

suffix effect

Answer 6

• suffix effect- exploring the code of echoic store
• like displaces like

Question 7

Gestalt principles

Answer 7

• proximity
• similarity
• good continuation
• closure

parsimony = occams razor

Question 8

Object recognition

sensory features

sensory and abstract features

Answer 8

Sensory features (connectionist)

• patterns of association

Sensory and abstract features (classical)

• feature integration
• recognition by components (geons)

Question 9

Context effects

bottom-up

top-down

Answer 9

impacts the way you resolve particular inputs

bottom-up and top-down (interactionist)

bottom-up only (modular)- informationally encapsulated

Question 10

modular activity

working memory

Answer 10

modular activity

• unconscious
• passive attention (information-specific)

working memory

• active (controlled) attention
• information-general
• directed by goals
• involves consiousness
• selective attention
• divided attention

Question 11

selective attention (focusing)

filter models

Answer 11

• filter models (early selection)
• Broadbent’s switch model
• shown in dichotic listening (shadowing task)

Question 12

filter models- early selection

problems

Answer 12

• information from non-attended ear was getting through (cocktail party phenomenon)
• you are also aware of syntax (see pic)

Question 13

filter models- late selection

Answer 13

• in visual search, faster to identify a target on a single feature, than on a conjunction of features
  *

Question 14

resources: coordination and control

attention

Answer 14

locus of attention does not impose constraint, it is the process of attention that imposes constraint

attention occurs within a specific mental architecture:

• finite absolute capacity (can vary with arousal)
• degree of pre-attention processing (modular) determines initial attention (prior to binding) and relative capacity
• control processes, more demanding than automatic processes

Question 15

Automatic processing

two types

Answer 15

Automatic processing requires little demands on resources

two types:

• Information specific
  
  • ​built into mental architecture
• Information general
  
  • ​over-learned skill acquisition
  • no longer requires controlled attention (driving)

Question 16

divided attention

information-specific

Answer 16

• information specific (task-specific) resources
• use of common resources reduces performance (see pic)
• stil never a perfect separation of tasks

Question 17

Divided attention

information-general

Answer 17

information-general (task-general) resources

• ​executive control- sets of goals and priorities
• response selector (switching), operates in a serial fashion, switching between different activities
• channel segregation (coordination), keeping the processing routines for different functions separate
  
  • may be a learned processing ruotine itself

Question 18

attention

Answer 18

ultimately all attention involves divided attention

• attention is not like a spotlight, but involves convergence of info from dfferent domains in the service of a goal, but not all information may be available
  
  • blindsight, change blindness, savant skills