Topic 2: sensation, perception and attention Flashcards
Direct perception
Indirect perception
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)
perception
Sensory memories/ buffers
iconic memory
echoic memory
- iconic memory (visual sensory memory)
- echoic memory (auditory sensory memory)
experience is based on contents of sensory memories
- time for object recognition and attention
- provides the sensory world with the body
- enhanced veridicality
Iconic store
Sperling’s experiment
Sperling’s experiment measures duration of iconic store
- found large capacity and short temporal duration (around 250 ms)
Echoic store
- small capacity and long temporal duration )few seconds)
- different capacity and durations reflect functions
Echoic store
suffix effect
- suffix effect- exploring the code of echoic store
- like displaces like
Gestalt principles
- proximity
- similarity
- good continuation
- closure
parsimony = occams razor
Object recognition
sensory features
sensory and abstract features
Sensory features (connectionist)
- patterns of association
Sensory and abstract features (classical)
- feature integration
- recognition by components (geons)
Context effects
bottom-up
top-down
impacts the way you resolve particular inputs
bottom-up and top-down (interactionist)
bottom-up only (modular)- informationally encapsulated
modular activity
working memory
modular activity
- unconscious
- passive attention (information-specific)
working memory
- active (controlled) attention
- information-general
- directed by goals
- involves consiousness
- selective attention
- divided attention
selective attention (focusing)
filter models
- filter models (early selection)
- Broadbent’s switch model
- shown in dichotic listening (shadowing task)
filter models- early selection
problems
- information from non-attended ear was getting through (cocktail party phenomenon)
- you are also aware of syntax (see pic)
filter models- late selection
- in visual search, faster to identify a target on a single feature, than on a conjunction of features
*
resources: coordination and control
attention
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
Automatic processing
two types
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)
divided attention
information-specific
- information specific (task-specific) resources
- use of common resources reduces performance (see pic)
- stil never a perfect separation of tasks
Divided attention
information-general
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
attention
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
