Unit 4 Flashcards
1
Q
What are binocular depth cues?
A
Cues that use input from both eyes for spatial awareness, such as retinal disparity where slightly different images from each eye help determine depth.
2
Q
Name three monocular depth cues.
A
Motion parallax, linear perspective, and texture gradient.
3
Q
What is motion parallax?
A
Closer objects move faster than distant ones as we move, providing a depth cue.
4
Q
How does linear perspective serve as a depth cue?
A
Parallel lines converge as they recede into the distance, indicating depth.
5
Q
What is texture gradient?
A
Finer details are visible in closer objects, providing information about distance.
6
Q
Explain interposition as a depth cue.
A
Closer objects block or overlap farther ones, indicating depth.
7
Q
How does relative size contribute to depth perception?
A
Distant objects appear smaller than closer ones of the same size.
8
Q
What is “height in plane” in depth perception?
A
Higher objects in the visual field are perceived as farther away.
9
Q
How do light and shadow act as depth cues?
A
Shadows indicate depth and spatial relationships between objects.
10
Q
What is convergence in depth perception?
A
The strain or tension of eye muscles as the eyes turn inward to look at a nearby object, indicating its distance.
11
Q
Define accommodation in the context of depth perception.
A
The change in the curvature of the lens as an object comes closer, helping the eye adjust its focus
12
Q
What are pictorial depth cues?
A
Monocular cues like linear perspective, texture gradient, and interposition used in 2D artwork to create the illusion of depth.
13
Q
What is perceptual constancy?
A
The perception of objects as stable in size, shape, color, and brightness despite changes in distance, angle, or lighting.
14
Q
Why is perceptual constancy important?
A
It maintains a consistent interpretation of objects despite varying sensory input.
15
Q
Provide an example of perceptual constancy.
A
A door viewed from different angles is still perceived as rectangular.
16
Q
Why are visual and optical illusions important in studying perception?
A
They reveal how perception relies on contextual and experiential cues and show how perception can fill gaps, impose structure, and sometimes misinterpret stimuli.
17
Q
What strengths do visual illusions illustrate about perception?
A
The ability to make sense of incomplete or noisy input.
18
Q
What vulnerabilities do visual illusions reveal in perception?
A
Susceptibility to being fooled by unnatural or ambiguous stimuli.
19
Q
What is the Müller-Lyer illusion?
A
An illusion where lines of the same length appear different due to the placement of arrowheads.
20
Q
What are impossible objects?
A
Creations, like those by Escher, that challenge spatial logic and cannot exist in three-dimensional space.
21
Q
What is the common name for the gustatory system?
A
The taste system.
22
Q
What is the common name for the olfactory system?
A
The smell system.
23
Q
What type of chemical stimuli does the gustatory system detect?
A
Soluble chemicals, such as sugar and salt.
24
Q
What type of chemical stimuli does the olfactory system detect?
A
Volatile chemicals, which are airborne molecules.
25
How do taste and smell differ from vision and hearing?
Taste and smell rely on direct chemical interactions with receptors, while vision senses light waves and hearing senses sound waves.
26
What are the five basic tastes?
Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, and umami (savory).
27
Are taste buds restricted to specific zones on the tongue?
No, taste buds are scattered across the tongue and can detect all tastes.
28
How do taste buds work to detect flavors?
They work in combination, regardless of location, to detect a range of flavors.
29
What is sensory adaptation in taste?
Repeated exposure to a taste reduces sensitivity, such as a sweet dessert tasting less sweet over time.
30
What are taste aftereffects?
Switching to a neutral taste after a strong one creates altered sensations, such as water tasting sweet after eating something sour.
31
How are taste aftereffects similar to afterimages in vision?
Both involve sensory systems adjusting to prior stimuli.
32
How do taste and smell combine to create flavor perception?
Taste buds detect basic tastes, while olfactory receptors detect volatile compounds, and retronasal olfaction enhances flavor perception.
33
What is retronasal olfaction?
The process where aromas travel to the nose via the throat during chewing.
34
What happens to flavor perception if taste or smell is disrupted?
Flavor perception is diminished, such as when a blocked nose affects taste.
35
In what state must chemicals be to be detected by the olfactory system?
Gaseous state, so they release volatile molecules.
36
What determines whether a substance can be smelled?
The volatility of the substance.
37
Where are olfactory receptors located?
In the olfactory epithelium of the nasal cavity.
38
What does the olfactory system do after detecting odor molecules?
Signals travel to the olfactory bulb and are sent to the olfactory cortex, amygdala, and hippocampus.
39
What is the role of the amygdala in processing smells?
It associates smells with emotions.
40
What is the role of the hippocampus in processing smells?
It links smells to memories.
41
How is the olfactory system unique compared to other sensory systems?
Olfactory signals bypass the thalamus, allowing for faster and more emotional responses to odors.
42
What is an example of sensory adaptation in vision?
Entering a dark room and gradually adjusting to the low light (dark adaptation).
43
Why doesn’t sensory adaptation occur in vision like it does in other senses?
Saccades, rapid eye movements, prevent continuous stimulation of the same retinal cells, keeping the visual field fresh.
44
What is an example of sensory adaptation in taste?
Eating a spicy meal and noticing the intensity of the spice diminishing over time.
45
What is an example of sensory adaptation in smell?
Entering a bakery and noticing the smell of fresh bread, but the smell fades after a few minutes.
46
What is an example of sensory adaptation in touch?
Putting on a watch and feeling it initially, but forgetting it’s there after a short period.
47
What is sensation?
The initial detection of environmental stimuli, involving sensory receptors converting physical energy into neural signals.
48
What is perception?
The interpretation and organization of sensory signals into meaningful experiences, using prior knowledge and context.
49
How does sensation differ from perception?
Sensation is passive detection of stimuli, while perception actively constructs awareness.
50
Provide an example of sensation versus perception.
Sensation detects light waves; perception interprets them as a specific object.
51
What is psychophysics?
The study of the relationship between physical stimuli and the sensations and perceptions they evoke.
52
Who coined the term psychophysics?
Gustav Fechner.
53
What is the focus of psychophysics?
Sensory thresholds and how stimuli are processed by the brain.
54
What is an absolute threshold?
The minimum stimulus intensity detectable 50% of the time.
55
What is an example of an absolute threshold?
The faintest light visible in a dark room.
56
What is the Just Noticeable Difference (JND)?
The smallest detectable change in stimulus intensity.
57
How does JND relate to Weber’s Law?
JND depends on the baseline level of the stimulus, with proportional differences mattering more.
58
Provide an example of JND in sound.
Detecting a slight increase in the volume of music.
59
What is the difference between an absolute threshold and JND?
Absolute threshold is detecting the presence of a stimulus, while JND is detecting a difference between two stimuli.
60
What does signal-detection theory study?
How stimulus detection is influenced by both sensory and decision processes.
61
What are the four possible outcomes in signal-detection theory?
Hit, miss, false alarm, and correct rejection.
62
What is an example of a “hit” in signal detection?
Correctly detecting a faint sound when it is present.
63
What is an example of a “false alarm” in signal detection?
Mistaking the wind for a knock at the door.
64
What is sensory adaptation?
Decreased sensitivity to constant stimuli over time.
65
What is the purpose of sensory adaptation?
To enhance detection of environmental changes and prioritize dynamic information.
66
Provide an example of sensory adaptation in smell.
Bakery smells fading after prolonged exposure.
67
How does sensory adaptation benefit us?
It prevents sensory overload by ignoring constant stimuli and focusing on new or changing information.
68
What is the range of wavelengths for visible light?
380 nm (violet) to 750 nm (red).
69
What is white light?
A mixture of many wavelengths of light, appearing white due to the blending of colors.
70
How does a prism affect white light?
It separates white light into its component colors: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
71
What is the tapetum lucidum, and which animals have it?
A reflective layer in the eyes of some animals (e.g., cats) that enhances low-light vision.
72
Which type of light is visible to birds and bees but not humans?
Ultraviolet (UV) light.
73
What type of electromagnetic radiation can snakes detect?
Infrared (IR) light for heat sensing.
74
How does a red apple appear red?
It reflects red wavelengths of light and absorbs others.
75
What is additive color mixing?
Mixing light colors, where red + green + blue = white.
76
What is subtractive color mixing?
Mixing pigments that absorb wavelengths, where reflected light determines the perceived color.
77
What is the role of the cornea in vision?
It refracts light onto the lens.
78
What controls the size of the pupil?
The iris.
79
How does the lens focus light onto the retina?
By changing its shape (accommodation) for near or far objects.
80
What are the functions of rods and cones in the retina?
Rods detect low light and grayscale; cones detect color vision.
81
What is the fovea specialized for?
Sharp, detailed color vision due to its high cone density.
82
What causes the blind spot in vision?
The lack of photoreceptors at the optic disk.
83
What are saccades, and why are they important?
Rapid eye movements that prevent sensory adaptation and maintain detailed perception.
84
How do rods and cones differ in their convergence to bipolar cells?
Many rods converge on one bipolar cell (sensitive, low resolution); fewer cones converge on one bipolar cell (detailed, high resolution).
85
What happens to visual signals at the optic chiasm?
Nasal fibers cross to the opposite hemisphere, while temporal fibers stay on the same side.
86
Where is visual information processed in the brain?
The visual cortex in the occipital lobe.
87
What is a receptive field?
The area where light influences the activity of a retinal or cortical cell.
88
What are feature detectors?
Specialized neurons in the visual cortex that respond to specific stimuli, such as edges, angles, and motion.
89
What does the trichromatic theory explain?
Color detection by three cone types (blue, green, red) sensitive to specific wavelengths.
90
What does the opponent process theory propose?
Colors are processed in opposing pairs (red-green, blue-yellow), explaining afterimages.
91
How do the trichromatic and opponent process theories integrate?
Trichromatic theory applies at the retinal level; opponent process theory applies at the ganglion cells and brain level.
92
What is an example of additive color mixing?
RGB screens, where red + green + blue = white.
93
What is an example of subtractive color mixing?
Mixing cyan, magenta, and yellow pigments, where combined absorption results in black.
94
What causes color blindness?
Defects in cones, such as those affecting red-green color discrimination.
95
Are most color-blind individuals completely unable to see color?
No, most have difficulty distinguishing specific colors rather than complete color blindness.
96
hat is the primary function of the kinesthetic system?
To provide information about body position, movement, and spatial orientation.
97
Where are proprioceptors located?
In muscles, tendons, and joints.
98
What do muscle proprioceptors detect?
Changes in muscle tension and stretch.
99
What do tendon proprioceptors monitor?
Force and load.
100
How does the kinesthetic system enable fine motor skills?
By sending signals to the brain that help coordinate movement and maintain balance without relying entirely on vision.
101
How is sensory input from proprioceptors processed?
By the central nervous system for smooth coordination and body awareness.
102
What is the vestibular system responsible for?
Maintaining balance and spatial orientation.
103
What are the two key components of the vestibular system?
Semicircular canals and otolith organs.
104
What do semicircular canals detect?
Rotation and angular acceleration of the head.
105
How do the semicircular canals work?
Fluid movement in the canals bends hair cells, triggering neural signals.
106
What do otolith organs detect?
Linear acceleration and head position relative to gravity.
107
How does the vestibular system integrate with other sensory systems?
It works with the visual and proprioceptive systems to maintain overall balance and stability.
108
What are some applications of the vestibular system?
Enabling smooth navigation through environments and supporting tasks requiring stable vision and body equilibrium during motion.
109
What types of stimuli are perceived by the touch sensory system?
Pressure, temperature, pain, and texture.
110
How does the touch system differ from other sensory systems?
It relies on mechanical and thermal energy, whereas systems like taste and smell depend on chemical stimuli, and vision relies on light.
111
What are the basic perceptions of touch?
Light touch, pain, temperature, and texture.
112
What is a receptive field in the context of touch?
An area of skin where a single touch receptor responds to stimuli.
113
What role do overlapping receptive fields play in touch perception?
They allow detailed spatial resolution for identifying touch locations.
114
What is sensory adaptation in touch?
A reduction in receptor response to sustained stimulation, such as becoming less aware of wearing a watch.
115
What is contralateral processing in touch?
Touch information from one side of the body is processed in the opposite hemisphere of the brain.
116
Outline the pathway of touch signals to the brain.
Receptors → spinal cord → brainstem → thalamus → somatosensory cortex.
117
What are nociceptors?
Specialized receptors that detect harmful mechanical, thermal, or chemical stimuli.
118
Which brain regions are involved in processing pain signals?
- Somatosensory Cortex: Identifies and localizes pain.
- Anterior Cingulate Cortex: Processes emotional aspects of pain.
- Insula: Contributes to the subjective experience of pain.
119
How is pain perception modulated?
Descending pathways release neurotransmitters, such as endorphins, to reduce pain.
120
What are the characteristics of the fast pain pathway?
- A-delta fibers: Thin, myelinated neurons.
- Transmit sharp, localized pain signals quickly.
- Trigger immediate reflexive responses.
121
What are the characteristics of the slow pain pathway?
- C fibers: Unmyelinated neurons.
- Transmit dull, throbbing, or aching pain signals more slowly.
- Reflect ongoing tissue damage and signal the need for long-term attention.
122
What is the dual pain response?
An initial sharp pain (A-delta fibers) followed by slow, lingering pain (C fibers) to provide immediate alerts and prolonged awareness for healing.
123
What are sound waves?
Vibrations that travel through a medium (air, water, solids).
124
How is the frequency of sound waves measured, and what does it determine?
Measured in hertz (Hz); determines pitch (how high or low a sound is).
125
How is the amplitude of sound waves measured, and what does it determine?
Measured in decibels (dB); determines loudness (intensity of the sound).
126
What is the typical hearing range for humans?
20 Hz to 20,000 Hz (20 kHz).
127
Which frequency range is most sensitive for human hearing?
1,000 Hz to 5,000 Hz, critical for speech perception.
128
How does the human perception of loudness relate to changes in intensity?
A 10 dB increase is perceived as about twice as loud, though it represents a tenfold increase in intensity.
129
Why do small intensity changes at low levels appear more noticeable than at high levels?
Loudness perception follows a logarithmic scale, making smaller changes noticeable at lower intensities.
130
At which frequencies are humans most sensitive to sound?
Mid-range frequencies (1,000–5,000 Hz).
131
Why do mid-range frequencies seem louder than low or high frequencies at the same intensity?
Human hearing is more sensitive to mid-range frequencies, affecting perceived loudness.
132
What is the role of the eardrum in hearing?
It vibrates in response to sound waves and converts air pressure changes into mechanical vibrations.
133
What is the function of the ossicles in the middle ear?
They amplify vibrations and transmit them to the cochlea.
134
What does the basilar membrane in the cochlea do?
It vibrates in response to pressure waves, with different regions responding to different frequencies.
135
How do hair cells in the cochlea contribute to hearing?
They convert mechanical energy into electrical signals by bending as the basilar membrane moves.
136
Where are auditory signals processed in the brain?
In the auditory cortex, creating the perception of sound.
137
What is interaural time difference (ITD)?
The difference in the time it takes for sound to reach each ear, used to determine sound direction.
138
What is interaural level difference (ILD)?
The difference in sound intensity between the ears caused by the head creating a sound shadow.
139
How is auditory localization similar to binocular vision?
Both rely on input differences (timing and intensity for sound; visual disparity for sight) to determine spatial orientation.
