Visual Information Processing

Question 1

Specialized neurons called feature detectors

Answer 1

in the visual; cortex, thousands of these specialized neurons react to the strength of visual stimuli by responding to shapes, angles, edges, lines, and movement in our visual field; some even process faces, smiles, and parts of the body

Question 1

The brain’s role in visualization

Answer 1

both in the visual cortex and other parts take all the information it receives from the feature detectors and make a series of interpretations that allow us to process what we see

Question 2

parallel processing

Answer 2

the ability of the brain to do many things at once; different feature detectors can react to visual stimuli simultaneously through parallel processing

Question 3

examples of parallel processing

Answer 3

visually processing color, motion, shape, and depth; all processed simultaneously

Question 4

David Hubel and Torsten Wiesel’s research

Answer 4

deprived kittens of their vision showing that there is a critical period during which the visual system develops in mammals

Question 5

abnormalities in the visual cortex

Answer 5

if the feature detectors are not stimulated early in life, then there will be permanent visual impairment even after vision is restored; other conditions, brain abnormalities in the visual cortex can disrupt processing

Question 6

Retinal processing

Answer 6

rods and cones; bipolar cells; ganglion cells

Question 7

Feature Detection

Answer 7

brain’s detector cells respond to specific features, like edges, lines, and angles

Question 8

Recognition

Answer 8

the brain interprets the constructed image based on information from stored images

Question 9

Bipolar cells

Answer 9

retinal interneurons