Sensation And Perception Flashcards
What is sensation
Sensation is the physical stimulation of sense receptors by the environment, such as light striking the retina at the back of the eye, or sound waves processed by the ear.
What is perception
Perception is the organisation and interpretation of sensory information by the brain in order to understand the world around us. This may involve basic perceptual processes, such as separating objects from the background, or more complex processes, such as knowing what to do with a tin.
What is the difference between sensation and perception
Sensation is the detection of a stimulus in the environment, such as light or sound waves.
Perception is the brain interpreting and understanding these sensations.
2 theories of perception
Theories of perception differ.
Gregory’s constructivist theory sees a difference between sensation and perception.
Gibson’s direct theory sees them as being the same thing
Ponzo’s illusion
Misinterpreted depth cue.
Two separate horizontal lines of the same length, one above the other, surrounded by two lines converging into the distance.
People perceive the higher horizontal line as longer than the one below
Müller–Lyer illusion
Misinterpreted depth cue.
Two separate vertical lines of the same length, side by side, one with ingoing fins and the other with outgoing fins.
People perceive the vertical line with outgoing fins as longer than the vertical line with ingoing fins.
Describe Rubin’s vase
An ambiguous figure.
Image of two faces and a vase in the same picture.
Both are correct so your brain can’t decide which one it is.
Ames Room
Misinterpreted depth cue.
Invented by Ames (1934).
Room looks normal but is actually the shape of a trapezoid.
When two people stand on either side on the back wall, one appears to be much bigger than the other even though they are both the same size.
