2A. Perception

Question 1

Define “perception”

Answer 1

The active process of organising the stimulus output and giving it meaning

Question 2

Differentiate between top-down and bottom-up processing

Answer 2

Bottom up = sensing of environmental stimuli by brain

Top down = prior expectations and knowledge that influences perception

Question 3

Recall 5 different types of attention

Answer 3

Focused/ Divided
Sustained/ Alternating
Selective

Question 4

Define “selective attention”

Answer 4

Maintain behavioural set in the face of distracting/ competing stimuli

Question 5

What are the 2 classes of factors influencing attention? Give examples of each of these

Answer 5

Stimulus: repetition, intensity, novelty
Personal: motive, mood, threats

Question 6

Recall 4 examples of factors affecting perception of physical symptoms

Answer 6

Everted attention
Environmental cues (eg coughing in lectures)
Expectation
Emotion