Chapter 4 Sensation and Perception

Question 1

Stimuli

Answer 1

An energy change

Question 2

Light

Answer 2

Part of the electromagnetic spectrum and is visible because our receptors respond to certain wavelengths

Question 3

Pupil

Answer 3

Adjustable opening that controls amount of
light that enters the eye

Question 4

Iris

Answer 4

Colored structure on the surface of the eye,
surrounds the pupil

Question 5

Retina

Answer 5

Layer of visual receptors covering the back
surface of the eyebal

Question 6

Cornea

Answer 6

Rigid, transparent
structure on the
surface of the eyeball;
focuses light on retina

Question 7

Lens

Answer 7

Flexible structure; varies in
thickness; focuses light on
the retina; adjusts focus for
different objects at different
distance

Question 8

Fovea

Answer 8

Greatest density of receptors
Cones only

Question 9

Rods

Answer 9

Adapted for vision in dim light (95%)

Question 10

Cones

Answer 10

Adapting for perceiving color and detail in bright light (cons=color)

Question 11

Visual Pathway

Answer 11

Contains receptors, bipolar cells, and ganglion cells> optic nerve

Question 12

Blind Spot

Answer 12

Retinal area where the optic nerve exits

Question 13

Trichromatic Theory

Answer 13

Color vision depends on the relative responses of three types of cones
blue=sensitive to short wavelengths
green=sensitive to medium wavelengths
red=sensitive to long wavelengths
(Young-Helmholtz Theory)

Question 14

Opponent-Process Theory

Answer 14

We perceive color in terms of paired
opposites (ex: red vs. green, yellow vs. blue, white vs. black)
• Probably due to your neurons overcorrecting
• Color vision depends on cerebral cortex, not just retina

Question 15

Retinex Theory

Answer 15

The cerebral cortex compares the patterns of light coming from different parts of the retina and synthesizes a color perception for each area (Retina+Cortex=Retinex)

Question 16

Synesthesia

Answer 16

A neurological phenomenon in which stimulation of one sensory or cognitive pathway leads to automatic, involuntary experiences in a second sensory or cognitive pathway (smelling a word)

Question 17

Signal-Detection Theory

Answer 17

a theory that determines an individual’s ability to detect, discriminate, recognize, and identify stimuli based on his level of sensitivity and bias

Question 18

Subliminal Perception

Answer 18

A stimulus that can influence behavior even when it is presented so
faintly or briefly that the observer has no conscious perception of it

Question 19

Feature-Detector Approach

Answer 19

specialized neurons in the visual cortex that
respond to the presence of simple features, such as lines and angles

Question 20

Gestalt Psychology

Answer 20

A field that emphasizes perception of overall patterns and gestalt is German for pattern/configuration

Question 21

Top-Down Perception

Answer 21

applying experience and
expectations to interpret each item in context

Question 22

Visual Constancy

Answer 22

Tendency to perceive objects as keeping their shape, size, and color

Question 23

Induced Movement

Answer 23

When the background
really is moving

Question 24

Stroboscopic Movement

Answer 24

The illusion of motion that occurs when a stationary object is first seen briefly in one location and, following a short interval, is seen in another location (Stop Motion)

Question 25

Binocular Cues

Answer 25

Retinal disparity and convergence

Question 26

Retinal Disparity

Answer 26

Difference in apparent position of an object as seen by left vs. right retinas.

Question 27

Convergence

Answer 27

Degree to which the eyes turn in to focus on a close object

Question 28

Monocular Cues

Answer 28

All the ways that a single eye helps you see (Object size, Linear perspective, Detail, Interposition, Texture gradient, Shadows, Accommodation, Motion parallax

Question 29

Linear Perspective

Answer 29

Parallel lines converge in the distance

Question 30

Interposition

Answer 30

Nearby object interrupts view of more
distant object

Question 31

Texture Gradient

Answer 31

Perception of things being “packed
together” when far away

Question 32

Accommodation

Answer 32

The lens of the eye changes shape to
focus on nearby objects

Question 33

Motion Parallax

Answer 33

When you’re moving, nearby objects
seem to move faster than distant object

Question 34

Optical Illusions

Answer 34

Misinterpretation of a visual stimulus

Question 35

Ames Room

Answer 35

Room designed not in a straight line that makes a person appear larger than another person

Question 36

Moon Illusion

Answer 36

At the horizon, the moon looks about 30% larger than it appears when it’s higher in the sky due to size comparison and terrain gives an impression of distance.