Midterm 2 Flashcards
(178 cards)
Lecture 2.2 Sensory Information 2
Sensation
4 main functions
neural activity triggered by a stimulus activating a sensory receptor 4 main functions: -perception -control of movement -regulation of body function -maintenance of arousal (can happen together or independently) *not all conscious experiences
Perception
multistage process in the central nervous system
-meaning is attached to sensory input
involves integration, selection, organization, and interpretation of information
-sensory stimulus perceived differently between people (culture/environmental differences)
ex. pain of childbirth
optical illusions
identical sensations can yield different perceptions
-not seeing both images at first, thinking to see second
sources of sensory information
afferent sources- sensory pathways/info to CNS
exteroception-sensory info that comes from sources outside the body (what/where)
-vision, audition, olfaction
(not really taste or smell unless specific-chef)
-imperative for skilled performance
-emphasis on the usefulness of the source
sources of sensory info cont’d
feedback (actual)- info produced from various sensory sources as a consequence of movement
-info about movement itself
-what you do with info is up to you
-someone else or own performance
feedforward (desired)- information about the intended action…should be happening
-expectation about the movement consequences before any action begins
-lots of practice and repetition to know desired state
vision
anatomy of the visual system image -retina -optic nervce -lens -pupil -cornea -iris (structures taking light toward the visual cortex)
anatomy of the visual system cont’d (steps)
- light enters through the cornea (outer/superficial)
- light passes through the iris and pupil (attached)
- light hits the lens once it passes through the iris
- light hits the retina at the back of the eye (waves transferred from light to impulses)
- light impulses travel from retina to the optic nerve (CN II)
- Optic nerve carries impulses to the visual cortex
anatomy of the visual system (functions)
cornea- clear outer layer at the front of the eye
iris- controls the amount of light that enters the eye
Pupil-opening in the iris, controls the intensity of light permitted to strike the lens
lens- controls the focus of the light
retina- converts light into neural impulses (light waves to impulses)
optic nerve CN II- carries neural impulses to the brain
visual cortex- region of the brain that receives, integrates and processes visual info
Snellen scale
measure of static *visual acuity -clarity of vision -ability to recognize small details with precision 20/20, 6/6, 20/200 (blindness)- exteroception is important *visual acuity=test distance/letter size -stand 6ft away -cover one eye -letters standardized sizes
visual system (3)
focal vision-conscious identification of objects in the centre of the visual field (focused) 1/2 types vision
ambient vision- orientation of one’s body in the environment, taking in all of the visual field (within periphery/ still identify) 2/2 types vision
optical flow- visual perception of motion, position, timing or direction
-have to take in all visual info in order to perceive info
Visual system (what/where is it?)
visual info processed in different ways what is it? -ventral pathway (front) -object perception Where is it? -dorsal pathways (back) -movement -cerebral akinetopsia (motion blindness-lesion or impairment to the pathways) -vision choppy/no smooth transition -timing (spatial/temporal anticipation) -in physical space
Optical illusions
identical sensations can yield different perceptions
- ventral pathway (object perception) fooled by the illusion- right side is bigger
- dorsal pathway (movement) scales hand appropriately when moving to it- moving hand to face
time to process visual information
experimental approaches:
whiting (1970)
-ball catching task
-varied viewing time prior to attempted catch
-catches still made with 100ms viewing time
-at 400ms (90%)
at 100ms (30%)- not zero/ visual system responds quickly
perception-action coupling
- cycle that fuels itself
- we must perceive in order to move, but all we must move in order to perceive (James Gibson)
- context/task specific
- move to ready self prior to
- coaching in game environment
perception-acton coupling
vision and balance: moving wall experiment
Lee and Aronson 1974
- toddler shift in way walls move, not adults
- young and not fully developed
- visual stim more important than mechanical
- adult loses balance when balancing on object and room moves/eyes closed
visual cliff paradigm: depth perception
- infants reluctant to crawl over “cliff”: due to perceived depth (Gibson & walk 1960)
- perceived depth
- arousal- moms smiling baby would come
- role of nonverbal communication in determining behaviour in uncertain contexts (how are other people reacting)
Tau
Tau (t) optic variable that specifies time until perception
-involved judging of distance between multiple stimuli
-when object will reach us
-how long we have to react/ ready
Tau effect:
-if distance and time between stimuli is constant, the difference is perceived as such
-if distance and time between stimuli is not constant, the interval with a shorter temporal interval will be incorrectly judged as having a shorter spatial interval
-longer spatial intervals = longer perceived temporal intervals; shorter spatial intervals = shorter perceived temporal intervals
-brains assumption of stimulus velocity
Tau cont’d
when the time intervals between stimuli become inconsistent, the shorter time interval saw the corresponding stimulus perceived as being closer
vestibular system
- functions to maintain static and dynamic equilibrium (balance and posture)
- directs the gaze of eyes (vestibule-ocular reflex)
- assists in preserving a constant plane of vision (head position) by modifying muscle tone
vestibulo-ocular reflex (VOR)
- directs the gaze when head moves to maintain focus of image on retina
- fairly direct (minimal lag time - 10ms)
- lag time=neurological issues
Audition overview
-exteroceptive
-external, middle and inner ear
organ of courti in the cochlea (sounds waves to electrical impulses)
-internal aspect of cochlea (inner part of inner ear)
-body’s microphone
-mechanoreceptors (hair cells)
-relay nerve impulses via cochlear branch of cranial nerve VIII (bending/being displaced)
characteristics of sound waves
frequency- measure of pitch with units of measure cycles per second (Hz)
amplitude or intensity: a measure of loudness with units of measure in decibels
-40-60 (normal convo)
-120 (startle response)
-140 (pain threshold)
proprioceptive organs
muscle spindles- excitatory in nature and respond to stretch of the muscle
-found within the muscle itself
Golgi tendon organs- inhibitory in nature and respond to excessive force to the muscle
-found in the musculotendinous junction
joint receptors- provide info on joint position
-found in joints and joint capsules