Perception

Question 1

Perception

Answer 1

the study of how the external world gets represented in our brain/mind so that we can understand and act upon what’s going on around us

Question 2

Three steps to perception

Answer 2

S, E, E

Question 3

Distal Stimulus (1)

Answer 3

out there” external environment (don’t have access to it, a thing)

Question 4

Example of Distal Stimulus

Answer 4

a person looking at a shoe on the floor – the shoe itself is the distal

Question 5

Proximal Stimulus (2)

Answer 5

the stimulus on the receptors (have access to it)

Question 6

Example of Proximal Stimulus

Answer 6

when a person “sees” a dog, it is because the dog (the distal stimulus) created a retinal image (the proximal stimulus) that was interpreted as a dog by the person’s visual system

Question 7

Principle of transformation

Answer 7

states that stimuli and responses created by stimuli are transformed, or changed between distal stimulus and perception

Question 8

Sensory receptors (visual receptors)

Answer 8

light

Question 8

Sensory receptors

Answer 8

cells specilaized to respond to environmental energy, with each sensory system’s receptors specialised to respond to a specific type of energy

Question 9

Principle of representation

Answer 9

states that everything a person perceives is based not on direct contact with stimuli but on representation of stimuli that are formed on the receptors and the resulting activity in the person’s nervous system

Question 10

Sensory receptors (auditory receptors)

Answer 10

pressure change in the air

Question 11

Neural processing (4)

Answer 11

the way the brain works (operations that transform electrical signals within a network of neurons or that transform the response of individual neurons

Question 11

Sensory receptors (smell and taste receptors)

Answer 11

chemical entering the nose and mouth

Question 11

Transduction (3)

Answer 11

occurs when the stimulus is transformed into electrical (neural) signals that the brain can understand

Question 11

Sensory receptors (touch receptors)

Answer 11

Pressure transmitted through the skin

Question 11

What the sensory receptors do

Answer 11

(a) transform environmental energy into electrical energy → (b) they shape perception by the way they respond to different properties of the stimuli

Question 12

Sensation

Answer 12

involves detecting elementary properties of a stimulus (occurs at the beginning (happens before conscious awareness)

Question 13

Sensation example

Answer 13

when light reaches the eye or when food touches your tongue

Question 14

Perception (5)

Answer 14

occurs when the electrical signal representing the stimulus reaches conscious awareness

Question 15

Recognition (6)

Answer 15

ability to place an object in a category that gives it meaning

Question 16

Visual object agnosia

Answer 16

inability to recognize objects -caused by brain tumour

Question 17

Action (7)

Answer 17

what action you do based on the stimulus

Question 18

Rat-man demonstrates

Answer 18

The demonstration in which the presentation of a “ratlike” or “manlike” picture influences an observer’s perception of a second picture, which can be interpreted either as a rate or as a man. → Illustrating the effect of top-down processing on perception

Question 18

Knowledge

Answer 18

perception gives us knowledge about the world, but we also bring existing knowledge to perception

Question 19

Bottom-up processing

Answer 19

(data based processing): allows the stimulus itself to shape our perception

Question 20

Noumenal world (Kant)

Answer 20

consists of the “things in themselves” – real but we don't have access to it (distal stimulus)

Question 20

Top-down processing

Answer 20

(knowledge based processing): use background knowledge and expectations to interpret what we see

Question 21

Rationalism

Answer 21

A priori truths Gain knowledge through reasoning and deduction

Question 21

Empiricism

Answer 21

A posteriori truths Gain knowledge through observation and induction

Question 22

Phenomenal world (Kant)

Answer 22

consists of the metal appearances of the world — we have access to it, but its not real

Question 22

Two ways to talk about consciousness

Answer 22

(1) state of being conscious; (2) perceptual awareness

Question 23

Inattentional blindness

Answer 23

occurs when an individual fails to perceive an unexpected stimulus in plain sight, purley as a result of a lack of attention rather than any vision defects or deficits

Question 23

Problems with defining consciousness

Answer 23

1. reliance on verbal report 2. link to theory of mind 3. we are conscious beings -- how do we find out what happens without consciousness? 4. link with attention and memory

Question 23

Change blindness

Answer 23

occurs when a change in visual stimulus is introduced and the observer doesn’t notice it --- need to actively attend a stimulus in order to perceive it

Question 24

Priming

Answer 24

stimulus that occur too quickly to reach consciousness can still affect behaviour

Question 25

Perceptual process

Answer 25

a sequence of steps leading from the environment to perception of a stimulus, recognition of the stimulus, and action with regard to the stimulus

Question 26

Perceptual process example

Answer 26

process begins with a stimulus in the environment (a tree) and ends with the conscious experiences of perceiving the tree, recognizing the tree, and taking action with respect to the tree (like walking up to take a closer look)

Question 27

Absolute threshold

Answer 27

smallest stimulus level that can be detected

Question 28

Threshold (method of constant stimuli)

Answer 28

different stimuli intensities are presented one at a time, and the participant must respond whether they perceive it (“yes” or “no”) on each trial → stimulus intensities are presented in random order, rather than in descending or ascending order

Question 29

Threshold

Answer 29

minimum stimulus energy necessary for observer to detect a stimulus Fechner’s classical psychophysical methods → methods of limits the experimenter: presents stimuli in either ascending order (intensity is increased) or descending order (intensity is decreased), which indicates the results of an experiment that measures a person’s threshold for hearing a tone

Question 30

Threshold (method of adjustment)

Answer 30

adjusts the stimulus intensity continuously until they can just barely detect the stimulus → repeated numerous times, and the threshold is determined by taking the average setting

Question 31

Difference threshold

Answer 31

smallest difference between two stimuli that enables us to tell the difference between them

Question 32

Explain the role of knoweldge in perception example

Answer 32

1. selective attention: Our knowledge guides us to selectively attend to certain stimuli while ignoring others. For instance, if you have knowledge about a particular topic, you may notice relevant details in your environment that others might overlook. An expert bird watcher, for example, might easily spot and identify different bird species in a park due to their knowledge of avian characteristics. 2. perceptual expectations: Pre-existing knowledge creates expectations about what we should perceive in a given situation. If you are knowledgeable about a specific culture, you may interpret facial expressions or gestures in a way that aligns with your understanding of that culture. On the other hand, someone lacking that knowledge might interpret the same cues differently. 3. top-down processing: Knowledge influences top-down processing, where higher-level cognitive processes shape lower-level perceptual processing. For instance, if you have knowledge about a certain object, your brain might fill in missing or ambiguous information to create a coherent perception. In an art museum, someone familiar with a particular art style may perceive a vague painting more clearly than someone without that knowledge. 4. cultural influences: Cultural knowledge significantly impacts perception. People from different cultures may perceive and interpret the same sensory input differently. For example, colors, symbols, or facial expressions may convey distinct meanings in various cultures, affecting how individuals perceive and respond to them. 5. sensory adaptation: Knowledge can also influence sensory adaptation, where repeated exposure to certain stimuli leads to a decreased sensitivity. If you are familiar with a specific scent, you might not notice it as strongly over time, as your brain adapts to the smell. Conversely, someone unfamiliar with that scent may find it more noticeable.

Question 32

Explain the role of knoweldge in perception

Answer 32

understanding and interpretation of the world are influenced by the information and experiences we possess. Knowledge acts as a framework that shapes how we perceive and make sense of sensory input

Question 33

metaphysics

Answer 33

what is the world made of

Question 33

Epistemology

Answer 33

what do we know and how do we gain knowledge

Question 33

Monism

Answer 33

only believe in ONE thing

Question 34

Materialism

Answer 34

all facts are causally dependent upon physical processes (material)

Question 35

Idealism

Answer 35

the view that the mind is the most basic reality and the physical world exists only as an appearance to or expressions of mind, or as somehow mental in its inner essence

Question 36

Describe how sensation, attention, and consciousness might interact

Answer 36

sensation provides the raw input from the external world, attention acts as a selective filter to prioritize and enhance specific stimuli, and consciousness integrates and interprets this information, giving rise to our subjective experiences. The interaction between these processes is dynamic and bidirectional, with attention influencing conscious awareness and consciousness guiding attentional processes. This intricate interplay is fundamental to our perception and understanding of the world around us.

Question 37

Explain perception without awareness and some real-world examples

Answer 37

Perception without awareness refers to the processing of sensory information by the brain without the individual being consciously aware of it. In other words, our brains can unconsciously register and respond to stimuli without these stimuli entering our conscious awareness. This phenomenon is often associated with subliminal perception or subliminal stimuli, where stimuli are presented at a level below the threshold of conscious awareness

Question 38

Perception without awareness real-world examples

Answer 38

1. Subliminal advertising: In marketing, advertisers have experimented with subliminal messages in advertisements. These messages, often presented very briefly or subtly, aim to influence consumers' perceptions or behavior without their conscious awareness. However, the effectiveness and ethical implications of subliminal advertising are debated. 2. Blind sight: Some individuals with a condition known as blindsight can process visual information in the absence of conscious awareness. Although these individuals report not seeing stimuli, they can demonstrate accurate responses to visual tasks, such as identifying the location or movement of objects. 3. Subliminal messaging in media: Some movies and TV shows incorporate subliminal messages or frames, often for humorous or satirical purposes. These messages are designed to be imperceptible consciously but may be detected by the subconscious mind.