Sensory Perception Flashcards
(40 cards)
Visual Cues
examples: depth, form, motion constancy
allow us to perceptually organize information
Binocular Cues
humans have two eyes, gives sense of depth (retinal disparity and convergence)
also gives retinal disparity since each eye is viewing the world slightly different
Convergence
gives sense of depth based on how much eyeballs are turned
things far away - eye muscles relaxed
things close - eye muscles contract
Monocular Cues
don’t need two eyes to perceive these cues
relative size, interposition (overlap), relative height, shaping and contour, sense of motion, constancy
Motion Parallax
“relative motion” - things farther away move slower, things closer move faster
Constancy
perception of object does not change even if the image cast on the retina is different
size, shape (like a door opening and closing, different angles/images but same object), color (lighting changes the image of the object on our retina but we know the object is the same color)
Sensory Adaptation
senses (hearing, touch, smell, proprioception, sight) are adaptable and can change their sensitivity to stimuli
Hearing Adaptation
inner ear muscle
higher noise - the muscle will contract and dampen vibrations in the inner ear to protect the ear drum
does not work for immediate noises (like a gunshot)
Touch
temperature receptors desensitize over time
Smell
receptors in your nose desensitize to molecular sensory information over time
Proprioception
sense of the position of the body in space (balance/where you are in space)
Sight
up or down regulation to light intensity
Down Regulation
light adaptation
When it is bright out, pupils constrict so less light enters back of eye. Rods and cones become desensitized to light.
Up Regulation
dark regulation
When it is dark, pupils dilate (no light = take in as much information possible). Rods and cones start synthesizing light sensitive molecules.
Weber’s Law
the threshold at which you’re able to notice a change in any sensation is the “just noticeable different” (JND)
∆I (JND) / I (initial intensity) = k (constant)
linear relationship between JND and initial/background intensity: ∆I = Ik
JND
just noticeable difference
Absolute Threshold of Sensation
minimum intensity of stimulus needed to detect a particular stimulus 50% of the time
differences in threshold per individual
factors that influences difference threshold: expectations, experiences, motivation, alertness
Subliminal Stimuli
stimuli below the absolute threshold of sensation
Somatosensation
receives information (intensity, timing, location) about the types of somatosensation
Types: temperature (thermoception), pressure (mechanoception), pain (nociception), position (proprioception)
Somatosensation - Intensity
how quickly neurons fire for us to notice
low intensity = slow
high intensity = fast
Somatosensation - Timing
Non-adapting = neuron consistently fires at a constant rate
Slow-adapting = neuron fires in the beginning of stimulus and calms down after a while
Fast-adapting = neuron fires as soon as stimulus starts and then stops firing, starts again when stimulus stops
Somatosensation - Location
location specific stimuli by nerves are sent to brain
The Vestibular System
balance and spacial orientation that comes from both the inner ear and limbs
- focus on the semicircular canals of the inner ear
- canal is filled with endolymph and when we rotate, the fluid shifts = allows us to detect the direction our head is moving in
- also detect how fastly the endolymph is moving to determine the strength of rotation
- contributes to dizziness and vertigo
Otolithic organs
urticle and saccule of the inner ear
- help us detect linear acceleration and head position
- in these structures are calcium carbonate crystals attached to hair cels in gel
- hair cells are moved when our head moves
