Task 1 Flashcards
(24 cards)
What is the difference between sensation and perception?
Sensation is the detection of stimulus properties (e.g., light entering the eye), while perception is the interpretation of those sensations to give them meaning.
What are the two types of stimuli in the perceptual process?
Distal stimulus – The actual object in the environment (e.g., a tree).
Proximal stimulus – The image or signal received by sensory receptors (e.g., light reflected from the tree reaching the eye).
What are the Principle of Transformation and Principle of Representation?
Transformation – Stimuli are changed (e.g., light is reflected and converted to neural signals).
Representation – Perception is based on internal representations of stimuli, not direct contact with them.
What are sensory receptors, and what do they do?
Specialized cells that respond to environmental stimuli by transducing energy into electrical signals.
What happens to sensory signals after they reach the primary receiving area of the brain?
They are further processed and transmitted to other areas, leading to perception and recognition.
What is visual form agnosia?
A condition where a person can see but cannot recognize objects.
What is the difference between bottom-up and top-down processing?
Bottom-up processing is based on raw sensory input.
Top-down processing uses prior knowledge and expectations to interpret stimuli.
What is psychophysics?
A: The study of the relationship between physical stimuli and psychological experiences.
What is the oblique effect?
People perceive horizontal and vertical lines better than diagonal (oblique) ones.
What are the three main stimulus-behavior relationships studied in perception?
Stimulus-behavior – How stimuli affect responses.
Stimulus-physiology – How stimuli affect brain activity.
Physiology-behavior – How brain activity correlates with behavior.
What is the absolute threshold in perception?
The smallest stimulus intensity that can be detected.
What are the three methods used to measure absolute threshold?
Method of Limits – Stimulus intensity is gradually increased or decreased.
Method of Constant Stimuli – Stimuli are presented in random order multiple times.
Method of Adjustment – The participant adjusts the stimulus until they can just detect it.
Which threshold measurement method is the most accurate and why?
The Method of Constant Stimuli because it minimizes crossover effects, though it is more time-consuming.
What is magnitude estimation in perception studies?
A technique where participants assign numbers to the perceived intensity of a stimulus compared to a baseline.
What is cross-modality matching?
A task where a participant adjusts one type of stimulus (e.g., brightness of a light) to match the intensity of another type (e.g., loudness of a sound).
What is the just noticeable difference (JND)?
The smallest difference between two stimuli that a person can detect.
What is Weber’s Law?
The JND is a constant fraction of the original stimulus intensity (e.g., weight difference is 1/40 of the original weight).
What is Fechner’s Law?
A logarithmic function that describes how psychological perception increases slower than physical stimulus intensity.
What is Stevens’ Power Law, and how does it differ from Fechner’s Law?
It describes perception using a power function, which allows for cases where perception increases faster than the stimulus.
What is signal detection theory?
A model that explains how we detect stimuli in the presence of background noise.
What are the four possible outcomes in signal detection theory?
Hit – Correctly detecting a present signal.
Miss – Failing to detect a present signal.
False Alarm – Detecting a signal when none exists.
Correct Rejection – Correctly identifying no signal.
What is sparse coding in sensory processing?
A theory that a small group of neurons fires in response to a specific stimulus while others remain silent.
What is population coding?
A theory that many neurons work together in a pattern to represent a stimulus.
How many senses do humans have beyond the traditional five?
More than five, including proprioception (body position awareness) and senses related to internal states like hunger and pain
