Unit 2.1: Perception

Question 1

Sensation

Answer 1

The process of detecting a stimulus from the environment through sensory receptors (raw data).

Question 2

Perception

Answer 2

The process of interpreting sensory information based on experience and expectations.

Question 3

Top-Down Processing

Answer 3

Perception guided by prior knowledge and expectations; faster but prone to error (e.g., proofreader illusion).

Question 4

Bottom-Up Processing

Answer 4

Perception that starts with raw sensory input, building understanding from the ground up; slower but more accurate for unfamiliar stimuli.

Question 5

Schema

Answer 5

A mental framework built from past experiences that guides perception and helps organize information.

Question 6

Perceptual Set

Answer 6

A mental predisposition to perceive stimuli in a certain way based on expectations, mood, or context.

Question 7

Selective Attention

Answer 7

The process of focusing on one specific stimulus while ignoring others.

Question 8

Cocktail Party Effect

Answer 8

The ability to focus on a single conversation while filtering out background noise, yet still noticing personally relevant stimuli (e.g., your name).

Question 9

Inattentional Blindness

Answer 9

Failing to notice a visible stimulus because attention is focused elsewhere.

Question 10

Change Blindness

Answer 10

Failing to notice changes in the environment due to divided attention.

Question 11

Apparent Movement

Answer 11

Perceiving motion where none exists, due to visual cues.

Question 12

Stroboscopic Motion

Answer 12

Illusion of movement created by showing a series of still images in rapid succession (e.g., animation).

Question 13

Phi Phenomenon

Answer 13

The illusion of motion created when lights blink on and off in sequence.

Question 14

Induced Movement

Answer 14

A stationary object appears to move because surrounding objects are moving.

Question 15

Autokinetic Effect

Answer 15

A stationary point of light in a dark environment appears to move due to lack of visual references.

Question 16

Gestalt Psychology

Answer 16

Psychological perspective that emphasizes the brain’s tendency to perceive unified wholes rather than individual components.

Question 17

Figure-Ground

Answer 17

The tendency to separate visual scenes into the main object (figure) and the background (ground).

Question 18

Continuation

Answer 18

Our tendency to perceive continuous lines and patterns.

Question 19

Closure

Answer 19

The brain’s tendency to fill in missing information to perceive a complete object.

Question 20

Similarity

Answer 20

Grouping objects together based on similar features.

Question 21

Proximity

Answer 21

Grouping items that are close to each other as one unit.

Question 22

Symmetry

Answer 22

Perceiving symmetrical elements as belonging together.

Question 23

Depth Perception

Answer 23

The ability to perceive the world in three dimensions and judge distance.

Question 24

Binocular Cues

Answer 24

Depth cues that require both eyes.

Question 25

Convergence

Answer 25

The inward angle of the eyes when focusing on a nearby object.

Question 26

Retinal Disparity

Answer 26

The difference between the images seen by each eye, used to perceive depth.

Question 27

Monocular Cues

Answer 27

Depth cues that require only one eye.

Question 28

Relative Size

Answer 28

Objects that appear larger are perceived as closer.

Question 29

Interposition

Answer 29

An object that blocks another is perceived as closer.

Question 30

Relative Height

Answer 30

Objects higher in the field of vision are perceived as farther away.

Question 31

Shading & Contour

Answer 31

Light and shadows provide information about an object’s shape and depth.

Question 32

Texture Gradient

Answer 32

Objects with less detail and texture are perceived as farther away.

Question 33

Linear Perspective

Answer 33

Parallel lines appear to converge in the distance.

Question 34

Motion Parallax

Answer 34

Objects closer to us appear to move faster than those farther away when we’re in motion.

Question 35

Perceptual Constancy

Answer 35

The perception of objects as stable despite changes in sensory input.

Question 36

Size Constancy

Answer 36

Perceiving objects as the same size regardless of distance.

Question 37

Shape Constancy

Answer 37

Recognizing objects as having a constant shape despite changes in perspective.

Question 38

Color Constancy

Answer 38

Perceiving an object’s color as the same under varying lighting conditions.

Question 39

Lightness Constancy

Answer 39

Perceiving the brightness (black, gray, white) of an object as constant despite lighting changes.