5th Lesson - Perception Theory

These flashcards cover key concepts from the lecture on perception theory and the psychology of form, focusing on various types of neurons, concepts of space, and the sense of self.

Canonical Neurons

Neurons that encode the purpose of particular motor acts and are activated by observation of objects relevant for action planning.

Mirror Neurons

Neurons activated both during the execution of an action and during the observation of the same action performed by others.

Affordances

Opportunities for action that an object offers to an individual based on the object’s characteristics and the observer’s capabilities.

Body Schema

An updated map of body shape and posture that integrates proprioceptive signals.

Personal Space

The portion of space occupied by one's body.

Peripersonal Space

The portion of space reachable by limb extension.

Extrapersonal Space

The portion of space that cannot be reached by limb extension and is perceived essentially by the senses.

Sense of Self

Bodily self-consciousness, including body ownership, self-location, and first-person perspective.

Rubber Hand Illusion

A phenomenon that demonstrates body ownership where individuals perceive a rubber hand as part of their own body.

Embodied Simulation Model

A model proposing that actions, emotions, and sensations of others activate our internal representations as if we were engaged in the same actions or feelings.

Third-person Perspective

A viewpoint from which an individual analyzes situations or actions externally.

First-person Perspective

A viewpoint from which an individual experiences the world through their own senses.

Proprioception

The sensory input that provides information about the position and movement of body parts, essential for maintaining the Body Schema.

Interoception

The perception of internal physiological signals (e.g., heartbeat, hunger) that contributes to the overall sense of self.

Action-Observation Network (AON)

A cortical network, primarily involving the F5 area and the inferior parietal lobule, that processes both seen and performed actions.

Body Image

A conscious, cognitive, and affective representation of the body's appearance, distinct from the action-oriented body schema.

Tool Incorporation

The process by which an external object is integrated into the body schema, effectively extending the boundaries of Peripersonal Space.

Goal-Directed Motor Acts

Actions performed to achieve a specific objective, which are the primary stimuli that trigger firing in mirror neurons.