Module 20

What did Gestalt psychologists focus on in perception?

What did Gestalt psychologists focus on in perception?

They focused on how the brain organizes sensory data into wholes (gestalts), suggesting the whole exceeds the sum of its parts.

What is the figure-ground principle in perception?

It is the ability to distinguish an object (figure) from its surroundings (ground).

What are Gestalt grouping principles?

They include proximity, continuity, and closure, which help us organize stimuli into meaningful groups.

What is depth perception, and how is it demonstrated?

Depth perception is the ability to see in three dimensions; it’s observed in experiments like the visual cliff, showing it's present at or soon after birth.

What are binocular cues, and give an example?

Binocular cues require both eyes to judge depth, with retinal disparity being a key example.

What are monocular cues, and give examples?

Monocular cues rely on one eye to judge depth and include relative size, interposition, relative height, and light and shadow.

How do we perceive motion?

Shrinking objects appear to recede, enlarging objects appear to approach, and rapid image succession can create movement illusions (e.g., stroboscopic and phi phenomena).

What is perceptual constancy?

It is the ability to perceive objects as stable despite changes in lighting, shape, or size.

What is color constancy?

It is the ability to perceive consistent colors in objects, even when lighting changes.

Define brightness (or lightness) constancy.

It is perceiving an object as having constant lightness despite changes in illumination.

What is shape constancy?

It is perceiving familiar objects (like an opening door) as having a constant shape despite changes in angle.

What is size constancy?

It is perceiving objects as having a constant size even if their retinal images change.

How can monocular cues lead to illusions, such as the Moon illusion?

Misinterpretation of monocular distance cues can lead to incorrect size and distance perception.

What do studies on restored vision reveal about perception?

People blind from birth who gain sight struggle to recognize shapes due to a lack of visual experience.

What does sensory restriction research suggest about perceptual development?

Early sensory stimulation is critical, as lack of it can hinder normal neural development.

What is perceptual adaptation, and how is it demonstrated?

It is the ability to adjust to altered visual inputs, such as wearing glasses that shift vision, where people initially feel disoriented but adapt over time.