Module 3.01 FLVS/Macmillan

Top-down processing?

We perceive by filling in the gaps in what we sense.

Bottom-up processing/feature analysis?

Instead of using our experience to perceive an object, we only use the features of the object itself to build a complete perception (starting with individual characteristics).

Schemas/schematas?

Mental representation of how we expect the world to be.

Perceptual set?

A set of mental tendencies and assumptions that affects, top-down, what we hear, taste, feel, and see.

Gestalt Psychology

Points out that we normally perceive images as groups, not as isolated elements.

Closure

We fill in the gaps to create a complete, whole object.

Figure-ground

This is a perceptual tendency to separate whole scenes or objects into a prominent, clear figure (object of focus) and a more indistinct background (ground).

Proximity

The principle that we group nearby figures together.

Similarity

We group objects according to how similar they are to each other.

Selective attention

Focusing conscious awareness on a particular stimulus.

Cocktail party effect

Ability to focus one's auditory attention on a particular stimulus while filtering out a range of other stimuli, much like when a person can focus on a single conversation in a noisy room.

Change blindness

Failing to notice changes in the environment; a form of inattentional blindness.

Inattentional blindess/Inattention

Failing to see visible objects when our attention is directed elsewhere.

Binocular depth cues

Requires both eyes to perceive depth and distance. They provide information about the relative position of objects by comparing the images received by each eye.

Retinal disparity

The difference in the location of an object's image on each retina, which is used by our brain to perceive depth or distance.

Convergence

Where retinal images are combined by the brain.

Monocular depth cues

Depth cues that can be perceived by one eye alone

Relative clarity

Nearby objects appear sharp and clear, meanwhile distant objects appear blurry due to light passing through objects that are further away.

Relative size

Where we perceive distance based on the comparison of sizes between objects. It is the idea that when two or more objects are similar, we assume that the smaller one is farther away.

Texture gradient

Moving towards or away from an object changes our perception of the texture or smoothness, for example a wall far away it looks smooth but up close it has texture.

Linear perspective

Parallel lines appear to meet in the distance which makes objects appear smaller as they recede into the background.

Interposition

If one object partially blocks our view of the other, we percieve it as closer.

Monocular depth cues?

Relative clarity, Relative size, texture gradient, linear perspective, and interposition.

Perceptual constancy

Perceiving objects as unchanging (having consistent color, brightness, shape, and size) even as illumination and retinal images change.

Apparent motion/movement

As we move, stable objects may also appear to move. If, while riding on a bus, the objects beyond the fixation point will appear to move with you.

Compare the amount of information your senses absorb to the amount that you pay attention to?

Our senses absorb 11,000,000 bits of information per second but we only pay attention to about 40 bits.

Potential confounding variables

Other factors that could influence the relationship between the independent and dependent variables in a study.

Ethical guidelines

• Informed Consent – Participants must be told the nature of the research and agree to participate.

• Confidentiality – Participants’ data must be kept private.

• Right to Withdraw – Participants can stop at any time without penalty.

• Protection from Harm – No physical or psychological harm should come to participants. Risks must be minimized.

• Deception (if used) – Allowed only if it’s necessary, does not cause harm, and participants are debriefed after.

• Debriefing – After the study, researchers must explain the purpose, methods, and any deception used.

How are selective attention and change blindness different?

Change blindness is when someone unintentionally fails to perceive changes in the environment meanwhile selective attention is when we focus on a stimulus and ignore other things.

If you were going to an art museum on a field trip, how would top-down and bottom-up processing relate to the paintings you see?

We would use bottom-up processing to analyze the visual components of the painting, meanwhile we would use top-bottom processing to compare the painting to previous experiences

How does perceptual set influence your understanding of sensory input?

By intertwining our expectations with it.

Factors beyond perceptual set that influence your perceptions?

These include attention, expectations, motivations and emotions.

Summarize the research of Gibson and Walk (visual cliff)?

When Gibson and Richard Walk created a fake cliff which can be perceived to be a real one (covered by sturdy glass so it was safe) They placed a group of infants on the cliff and made the parents persuade the infants to crawl into the cliff. Many refused to do so which showed that even infants can perceive depth.

You overheard a friend talking about depth perception. They said, “everything we see is processed in the same way.” How would you go about correcting their misunderstanding? Use specific vocabulary in your answer.

Not all the things we see are processed in the same way. For example some features can be processed automatically like color while others rely on certain grouping principles.

Explain how stroboscopic movement, phi phenomenon, and autokinetic effect trick the brain.

Stroboscopic movement tricks the brain by creating an illusion of continuous movement when looking at a rapid series of slightly different pictures. (think one of those fast flip paging books). Phi phenomenon causes an illusion of something moving when two lights flash in quick sequence. Lastly, the autokinetic effect is when movement occurs when observing a still spot in a dark area.

Relate top-down processing to perceptual constancy?

Top-down processing uses expectations and experiences to build up our perceptual constancy. Which is when we recognize the same objects even when certain features change.

How do shape and size constancy help us understand distance and the perceived changes in objects?

Shape and size can help with understanding perceived changes in objects by shape constancy which allows us to perceive a same object even if it's at a different area or angle. Meanwhile size constancy helps with recognition even though it could be distant or closer to us.

What has been learned through research about restored vision and perceptual comprehension?

People who are blind and gain eyesight later have a hard time with recognizing objects. This shows that the brain also takes place in recognizing what we see.

What could you expect if asked to wear goggles that invert your visual field? Relate this to perceptual adaptation.

I would expect to see weird images and I would get very dizzy and fall down. Eventually my brain would adapt to the goggles over time- (perceptual adaption).