NEUR2020 Neuroscience for Psychologists - Stereovision, Pulfrich Illusion, and Monocular Depth Cues

Flashcards covering key terms related to brain anatomy (sulci, gyri), the Pulfrich Illusion (stereoscopic vision, disparity, simple harmonic motion), and various monocular depth cues.

Sulci

Grooves in the brain’s cortex that, along with gyri, allow the cortical surface to fold.

Cortical Folding

The process by which sulci and gyri increase the brain's surface area, allowing more neurons and connections, enhancing cognitive capacity, and supporting efficient neural wiring.

Central Sulcus

A prominent sulcus that separates the frontal lobe from the parietal lobe, dividing the primary motor cortex from the primary somatosensory cortex.

Primary Motor Cortex

The brain region controlling voluntary movement (motor output), located anterior to the central sulcus.

Primary Somatosensory Cortex

The brain region processing touch and body position (sensory input), located posterior to the central sulcus.

Pulfrich Illusion

An optical illusion caused by a delayed signal from one eye (due to reduced luminance) when watching an object in simple harmonic motion, resulting in an illusory elliptical path.

Stereoscopic Vision

The ability to perceive depth based on the slightly different images received by each eye, which the brain combines into a single percept.

Fixation

The act of aligning and focusing the eyes on a specific point so that its images fall on the foveas.

Foveas

The central part of the retina responsible for sharp, detailed vision, where images fall during fixation.

Binocular Disparity

The difference in the retinal images seen by each eye, which the brain uses as a cue for depth perception.

Uncrossed Disparity

Occurs when objects farther than the fixation point project images that appear further to the left in the left eye and further to the right in the right eye, interpreted by the brain as being further away.

Crossed Disparity

Occurs when objects nearer than the fixation point project images that appear further to the right in the left eye and further to the left in the right eye, interpreted by the brain as being nearer.

Simple Harmonic Motion

A type of periodic motion, like a pendulum swing, where an object accelerates to peak speed at the bottom and decelerates towards its stationary apexes.

Signal Transduction (Visual)

The process of converting light energy into neural signals and transmitting them from the retina to the brain; it is faster for brighter images.

Dimming Filter / Lens

A device used to reduce the amount of light reaching one eye's retina, causing a slight delay in the visual signal from that eye.

Monocular Depth Cues

Visual information within a single eye's view that allows for the perception of depth.

Occlusion

A monocular depth cue where an object blocking part of another object is perceived as being closer to the viewer.

Retinal Size

A monocular depth cue where more distant objects project smaller images on the retina, while closer objects project larger images.

Ames Window

An optical illusion where a trapezoidal window appears to oscillate back and forth rather than fully rotate, due to the brain misinterpreting changing retinal size as changes in object angle.

Linear Perspective

A monocular depth cue in which parallel lines appear to converge as they extend into the distance.

Texture Gradient

A monocular depth cue where surfaces appear rougher and more distinct up close, and smoother and less distinct as they recede into the distance.

Shape from Shading

A monocular depth cue where variations in light and shadow convey information about an object's three-dimensional form, typically assuming light comes from above.

Light Scatter

A monocular depth cue where distant objects appear hazier and bluer due to the scattering of light by dust and moisture in the atmosphere.

Motion Parallax

A monocular depth cue where, as an observer moves, closer objects appear to move faster and further across the visual field than objects that are farther away.