Psych Perception/hearing

Cornea

eyes clear protective outer layer

Iris

forms colored portion of eye; controls size of pupil opening

pupil

opening of the eye through which light enters

Lens

changes its share to help focus images on the retina

Fovea

depression in the retina of the eye where usual activity is highest

Retina

contains rods, cones and layers of neurons that process visual information

rods

• function in dim light

• detect black and white vision but not colors

• necessary for peripheral and twilight vision

• 100 million

cones

• near center of retina (fovea)

• function in daylight or bright

• detect final detail

• enable color perception

• 6 million

optic nerve

transmits visual information from the retina to the brain

blind spot

point of the exit for ganglion cell axons, no photoreceptors

transduction

transformation of stimulus energy into a neural impulse

ex: rods and cones detect light waves

brightness

determined by the amplitude, related to perceived brightness

color

dimension of color determined by length of wavelength of light

trichromatic

young-helmholtz

suggests that retina (cones) contain 3 receptors sensitive to red, blue and green colors

opponent process

hearing proposed that we process four primary colors opposed in pairs of red-green, blue-yellow and black and white

Issues of theories of color vision

after image and color blind

after image

an image that remains after the stimulation to the retina has ended

color blind

most common distinguishing between red and green prevents from discrimination between certain colors due to a weakness in one of the cones

sensation

Process in which our sensory receptors receive information from our environment

perception

Process of organizing and interpreting sensory information into meaningful objects/events.

sight and hearing

detect a type of energy that gives information about the environment. (energy)

taste and smell (chemical)

Providing information about the chemical composition of substances

transduction

Energy from the outside is converted into neural impulses to be processed by our brains.

kinesthesis

gives feedback about position and orientation of specific body parts

vestibular senses

• How our head (body) is oriented in space;

• Influences balance 

• Semicircular Canals

bottom up processing

Analysis that begins with sensory receptors and works up to sensory interpretation.

Part 1: Sensory Reception (Taste)

Part 2: Form an interpretation (Yum)

top-down Processing

• Perception based off previous events

• Previous experience and expectations affect the detection and analysis of information from the senses.

• Explains visual illusions

signal detection theory

Predicts how and when a person detects a signal

Absolute Threshold

Minimum stimulation needed to register external stimulus 50% of time.

webers law

The size of the JND is a constant proportion of the size of the initial stimulus.

transduction

Transformation of stimulus energy into a neural impulse.

EX: Rods/cones detect light waves

brightness (intensity)

determined by amplitude; related to perceived brightness.

color (hue)

dimension of color determined by length of wavelength of light.

Theories of Color Vision

Trichromatic Theory: Young-Helmholtz suggest that retina (cones) contain three receptors sensitive to red, blue and green colors.

ear canal

Where sound travels to reach eardrum

pinna

Visible outer ear on either side of your head; helps pinpoint and locate sound

Tympanic Membrane (Ear Drum) 

vibrate at a rate that corresponds to the sound’s frequency, transmits to ossicles

ossicles

Three bones (hammer, anvil, stirrup) pick up eardrum vibrations, amplify them, and pass them along to the cochlea in the inner ear

Semicircular Canals 

Fluid filled channels that help maintain balance. 

cochlea

A coiled - fluid-filled tube through which sound waves are transduced into nerve impulses 

place theory

sound frequencies stimulate basilar membrane on specific hair cells (places) resulting in perceived pitch.

frequency theory

nerve impulses traveling in auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense its pitch.

Auditory Localization

Brain determining the location of sound depending on ear

McGurk Effect:

interaction of vision and hearing. 

Conductive Hearing Loss:

Problem transferring sound waves anywhere along the route through the outer or middle ear.

Sensorineural Deafness:

Damage to inner ear (cochlea, hair cells)

Can be by excessive loud sounds, earbuds, concerts

Help- implant

Extra Sensory Perception

Perception without sensory input

Perceptual Set

A mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another. 

Context Effect

the influence of the surrounding environment or situation on a person's perception

cocktail party affect

Ability to filter out all stimuli except for what is important to us.

sensory adaption

Diminished sensitivity  over constant stimulation

perceptual adaptation

Adjustments of how we adapt to environment and filter out distractions. 

Perceptual Constancy

      Our perception that objects do not change

Color/Light Constancy

Our ability to perceive an object as the same color regardless of the environment. 

Size Constancy

Objects remain same size regardless of distance

Binocular Cues

the information taken in by both eyes

Depth Perception

Ability to gauge length, width and depth, and to judge how far away an object is

Monocular Cues

Cues to help us perceive depth without a need of using both eyes. (BINOCULAR VISION)

Linear-Ponzo Illusion Linear

Lines that seem to converge in an image.

Cues for Depth Perception
Relative Clarity

Nearby objects are clearer than more distant objects

Cues for Depth Perception
Relative Height

Near objects are low in visual field; more distant are higher up

Cues for Depth Perception
Texture Gradient

texture of objects appears to change with distance

Relative Size

An object that appears larger than another object believed to be of the same size is judged to be closer

Interposition

Objects that are obscured by other objects are perceived as being farther away

 
Figure Ground

Perceive objects (figures) as distinct from their background (ground) 

Gestalt: 
Proximity

Perceive objects as belonging together when they are close to one another

Gestalt: 
Similarity

Group objects that have similar characteristics

Gestalt: 
Closure

Group disconnected  pieces of information into a meaningful whole.

 
Apparent Movement -Phi Phenomenon

gestalt

the perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups