Sensory Perception, Gestalt Principles, and Visual Illusions in Psychology

What philosophical concept questions the trustworthiness of our senses?

Dualism, as discussed by Descartes.

According to Descartes, how do physical sensations relate to mental experiences?

Physical sensations become mental experiences through perception.

Define sensation.

Sensation is the detection of stimuli from the environment through sensory organs.

What is the role of sensory receptors?

Sensory receptors detect stimuli and are extensions of sensory neurons.

What is perception?

Perception is the interpretation and organization of sensory information.

What is selective attention?

Selective attention allows us to focus on important stimuli while ignoring others.

What is inattentional blindness?

Inattentional blindness is the failure to consciously register objects we are looking at.

List the components of the eye.

Aqueous humor, ciliary muscle, cones, cornea, fovea, iris, lens, optic nerve, optic disk, pupil, retina, rods, vitreous body.

What is accommodation in vision?

Accommodation is the process of the eye adjusting its focus for different distances.

What is the Müller-Lyer illusion?

A visual illusion where lines of equal length appear different due to arrow-like ends.

How does smell (olfaction) function as a sense?

Smell detects chemical molecules in the air through receptors in the nasal cavity.

What are the basic tastes identified in gustation?

Salty, sour, bitter, sweet, and umami.

What do Gestalt principles of perception describe?

They describe how we organize visual information into meaningful units and patterns.

What is the Gestalt principle of proximity?

Proximity states that objects near each other tend to be grouped together.

Explain the Gestalt principle of closure.

Closure is the tendency to perceive incomplete figures as complete forms.

What does the Gestalt principle of similarity indicate?

Similarity indicates that objects that are alike tend to be perceived as belonging together.

Define the Gestalt principle of continuity.

Continuity suggests that lines and patterns are perceived as continuing in space or time.

How can selfies distort perceptions of nose size?

Selfies taken at close range can make the nose appear larger than it is, influencing body image.

What is the significance of understanding perception in daily life?

Understanding perception can help us recognize how it influences our experiences and decisions.