Psych 100: Perception and Depth Cues

These flashcards cover essential vocabulary related to the concepts of depth perception and visual cues discussed in the Psych 100 lecture on perception.

Depth Cues

Visual indicators that help us perceive the distance of objects from ourselves.

Visual Cliff

A laboratory apparatus used to study depth perception in infants and animals.

Convergence

The inward angle of the eyes when focusing on an object, used as a depth cue.

Accommodation

The adjustment of the lens in the eye to bring objects into focus, providing depth information.

Retinal Disparity

The slight difference in images between the two eyes, used to perceive depth.

Pictorial Cues

Depth cues that are exhibited in the image itself, aiding in depth perception.

Linear Perspective

A monocular cue where parallel lines appear to converge in the distance, indicating depth.

Relative Size

A monocular cue where objects that are farther away appear smaller than those that are closer.

Height in the Picture Plane

The principle that objects located higher in a picture appear farther away.

Light and Shadow

Visual elements that help to convey three-dimensionality and distance in an image.

Texture Gradients

Variation in texture density to indicate distance, where closer objects appear with more detail.

Aerial Perspective

The effect of atmospheric conditions on how we perceive the distance of objects.

Relative Motion

Motion parallax; the difference in motion perception between near and distant objects as one moves.

Moon Illusion

The perceived size difference of the moon when it is near the horizon versus overhead.

Ponzo Illusion

An optical illusion where two horizontal lines appear to be different lengths due to perspective cues.

Müller-Lyer Illusion

An optical illusion where two lines of equal length appear to be different lengths due to arrow-like ends.

Perceptual Learning

A change in perception resulting from past experiences that influences future interpretation.

Smooth Pursuit

The smooth tracking movements of the eyes to follow a moving object.

Saccades

Rapid eye movements between fixation points, during which visual information is not processed.

Habituation

The process wherein repeated exposure to a stimulus results in a decreased response.

Eyewitness Testimony

Account given by people who have witnessed a crime, often used in legal contexts.

Elizabeth Loftus

Psychologist known for her research on the malleability of memory, particularly in eyewitness testimony.

Motivations Affecting Perception

How one’s emotional state and context influence what we perceive in a given situation.