Basics of Perception

These flashcards cover the fundamental concepts of perception and its processes as discussed in the lecture notes.

What is sensation?

Sensation refers to the elementary processes occurring at the beginning of the sensory system, such as light reaching the eye or sound waves entering the ear.

What is perception?

Perception is the conscious sensory experience that results from the stimulation of the senses.

What is the relationship between sensation and perception?

Sensation provides the stimulus, while perception is how the brain processes that stimulus.

What are sensory receptors?

Cells specialized to respond to environmental energy, transforming it into electrical signals for the brain.

What is transduction in the context of sensation?

Transduction is the transformation of environmental energy into electrical energy by sensory receptors.

What is the role of the cerebral cortex in perception?

The cerebral cortex processes information to create perception and is involved in other functions such as memory and language.

What does the term 'distal stimulus' refer to?

The distal stimulus is the stimulus that is actually present in the environment.

What does the term 'proximal stimulus' refer to?

The proximal stimulus is the representation of the distal stimulus as it interacts with sensory receptors.

What is the principle of transformation in perception?

The principle of transformation states that stimuli and responses are transformed between the environmental stimulus and the perception.

What is the difference between bottom-up and top-down processing?

Bottom-up processing relies on sensory data, while top-down processing is influenced by prior knowledge and expectations.

What are the different lobes of the brain involved in perception?

Occipital lobe (vision), temporal lobe (hearing), parietal lobe (touch), and frontal lobe (coordination of information from senses).

What is the purpose of recognition in the perceptual process?

Recognition is the ability to categorize an object and assign meaning to it based on previous experiences.

What is visual object agnosia?

Visual object agnosia is the inability to recognize objects despite having intact vision.

What does the term 'absolute threshold' refer to?

The absolute threshold is the smallest stimulus level that can just be detected.

What is the difference threshold?

The difference threshold is the minimum difference that must exist between two stimuli for them to be perceived as different.

What is the method of limits in measuring thresholds?

A psychophysical method where stimuli are presented in ascending and descending order to find detection levels.

What is the method of constant stimuli?

A psychophysical method involving the presentation of stimuli with various intensities in random order for accuracy.

What is the concept of reaction time in the context of perception?

Reaction time is the duration between the presentation of a stimulus and an observer's response to it.

What is phenomenological report?

A method in which an observer describes what they perceive, revealing the relationship between stimuli and perception.

What is the stimulus-behaviour relationship in perception?

The relationship between stimuli and behavioral responses, where behavior includes perception, recognition, or action.

What is the physiological-behaviour relationship?

The relationship between physiological responses and behavioral responses, affecting how we act upon stimuli.

What is the significance of studying perception?

Studying perception is crucial for understanding how experiences are affected by both environmental stimuli and internal processes.

How does prior knowledge influence perception?

Prior knowledge, memories, and expectations shape how a person interprets and interacts with sensory information.

What are sensory systems specialized to do?

Sensory systems are specialized to respond to specific types of environmental energy, such as light, sound, or touch.

What is the significance of the principle of representation?

The principle states that perception is based on representations of stimuli rather than direct contact with them.

What happens at the primary receiving area of the brain?

It is the area where most signals from the senses are first received, such as the occipital lobe for vision.

What is the distinction between physical stimuli and perception?

Physical stimuli are objectively present, while perception is the subjective experience of those stimuli.

What does knowledge-based processing involve?

Processing based on high-level information and knowledge that a person brings to a perceptual experience.

How can we study the perceptual process effectively?

We study the process by examining behaviors, physiological responses, and relationships between stimuli and their effects.

What is the role of knowledge in the perceptual process?

Knowledge informs expectations and can alter how sensory information is perceived and processed.

What does it mean for perception to be a subjective experience?

It means perception can vary between individuals based on their personal experiences and interpretations.