MCAT - Psych/Soc 300 page doc

Visual cues allows us to perceptually organize by taking into account the following cues:

1. Depth

2. Form

3. Motion

4. Constancy

Describe retinal disparity

Eyes are about 2.5 inches apart which allows humans to get slightly different views of objects of world around

This gives humans an idea on depth

What is convergence?

Gives humans an idea of depth as well based on how much eyeballs are turned.

When are the muscles of the eye relaxed and contracted?

Eye relaxed - things far away

Eye contracted - things close to us

Describe binocular cues

Humans have 2 eyes which allow them to recieve visual cues from the enviroment; gives sense of depth

Describe monocular cues

Humans have visual cues that they receive which they do not need 2 eyes for.

What do monocular cues provide?

These give humans a sense of form of an object.

What senses of form do monocular cues provide?

1. Relative size - the closer the object it is perceived as being bigger

2. Interposition (overlap) - perception that one object is in front of another, an object that is in the front is closer

3. Relative height - things higher are perceived to be farther away than those that are lower

4. Shading and contour - using light and shadows to perceived form depth/contours - cater/mountain

What type of cues allow us to sense motion? What type of sense exactly?

Monocular cues; Motion parallax - “relative motion” things farther away move slower, closer moves faster

What type of cues allow us to sense constancy?

Monocular; out perception of object doesn’t change even if the image cast on the retina is different. Different types of constancy include size, shape and color.

Describe size constancy

One that appears larger because its closer, we still think it is the same size.

Describe Shape Constancy:

A changing shape still maintains the same shape perception.

Describe Color Constancy

Despite changes in lighting which change the image color falling on our retina, we perceive that the object is the same color

What is sensory adaptation?

Our senses are adaptable and they can change their sensitivity to stimuli.

What are the 5 types of sensory adaptation?

1. Hearing adaptation

2. Touch

3. Smell

4. Proprioception

5. Sight

Describe hearing adaptation in regards to sensory adaptation

inner ear muscle: higher noise = muscle contract (this dampens vibrations in inner ear, protecting the ear drum). Takes a few seconds to kick in. So does not work for immediate noises like a gun shot, bit it works for being at a rock concert for an entire afternoon