Psychophysics and Neural Processing: Visual Perception and Thresholds

Absolute threshold

The minimum intensity of a stimulus that can be detected by an observer 50% of the time.

Bottom-up processing

A type of processing that starts with sensory input and builds up to perception.

Cerebral cortex

The outer layer of the brain responsible for complex functions such as perception, thought, and decision-making.

Difference threshold

The smallest detectable difference between two stimuli that can be noticed 50% of the time.

Electromagnetic spectrum

The range of all types of electromagnetic radiation, including visible light.

Frontal lobe

The part of the brain associated with reasoning, planning, problem-solving, and emotional regulation.

Neural processing

The way in which the brain interprets and responds to sensory information.

Perception

The process of organizing and interpreting sensory information to understand the environment.

Psychophysics

The study of the relationship between physical stimuli and the sensations and perceptions they produce.

Sensation

The process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment.

Top-down processing

A type of processing that uses pre-existing knowledge and expectations to interpret sensory information.

Transduction

The process of converting physical energy from stimuli into neural signals that can be interpreted by the brain.