feb 3 flashcards

Feature Detectors

Neurons in the visual cortex that respond specifically to certain features of stimuli, such as lines in particular orientations.

Selective Adaptation

The process by which neurons decrease their response to a stimulus after prolonged exposure, making it less detectable.

Cortical Magnification

The phenomenon where a small area of the retina (the fovea) is represented by a disproportionately large area of the visual cortex.

Experience Dependent Plasticity

Changes in the brain structure and connections based on an individual's experiences and exposures to specific stimuli.

Retinotopic Organization

An arrangement in the visual cortex where neighboring visual fields are represented by neighboring neurons.

Dorsal Stream

The visual pathway that processes the location and motion of objects, often referred to as the 'where' pathway.

Ventral Stream

The visual pathway that processes the identification and recognition of objects, often referred to as the 'what' pathway.

Double Dissociation

A situation where two related mental processes are shown to function independently of each other through different patterns of impairment.

Hypercolumn

A unit in the visual cortex that includes neurons responsive to the same location in visual space, orientation, and ocular dominance.

Ocular Dominance

The preference of one eye over the other in processing visual information.

Action Stream

The part of the visual processing system that deals with the execution of actions based on visual information.

Perception

The process of recognizing and interpreting sensory information.

Inferotemporal Cortex (IT)

A region of the cerebral cortex where neurons respond to complex shapes and features, such as faces and hands.

Plasticity

The brain's ability to change and adapt, especially in response to experience.

Neuroscience

The scientific study of the nervous system, including the brain and its impact on behavior and cognitive functions.

Visual Cortex

The part of the brain that processes visual information from the eyes.

Fovea

The small central pit in the retina where visual acuity is highest, packed with cones.

Contrast Sensitivity

The ability to discern between differences in luminance between an object and its background.

Vision

The sense through which light is interpreted by the brain, resulting in the perception of images.

Neural Fatigue

The reduction of response in neurons due to prolonged activation and stimulation.

Motor Coordination

The ability to use the senses and body parts together in a smooth and efficient manner.

Orientation Columns

Columns of neurons in the visual cortex that respond preferentially to specific orientations of visual stimuli.

Visual Place Reaction

The instinctive response of an organism to extend a limb towards a surface it encounters visually.

Visual Stimuli

Any object or image that is perceived by the visual system.

Ambiguous Stimuli

Visual input that can be interpreted in multiple ways, leading to different perceptions.

Cognitive Psychology

The field of psychology that studies mental processes including how people perceive, think, remember, and learn.

Spatial Awareness

The ability to understand and interact with the space around you.

Motor Skills

The learned abilities to use specific movements to perform tasks.

Temporal Lobe

The region of the brain involved in processing auditory information and some aspects of memory.

Visual Pathways

The routes through which visual information travels from the eyes to the brain for processing.

Visual Information

Data that is processed by the visual system, including colors, shapes, and motion.

Proximity

The physical closeness of elements in visual fields, influencing perception.

Adaptation

The process by which the sensory receptors become less sensitive to constant stimuli.

Frontopolar Cortex

The region of the prefrontal cortex associated with higher order cognitive functions.

Visual Illusions

Instances where visual perception does not match reality, leading to misinterpretation of visual stimuli.

Discrimination Tasks

Tasks that require distinguishing between stimuli based on specific features.

Visual Acuity

The sharpness or clarity of vision, which can be affected by various factors.

Neural Mechanisms

The processes and structures in the brain that enable sensory perception and response.

Behavioral Responses

Actions taken as a result of sensory stimuli and perception.