2.1b perceptual organization and intepretation

Schema

mental frameworks that help us organize and interpret information in the world around us; influence perception by shaping expectations

Perceptual Set

a tendency to perceive or notice some aspects of sensory data and ignore others, influenced by expectations, experiences, and context

Gestalt

the principle that we perceive whole objects or figures rather than just a collection of parts

Figure-Ground

the ability to distinguish an object or sound (figure) from its surroundings (ground), helping isolate important stimuli from background details

Grouping

the perceptual tendency to organize stimuli into coherent groups, often by similarity or other patterns

Binocular Depth Cues

visual information requiring both eyes to perceive depth and distance, primarily for nearby objects

Retinal Disparity

slight difference in images seen by each eye; the brain uses these differences to perceive depth and 3D space

Convergence

when both eyes move inward to focus on a close object; signals nearness and aids depth perception

Monocular Depth Cues

visual indicators of distance that can be perceived with one eye, mainly for distant objects

Relative Size

objects closer appear larger; farther objects appear smaller, helping judge distance

Relative Clarity

clearer, more detailed objects appear closer, while hazier ones seem farther away

Texture Gradient

textures appear denser and finer as they recede into the distance, giving a sense of depth

Linear Perspective

parallel lines appear to converge with distance, helping judge depth and distance

Interposition

when one object overlaps another, the overlapping object is perceived as closer

Motion Perception

the brain interprets motion based on assumptions that shrinking objects are retreating and enlarging objects are approaching

Stroboscopic Movement

perception of continuous motion from a series of still images, such as in animation or movies

Phi Phenomenon

an illusion of movement created when adjacent lights blink on and off in succession

Autokinetic Effect

the illusion of movement of a still spot of light in a dark room

Perceptual Constancies

the brain's ability to perceive objects as unchanging despite changes in retinal image (size, shape, color)

Color Constancy

the ability to perceive object colors as stable under different lighting conditions

Shape Constancy

perceiving an object's shape as constant even when viewed from different angles or distances

Size Constancy

perceiving an object's size as constant even when its distance changes and its retinal image size varies

Perceptual Organization

the process of organizing sensory input—form, depth, motion, constancies, and auditory cues—into meaningful patterns