Visual Processing and Anatomy of the Eye

Blind Spot

The area in the eye where the optic nerve exits and where no visual information is detected.

Lens Accommodation

The process by which the lens curves to focus on objects at different distances.

Fovea

A part of the retina responsible for sharp central vision and visual detail.

Trichromatic Theory of Color

The theory stating that any color we see is a combination of three primary colors: red, green, and blue.

Opponent-Process Theory

A theory suggesting that the visual system processes color in opposing pairs such as red-green and blue-yellow.

Rods and Cones

Types of photoreceptors in the retina where rods are sensitive to light and motion and cones are responsible for color and detail.

Perceptual Constancy

The ability to recognize objects as unchanged despite changes in perspective, angle, or color.

Monocular Cues

Depth cues that can be perceived with one eye, including relative clarity and linear perspective.

Monocular Cue - Relative Clarity

A monocular depth cue where hazy objects are perceived as farther away than sharp, clear objects.

Monocular Cue - Linear Perspective

A monocular depth cue where parallel lines appear to converge in the distance, indicating greater distance.

Monocular Cue - Interposition

A monocular depth cue where an object that partially blocks another object is perceived as being closer.

Monocular Cue - Texture Gradient

A monocular depth cue where a gradual change from a coarse, distinct texture to a fine, indistinct texture indicates increasing distance.

Monocular Cue - Relative Size

A monocular depth cue where if two objects are known to be similar in size, the one that casts a smaller retinal image is perceived as being farther away.

Monocular Cue - Light and Shadow

A monocular depth cue where patterns of light and shadow can provide information about the three-dimensional form and depth of objects.

Monocular Cue - Motion Parallax

A monocular depth cue where closer objects appear to move faster and in the opposite direction than distant objects when the observer is in motion.

Binocular Cues

Depth cues that require the use of both eyes, such as retinal disparity and convergence.

Binocular Cue - Retinal Disparity

A binocular depth cue where the slightly different image seen by each eye provides information about the depth of an object.

Binocular Cue - Convergence

A binocular depth cue referring to the extent to which the eyes converge inward when looking at an object, providing distance information.

Gestalt Principles

Rules that explain how humans visually perceive and organize objects into unified wholes rather than as individual parts.

Gestalt Principle - Proximity

The Gestalt principle stating that objects that are close to each other tend to be grouped together.

Gestalt Principle - Similarity

The Gestalt principle stating that objects that are similar in appearance (e.g., color, shape, size) tend to be grouped together.

Gestalt Principle - Continuity

The Gestalt principle stating that elements that form a continuous pattern or flow are perceived as belonging together.

Gestalt Principle - Closure

The Gestalt principle stating that viewers tend to perceive incomplete figures as complete by filling in missing segments or gaps.

Gestalt Principle - Common Fate

The Gestalt principle stating that objects moving in the same direction or at the same pace are perceived as belonging together.

Gestalt Principle - Figure-Ground

The Gestalt principle stating that the visual field is organized into a main object (figure) and its background (ground).

Light Adaptation

The process by which our eyes adjust to changes in lighting conditions.

Dark Adaptation

The process by which our eyes become more sensitive in low light conditions.

Nearsightedness

A visual impairment where nearby objects are seen clearly but distant objects are blurred due to excessive curvature of the cornea or lens.

Farsightedness

A visual impairment where distant objects are clear while nearby objects are blurred due to insufficient curvature of the cornea or lens.

Astigmatism

A visual impairment caused by irregular curvature of the cornea or lens, leading to distorted or blurred vision.

Synesthesia

A condition where sensory information is processed in a way that leads to the blending of senses, such as tasting colors.

Feature Receptors

Specialized neurons in the brain that detect specific features of a visual stimulus, such as lines, angles, or movement.

Parallel Processing

The ability of the brain to simultaneously process multiple aspects of visual information, such as color, motion, form, and depth.