Exam 2 Study Guide - Neural Processing and Perception

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and definitions from the study guide on Neural Processing and Perception.

Superior Colliculus

A structure in the visual system responsible for controlling eye movements.

LGN

Lateral Geniculate Nucleus, a relay center in the brain that processes visual information from the retina to the cortex.

Receptive Fields

Specific regions of the sensory space where stimuli will alter a neuron's firing rate.

Grating

A visual stimulus consisting of alternating black and white bars.

Contrast

The difference in intensity between the light and dark bars in a visual stimulus.

Tuning Curves

Graphs representing the response of a neuron to varying stimulus parameters, such as orientation.

Neural Plasticity

The ability of neural networks in the brain to change through growth and reorganization.

Selective Rearing

Raising an organism in an environment rich in specific types of stimuli.

Object Discrimination

The ability to recognize and identify objects; for example, identifying a specific item among visual distractors.

Dorsal Stream

The pathway in the brain associated with processing motion and spatial awareness.

Double Dissociation

A method in neuropsychology where two patients with different lesions show opposite effects on different functions.

Cortical Magnification

The phenomenon where certain areas of the sensory cortex are more densely packed with neurons than others, leading to enhanced perceptual acuity.

FFA

Fusiform Face Area, a brain region involved in facial recognition.

PPA

Parahippocampal Place Area, a brain region that responds to scenes and objects in context.

Gestalt Principles

Rules describing how the human eye perceives visual elements as organized patterns or wholes.

Inattentional Blindness

A psychological lack of attention that is not associated with any vision defects or deficits.

Change Blindness

The failure to notice changes in a visual scene when those changes occur during a disruption in the scene.

Subjective Factors

Internal mental factors influencing perception, such as expectations and prior experiences.

Visual Salience

The conspicuousness of an object within a scene, which captures attention.