chapter 6

Figure

The geese in a flock flying overhead.

Ground

The sky in which the geese are seen.

Pass vibrations of the eardrum to the oval window

The purpose of the ossicles (hammer, anvil, and stirrup).

Retinal disparity

Cue for depth perception lost by Jolly Roger due to losing an eye.

Brightness

Determined by the amplitude of light waves.

Absolute threshold

The smallest stimulus energy magnitude that can be detected.

Pupil

Controlled by the iris, the colored part of the eye.

Perception

Process of organizing sensory data into mental representations.

Difference threshold

The minimal difference needed to notice a stimulus change.

The linear perspective

Used to judge distances based on converging lines.

Aerial perspective

Assists in depth perception using cues like relative size.

Hue

Determined by the wavelength in vision.

Interpretation

The final stage of perception.

The Gestalt

Principle of perception organizing patterns into a whole stimulus.

Sensation

Associated with bottom-up processing in contrast to perception.

Opponent process theory

Explains color afterimages like the green seen after staring at red.

Perceptual set

Readiness to perceive based on expectations.

Sensory adaptation

Example of no longer noticing clothes on the skin after a while.

Blue, green, and red

Colors cones are sensitive to according to the trichromatic theory.

Perceptual set

Illustrated by Mary's error in identifying a voice based on expectations.