Podcast
Questions and Answers
Which term describes the process where sensory information is converted into comprehensible sights and sounds?
Which term describes the process where sensory information is converted into comprehensible sights and sounds?
If a closer object creates a larger retinal image compared to a similar object further away, which depth cue is being used?
If a closer object creates a larger retinal image compared to a similar object further away, which depth cue is being used?
Which of the following best describes the reason why an object’s colour is perceived the same, even in changing light?
Which of the following best describes the reason why an object’s colour is perceived the same, even in changing light?
Which concept suggests that all behaviors originate from our environmental interactions and personal experiences?
Which concept suggests that all behaviors originate from our environmental interactions and personal experiences?
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What term describes the tendency to perceive some aspects of sensory information while overlooking others?
What term describes the tendency to perceive some aspects of sensory information while overlooking others?
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Flashcards
Perception
Perception
The process of transforming sensory information into meaningful perceptions, like sounds and images.
Sensation
Sensation
The physical process of receiving information from the environment through your senses, like sight, hearing, touch, taste and smell.
Depth Cues
Depth Cues
Visual cues that help us understand depth and distance in an image.
Occlusion
Occlusion
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Perceptual Set
Perceptual Set
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Study Notes
Perception Overview
- Perception is the cognitive process that transforms sensory data into meaningful information.
- Sensation is the physical process of receiving environmental information through senses.
- Depth cues help interpret depth and distance.
Depth Cues
- Occlusion: One object obscuring another indicates its relative position.
- Relative size: Closer objects project larger retinal images.
- Linear perspective: Parallel lines seem to converge in the distance.
- Height in the plane: Higher objects in a visual field are perceived as farther away.
Binocular Depth Cues
- Retinal disparity: Each eye sees a slightly different angle of an object, helping determine distance.
- Convergence: Eyes converge (move inward) to focus on a single object, indicating distance.
Other Perceptual Concepts
- Color constancy: Perceived object color remains consistent despite varying lighting conditions.
- Perceptual set: Our predisposition affects what we notice and ignore in sensory data.
Nature vs. Nurture and Culture
- Nature: Innate, or born with certain behaviours.
- Nurture: Learned behaviours influenced by environment and experience.
- Culture: Belief systems and expectations influence perception.
Reasons for visual illusions:
Size constancy: When people walk towards us they appear to grow in size.
Misinterpreted depth cues: When the brain is fooled into interpreting distance and depth when it isn't actually there.
Ambiguous Figures: When there are two possible interpretations for the image and our brains find it hard to choose.
Fiction: A shape that uses illusory contours to suggest something else is there when it actually isn't.
Gibson' theory of perception:
Direct perception: Perception and sensation were the same thing - the brain sees the same things our eyes do.
Optic flow patterns: Eyes detect optic flow patterns as we move at speed.
Motion Parallax: When travelling in a car, objects close to us rush past faster.
Nature: Perceptual abilities are innate.
+ Supported by pilots in WW2 who could land a plane without any instruments, Gibson said that they had everything in the optical array needed to make direct perception.
- Theory does not explain why we fall for visual illusions - these shouldn't trick our brain but they often do.
Gregory's theory of perception:
Construct: our brains constantly make best guesses about the world around us based off past experiences.
Inference: Lots of information about the world in ambiguous and our brains fill the gaps by making inferences.
Visual Cues: There are many clues in our environment that help us to determine size, shape, colour, distance, and depth. However, the brain can make mistakes and this is demonstrated in visual illusions.
Nurture: perception is learnt through our past experiences.
+Research shows that cultural differences in perceptual set exist. Hudson found that cultures who did not grow up reading books were unable to perceive monocular depth cues accurately.
-Fantz found that there are some perceptual abilities present from birth. Babies spent more time staring at faces than other images, suggesting that perception is innate.
Motivation study - Gilchrist and Nesberg
Aim: To see if motivation (hunger) affects perception of food images.
Method: Lab experiments were conducted using individual groups. Participants rated the brightness of food images, one group was hungry, the other wasn't.
Results: Hungry participants rated the food images as brighter than those who were not hungry.
Conclusion: Hunger is a motivating factor and changes perception of food images.
+Sanford found similar results using ambiguous figures of food images.
-Starving participants for long periods is ethically questionable.
Expectation Study - Bruner and Minturn
Aim: To see if expectation if a factor in our perceptual set.
Method: Lab experiments were conducted using individual groups. Participants spent time looking at letters or numbers. Then they had to describe an ambiguous figure when presented with one.
Results: Those who spent time looking at the letters interpreted the figure as 'B', whilst those in the number condition interpreted it as the number '13'.
Conclusion: Expectation affects our perceptual set.
+A civilian plane, mistaken for military, was shot down in 1988 by the US Navy, demonstrating how our perception can affect our behaviour in real life.
-Ambiguous figures are specifically designed to trick people so results may not apply to everyday perception.
Culture affects our perceptual set as our brains often perceive what they are used to. Hudson found that 2D drawing were perceived differently depending on culture. Those who were schooled would interpret monocular depth cues differently to non-schooled participants who weren't as experience in 2D images.
Emotion affects our perceptual set as our brain takes more notice of exciting or emotional things. MicGinnies found that participants took longer to perceive taboo/inappropriate words as they elicited an emotional response in the participant, whereas neutral words were perceived quicker.
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Description
Explore the fascinating concepts of perception and depth cues in this quiz. Understand how our cognitive processes transform sensory information into meaningful experiences, and learn about both monocular and binocular depth cues that help us navigate the visual world. Test your knowledge on key terms such as occlusion, relative size, and color constancy.
