Psychology Chapter 1: Studying Perception

The process of the eye lens changing shape to focus light from different distances onto the retina.

Specialized cells in the retina that detect light.

The conversion of one type of energy into another.

The process of focusing light rays from a single point in the world onto a single point on the retina.

The back of the eye where light is focused and receptors convert light into electrical signals.

The study of perception involves understanding how the brain processes sensory information from the outside world.

The study of perception allows us to design and build things that improve human life.

The brain dedicates a significant amount of its processing power to understanding sensory information.

The process of studying perception involves multiple scientific disciplines, each contributing a unique perspective.

The physiological method investigates the neural mechanisms underlying sensory experiences.

The cognitive method explores mental processes related to perception, such as attention and memory.

The psychophysical method connects objective measurements of stimuli to subjective reports of sensory experiences.

The basic unit of processing in the nervous system, responsible for transmitting signals.

The rate at which a neuron fires action potentials, not the strength of individual action potentials, carries information about the stimulus.

The baseline firing rate of a neuron in the absence of any stimulation.

The period after a neuron fires an action potential during which it is less likely to fire again. This ensures that signals are transmitted in a controlled manner.

The process by which neurons communicate with each other, often influencing the activity of the receiving neuron.

The study of how different parts of the brain are responsible for specific functions.

The process of how the brain represents features of the environment, such as color, shape, and sound.

A research technique involving damaging a specific brain region to observe the effects on behavior. This helps understand the function of that area.

A research technique that measures the electrical activity of individual neurons, providing precise information about the timing and location of neural activity.

When light enters the eye, it causes a chemical change in the visual pigment called rhodopsin, located within photoreceptor cells. This change triggers a signal that is transmitted to the brain for interpretation.

Pigment bleaching is the process where rhodopsin changes color due to light exposure. The pigment loses its ability to absorb light, eventually becoming transparent.

The reverse process where rhodopsin returns to its original state, allowing it to absorb light again.

Rods are photoreceptor cells that are highly sensitive to light, making them ideal for seeing in dim conditions.

Cones are photoreceptor cells that are responsible for color vision and work best in bright light.

Dark adaptation is the process our eyes go through to adjust to low light conditions, becoming more sensitive to light. This happens because the pigment in our rods regenerates, allowing them to detect fainter light.

Rods are more sensitive to low light than cones and take longer to adapt. This is why in dim light, you initially see a blurry image, then your vision gradually improves.

A neuron's firing rate increases significantly above its baseline level. A stronger stimulus is most likely causing this increased firing.

A neuron's firing rate increases slightly above its baseline level. A weaker stimulus is causing this mild increase in firing.

A neuron's firing rate decreases significantly below its baseline level. The stimulus is likely inhibiting the neuron's activity.

A neuron's firing rate decreases slightly below its baseline level. A weak inhibitory stimulus is affecting the neuron's activity.

The Hermann grid illusion demonstrates a phenomenon called center-surround inhibition, where neighbouring neurons influence each other's activity. A small receptive field within a gridline receives equal inhibition, resulting in an absence of a gray spot at fixation.

A single neuron is specialized to respond to a specific stimulus. This neuron will fire only when it detects that specific stimulus.

A group of neurons work together to represent a specific stimulus. Each neuron may respond to different aspects of the stimulus, and their combined activation pattern encodes the stimulus.

A small number of neurons are responsible for representing a specific stimulus. The activation pattern across these neurons is unique to that stimulus.

The process by which the brain transforms raw sensory information into a meaningful representation of the world, enabling us to perceive and understand what we see.

The region of the retina that, when stimulated, influences the firing rate of a particular neuron. This influence can be either excitatory (increasing the firing rate) or inhibitory (decreasing the firing rate).

A neuron's response to light stimulation can vary depending on the location within its receptive field. Light in certain areas can excite the neuron (increase firing), while light in other areas can inhibit it (decrease firing).

A type of receptive field commonly found in retinal ganglion cells and the LGN. They are characterized by a central excitatory zone surrounded by an inhibitory zone.

A neural circuit responsible for processing information about the length of a bar of light. It involves convergence of inputs and both excitatory and inhibitory connections, leading to a neuron that responds best to a specific bar length.

The ability to detect stimuli and assess the appearance of objects simultaneously. This involves comparing the gray levels of adjacent areas, leading to the perception of contrast.

A property of neurons that allows for the detection of edges and boundaries. This is achieved by the interaction of excitatory and inhibitory zones within the neuron's receptive field.

The ability to differentiate between visual stimuli based on their size, shape, or other features. This is achieved by the specific responses of different neurons to various stimuli.