Psychology Chapter 1: Studying Perception
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary function of the lens in the eye?

  • To convert light energy into neural signals
  • To collect incoming light from the environment
  • To change shape for focusing images on the retina (correct)
  • To filter out unwanted light wavelengths

What happens to the lens when an object is close to the eye?

  • The lens thickens while its curvature decreases
  • The lens becomes flatter to reduce blurriness
  • The lens remains unchanged regardless of distance
  • The lens becomes rounder to bend light more sharply (correct)

Which type of visual receptors in the retina are more numerous?

  • Bipolar cells, involved in processing light
  • Cones, responsible for color vision
  • Rod cells, responsible for low-light vision (correct)
  • Ganglion cells, which transmit signals to the brain

What is accommodation in the context of the eye?

<p>The ability of the lens to focus on images of varying distances (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does transduction refer to in the visual system?

<p>The transformation of light energy into neural signals (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the firing rate of a neuron primarily convey information about?

<p>How frequently the neuron is activated (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What occurs during the refractory period of a neuron?

<p>The neuron cannot fire again for a short period (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one practical reason for studying perception?

<p>To design prosthetic devices (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) primarily measure neural activity?

<p>By tracking changes in blood flow to the brain (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method of studying perception connects objective measurements to subjective experiences?

<p>Psychophysical method (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What technique provides precise information about the timing of neural activation across a broad area of the brain?

<p>Electro-Encephalography (EEG) (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of perception, which field focuses on the operation of the brain and nervous system?

<p>Anatomy &amp; physiology (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the relationship between neurons and perception?

<p>Neurons help in processing stimuli and producing perceptions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of lesion studies in neuroscience?

<p>To identify brain functions associated with damaged areas (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the physiological method of studying perception primarily examine?

<p>Relationships between stimuli and physiological responses (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In cognitive processing, what does the bottom-up approach entail?

<p>Constructing perception from sensory input (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method is used to study how environment stimuli create perceptions?

<p>Psychophysical Method (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which component of a neuron receives information from the external environment?

<p>Dendrites (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does sensory coding refer to in the context of neuronal function?

<p>How environmental features are represented through neuron firing patterns (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do neurons communicate with each other?

<p>Through synapses (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a method mentioned for studying perception?

<p>Behavioral (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What occurs when pigment absorbs a photon of light?

<p>Retinal detaches from the opsin. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is pigment bleaching?

<p>The loss of color from the visual pigment. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement about rod and cone adaptation is correct?

<p>Cones regenerate faster than rods. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What enables dark adaptation to improve vision in low light?

<p>Recovery of visual pigments. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do rods and cones differ in terms of light sensitivity?

<p>Rods are highly sensitive in low illumination levels. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What happens to vision when moving from bright to dim light?

<p>Rods become more sensitive after a period. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why are rods said to be overloaded in bright light?

<p>They respond to too many photons. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the dark, which receptors primarily provide vision after several minutes?

<p>Only rods. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When the whole inhibitory surround of a receptive field is illuminated, what is the expected outcome?

<p>Lower firing rate than baseline, by a lot (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What phenomenon does the Hermann Grid illusion illustrate in relation to the receptive fields?

<p>Lateral inhibition causing perceived absence of stimuli (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements best describes 'sparse coding'?

<p>A limited set of neurons firing in response to specific objects (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Why do gray dots appear at intersections in the Hermann grid when not directly fixating on them?

<p>Interference from the surrounding dark regions (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the main role of light in the visual system?

<p>To provide information about object properties through reflection (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does population coding differ from specificity coding?

<p>Population coding represents stimuli through collective neuron firing patterns (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In what scenario would you expect to see a lower firing rate than the baseline?

<p>When the surround is active and the center is inhibited (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which coding method utilizes a single neuron's response to uniquely identify a stimulus?

<p>Specificity coding (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the term ‘simultaneous contrast’ refer to in perception?

<p>Detecting different colors in identical objects based on their surroundings. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do synapses play in the processing of information?

<p>They analyze and transform signals to facilitate understanding by the perceptual system. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does Neuron B respond best to in terms of visual stimuli?

<p>A specific length of light, optimal at medium-length bars. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a receptive field (RF) in neural processing?

<p>The region of the retina that influences the firing rate of a particular neuron when stimulated. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which best describes center-surround receptive fields?

<p>They typically have either an excitatory center with an inhibitory surround or vice versa. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How is the activity of a neuron measured in response to visual stimuli?

<p>By presenting stimuli simultaneously and recording changes in firing rates. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does an inhibitory response in a receptive field indicate?

<p>A decrease in the neuron’s firing rate when exposed to certain stimuli. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of a neural circuit leading to a neuron’s response?

<p>To process input from receptors and produce an output response. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Accommodation

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

Receptors

Specialized cells in the retina that detect light.

Transduction

The conversion of one type of energy into another.

Focusing light on the retina

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

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Retina

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

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Why Study Perception?

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

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Practical Reasons to Study Perception

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

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Complexity of Perception in the Brain

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

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Multidisciplinary Nature of Perception Studies

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

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Physiological Method

The physiological method investigates the neural mechanisms underlying sensory experiences.

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Cognitive Method

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

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Psychophysical Method

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

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Neuron

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

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Neuron Firing Rate

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

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Spontaneous Activity Level

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

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Refractory Period

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.

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Neural Communication

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

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Localization of Function

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

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Sensory Coding

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

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Lesion Studies

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

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Single-Cell Recording Technique

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

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What is rhodopsin?

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.

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What is Pigment Bleaching?

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

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What is Pigment Regeneration?

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

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What are rods?

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

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What are cones?

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

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What is dark adaptation?

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.

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Why are our rods more sensitive than cones?

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.

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Higher firing rate by a lot

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

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Higher firing rate by a little

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

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Lower firing rate by a lot

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

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Lower firing rate by a little

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

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Why is there no gray spot at fixation in the Hermann grid?

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.

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Specificity Coding

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

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Population Coding

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.

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Sparse Coding

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

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Neural Processing

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.

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Receptive Field

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).

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Excitatory and Inhibitory Zones

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).

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Center-Surround Receptive Field

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.

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Circuit for Bar of Light Detection

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.

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Simultaneous Contrast

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.

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Edge Detection

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.

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Feature Detection

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.

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Study Notes

Chapter 1: Challenges of Studying Perception

  • Perception is complex, involving many processes
  • Understanding perception is crucial for various applications, such as designing prosthetic devices, repairing damaged sense organs, and building artificial realities
  • Our brain is heavily involved in processing visual information and object recognition; this complexity is reflected in the difficulty of programming computers to perform similar tasks

Methods for Studying Perception

  • Studying perception requires a multidisciplinary approach
  • Physics helps understand the forms of external energy we perceive
  • Anatomy and physiology provide insights into brain and nervous system operation
  • Psychology is essential for understanding cognitive functions like attention and memory
  • Information science analyzes how signals are extracted from noise
  • Computer science is helpful for creating models and building systems to test hypotheses about perception

Three Main Methods of Study

  • Physiological Method: Focuses on the physical mechanisms, examining the "hardware" level of brain functioning
  • Cognitive Method: Examines the "software" level of perception, exploring mental processes such as memory, attention, and problem-solving in relation to sensory input
  • Psychophysical Method: Connects objective measurements (physical stimuli) to subjective experience, investigating how individuals perceive different stimuli

Chapter 2: Neurons and Perception

  • Neurons: The fundamental units of processing in the nervous system; they communicate via electrical signals.

  • Synapses: Specialized junctions between neurons; chemicals called neurotransmitters enable communication across synapses.

  • Neuron Firing Rates: The rate of firing and not the intensity of individual impulses carries information. There's a base firing rate, and inputs either increase or decrease it.

  • Neuron Inhibition: Neurons can regulate each other.

  • Receptor cells: specialized cells that receive specific types of stimulation. These cells vary depending on each type of receptor

Neuroimaging Techniques

  • fMRI: Measures blood flow to detect brain activity.
  • EEG: Measures electrical activity across a broad area in the brain to understand timing.

Chapter 3: Introduction to Vision

  • Light: The stimulus for vision; it provides clues about objects in the environment.
  • The Retina: The light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye where images are formed; it contains photoreceptors (rods and cones).

Receptors

  • Rods and Cones: Specialized cells responsible for converting light energy into neural signals; rods are highly sensitive to low light levels, and cones are more sensitive to color.

Dark Adaptation

  • The process of the eyes becoming more sensitive to low light levels after transitioning from bright light
  • Rods are responsible for initial increasing sensitivity to low levels, rather than cones
  • Sensitivity to light gradually increases after transitioning from ambient to low light
  • Pigment regeneration plays an important part of the sensitivity to light after transitioning.

Spectral Sensitivity

  • Rods and cones have different sensitivities to different wavelengths of light; rods are generally more sensitive to shorter wavelengths than cones.
  • This difference in spectral sensitivity is a factor in dark adaptation.

Convergence

  • Rods have greater convergence than cones, meaning signals from multiple rods converge on a single neuron in the brain.
  • This increased convergence results in higher sensitivity at low light levels (for detecting light), but it also results in lower acuity (detail resolution) for rod vision

Receptive Fields

  • Receptive field: A region in the sensory system that responds to stimulation in a specified way.
  • Stimulation of a center part of a receptive field leads, for instance, to increased firing rate in the neuron.

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Chapter 1: Challenges of Studying Perception PDF

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Explore the complexities of studying perception in this quiz. Learn about the multidisciplinary approaches involving psychology, physics, anatomy, and computer science. Understand how perception plays a vital role in designing technologies and cognitive processes.

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