Psychology Chapter on Sensation and Vision

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Questions and Answers

What is the main function of microsaccades in relation to vision?

They enhance the clarity of images.

They increase the speed of eye movements.

They allow for longer periods of focus.

They prevent the eyes from adapting to unchanging stimuli. (correct)

Which term describes the process by which sensory receptor cells become less responsive to constant stimuli?

Sensory overload

Sensory adaptation (correct)

Perception

Cognitive habituation

How does sensation differ from perception?

Sensation is the detection of physical stimuli. (correct)

Sensation does not involve any receptor cells.

Sensation is purely subjective.

Sensation involves the interpretation of stimuli.

What is the likely reason for not noticing the sound of buzzing lights after being in class for a while?

Sensory adaptation has occurred. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of perception is illustrated by grouping objects that are close together?

Proximity principle Signup and view all the answers

What principle allows us to perceive incomplete figures as complete?

Closure principle Signup and view all the answers

Which Gestalt principle explains why we perceive lines as continuous even when they are interrupted?

Continuity principle Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes a situation where sensory information is misinterpreted due to expectations or previous experiences?

Perception Signup and view all the answers

What describes the process in which an individual stops paying attention to constant sensory stimuli?

Habituation Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary difference between habituation and sensory adaptation?

Sensory adaptation refers to the responses of sensory receptors themselves. Signup and view all the answers

Under which scenario would signal detection theory be most appropriately applied?

Determining the accuracy of a person's sensory judgments under uncertainty. Signup and view all the answers

In relation to sensory adaptation, what happens to the receptor cells when exposed to unchanging stimuli?

They become less responsive to the constant stimulus. Signup and view all the answers

How does sensory adaptation affect the perception of odors, such as that from a garbage can?

It allows the brain to ignore the smell after initial exposure. Signup and view all the answers

What aspect makes the eyes somewhat different concerning sensory adaptation?

They adapt but continue to send signals to the brain. Signup and view all the answers

Which scenario best exemplifies habituation?

Becoming used to the sound of traffic after living nearby. Signup and view all the answers

Why might all of our senses experience sensory adaptation?

To manage cognitive load when faced with continuous input. Signup and view all the answers

Which theory explains color vision based on the processing by cones?

Trichromatic theory Signup and view all the answers

What is the function of rods in the human eye?

They enable vision in low light settings. Signup and view all the answers

What happens to the visual information from the left visual field?

It crosses over at the optic chiasm. Signup and view all the answers

Which term describes the tendency to see incomplete figures as complete in visual arts?

Closure Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the perceptual principle where objects that are close together are grouped together?

Proximity Signup and view all the answers

What is the main characteristic of the fovea in the retina?

It has the greatest density of cones. Signup and view all the answers

In which situation would continuity in perception occur?

When objects are arranged in a straight line or a curve. Signup and view all the answers

Which structure in the eye is responsible for focusing light onto the retina?

Lens Signup and view all the answers

What role does the optic chiasm play in visual processing?

It is the point where visual information crosses to the opposite side of the brain. Signup and view all the answers

How do ganglion cells contribute to visual processing?

They send signals to the LGN of the thalamus. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Sensation

Sensation is how information from the outside world enters the brain.
Sensory receptors detect physical stimuli.
Absolute and difference thresholds influence sensory responses.
Sensory adaptation occurs when sensory receptors become less responsive to unchanging stimuli.

Light and Seeing

The eye processes light, a form of electromagnetic radiation.
Rods and cones are photoreceptors in the retina responsible for vision.
Rods are located in the periphery of the retina and are sensitive to low light conditions. They perceive black, white, and shades of gray.
Cones are found throughout the retina with the highest density in the fovea. They are responsible for color vision and function best in bright light.
Two theories explain color vision:
- Trichromatic theory involves processing by cones
- Opponent-process theory involves processing beyond cones, including bipolar and ganglion cells, to the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus (LGN) of the thalamus.
The visual pathway starts in the retina and travels through the optic nerve, optic chiasm, optic tract, LGN, and optic radiations to the primary visual cortex.
The optic chiasm is where axons cross over; axons from the temporal portion of each retina project to the same side of the brain, while axles from the nasal portion project to the opposite side of the brain.
The visual cortex processes and interprets visual information received from the eyes.

Sensory Adaptation and Habituation

Sensory adaptation is the process where receptor cells become less responsive to an unchanging stimulus over time.
Habituation is when the brain stops attending to constant, unchanging information, even though sensory receptors are still receiving signals.
Both sensory adaptation and habituation effectively ignore unchanging sensory information.
Sensory adaptation occurs at the receptor level while habituation occurs at the brain level.
Examples of sensory adaptation include:
- Food tasting less strong after eating for a while.
- Not noticing the smell of garbage after a while.
- Not feeling piercings after a while.
Examples of habituation include:
- Not noticing the sound of a clock ticking after a while.
- Not noticing the sound of traffic after a while.
Microsaccades, tiny vibrations of the eyes, prevent sensory adaptation from causing blindness.
Signal detection theory is used to assess the accuracy of judgment and decisions under uncertain conditions. It focuses on whether a stimulus is detected, considering both correct hits and rejections versus misses and false alarms.

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Description

Explore the fascinating concepts of sensation and vision in this quiz. Test your knowledge about how our sensory receptors detect physical stimuli, the function of rods and cones in the retina, and the theories explaining color vision. Dive into the mechanisms of how we perceive the world around us.