Psychology Object Recognition Quiz

Object Recognition

• Configural-Superiority Effect: Objects in configurations are easier to recognize than objects in isolation, even if the objects in the configurations are more complex.
• Object-Superiority Effect: A target line that forms part of a 3D object is identified more accurately than a target that forms part of a disconnected 2D pattern.
• Word-Superiority Effect: It's easier to identify a single letter in a string of letters if the string makes sense and forms a word instead of being just a nonsense sequence of letters.

Recognition-by-Components Theory

• Explains how we form stable 3D mental representations of objects.
• We recognize objects by decomposing them into simple geometric shapes called geons (geometrical ions).
• Geons can be recomposed into alternative arrangements.

Vision & Light

• Pupil: The opening in the center of the iris that allows light to pass through.
• Crystalline Lens: Focuses light that passes through the pupil.
• Vitreous Humor: Gel-like substance that fills the majority of the eye.
• Retina: Electromagnetic light energy is converted into neural electrochemical impulses.
• Fovea: Small, thin region of the retina where vision is most acute.
• Photoreceptors: Cells in the retina that convert light energy into electrochemical energy.
  • Rods: Long and thin photoreceptors responsible for vision in low light.
  • Cones: Short and thick photoreceptors responsible for color perception.
• Optic Nerve: Axons of ganglion cells in the eye form the optic nerve.
• Optic Chiasma: The point where the optic nerves of both eyes join at the base of the brain.

Perceptual Theories

• Gibson's Theory of Direct Perception (Ecological Perception): The information in our sensory receptors, including the sensory context, is all we need to perceive anything.
• Template Matching Theories: We recognize patterns by comparing them to highly detailed models stored in memory.
• Feature-Matching Theories: We match features of a pattern to features stored in memory, rather than matching a whole pattern to a template or prototype.

Pandemonium Model

• A feature-matching model that suggests perception is noisy and chaotic.
• Image Demons: Receive a retinal image and pass it on to feature demons.
• Feature Demons: Shout out when matches are made between the stimulus and a given feature.
• Cognitive Demons: Shout out possible patterns stored in memory based on the features.
• Decision Demons: Listen to the cognitive demons and decide on what has been seen.

Top-Down Theories

• Perception is driven by high-level cognitive processes, existing knowledge, and prior expectations.
• Constructive Perception: The perceiver builds a cognitive understanding of a stimulus.
• Percepts: Are based on sensory data, knowledge stored in memory, and inferences made through cognitive processes.

Context Effects

• The surrounding environment influences perception.
• Viewer-Centered Representation: An individual stores the way the object looks to them.
• Object-Centered Representation: An individual stores a representation of the object independent of its appearance to the viewer.

Landmark-Centered Representation

• Information is characterized by its relation to a prominent item.

Gestalt Laws of Perception

• Law of Prägnanz: We tend to perceive any given visual array in the simplest way that organizes elements into a stable and coherent form.
• Figure-Ground Perception: Distinguishing the figure from the background.
• Proximity: Elements close to each other are perceived as belonging together.
• Similarity: Similar elements are grouped together.
• Continuity: We follow a continuous path or line when we perceive objects.
• Closure: We tend to perceive complete figures even when parts are missing.
• Symmetry: We tend to perceive objects as symmetrical.
• Principle of Symmetry: Features appear balanced around a central axis or point.

Pattern Recognition System

• Feature Analysis System: Specializes in recognizing parts of objects and assembling them into wholes.
• Configurational System: Specializes in recognizing larger configurations, not analyzing parts of objects.

Expert-Individuation Hypothesis

• The fusiform gyrus is activated when examining items with which one has visual expertise.

Prosopagnosia

• Inability to recognize faces.
• Implies damage to the configural system.

The Role of the Environment

• Perceptual Constancy: Our perception of an object remains the same even when our proximal sensation of it changes.
  • Size Constancy: Our perception of an object's size remains stable even when its distance from us changes.
  • Shape Constancy: Our perception of an object's shape remains stable even when its orientation or perspective changes.

Agnosias and Ataxias

• Agnosia: Difficulty perceiving sensory information.
  • Simultagnosia: Inability to perceive more than one object at a time.
  • Agnosias often occur due to damage to the border of the temporal and occipital lobes.

Test your understanding of object recognition theories, including the configural-superiority and object-superiority effects. This quiz also covers recognition-by-components theory, highlighting how we perceive and categorize objects. Explore the intricate relationship between vision and light in regards to perception.