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Questions and Answers
What does sensory adaptation refer to?
What does sensory adaptation refer to?
Which principle states that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts?
Which principle states that the whole is greater than the sum of its parts?
How does proximity influence perception?
How does proximity influence perception?
Which of the following cues is typically used for depth perception?
Which of the following cues is typically used for depth perception?
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What is the absolute threshold in sensation?
What is the absolute threshold in sensation?
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What does Weber's Law describe regarding difference thresholds?
What does Weber's Law describe regarding difference thresholds?
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Which Gestalt principle involves completing an incomplete figure?
Which Gestalt principle involves completing an incomplete figure?
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What is the primary focus of signal detection theory?
What is the primary focus of signal detection theory?
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What is the role of clarity as a monocular cue in depth perception?
What is the role of clarity as a monocular cue in depth perception?
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Which option correctly describes retinal disparity in binocular cues?
Which option correctly describes retinal disparity in binocular cues?
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How does convergence function as a binocular cue?
How does convergence function as a binocular cue?
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What is referred to as a monocular cue related to height?
What is referred to as a monocular cue related to height?
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What is NOT a characteristic of sensory adaptation?
What is NOT a characteristic of sensory adaptation?
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In which aspect do Gestalt principles primarily focus?
In which aspect do Gestalt principles primarily focus?
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Which best describes the process of seeing according to the information provided?
Which best describes the process of seeing according to the information provided?
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How do auditory processing and hearing differ?
How do auditory processing and hearing differ?
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What does size constancy refer to in our perception of objects?
What does size constancy refer to in our perception of objects?
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Which type of perceptual constancy involves recognizing that color remains unchanged under different lighting?
Which type of perceptual constancy involves recognizing that color remains unchanged under different lighting?
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What cue is used to perceive distance when one object covers part of another?
What cue is used to perceive distance when one object covers part of another?
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How do monocular cues contribute to distance perception?
How do monocular cues contribute to distance perception?
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Which principle describes the tendency to see patterns as belonging together if they form a continuous line?
Which principle describes the tendency to see patterns as belonging together if they form a continuous line?
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What does shape constancy allow us to perceive?
What does shape constancy allow us to perceive?
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What is the role of texture as a monocular cue in distance perception?
What is the role of texture as a monocular cue in distance perception?
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What is required for maintaining perceptual constancy?
What is required for maintaining perceptual constancy?
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Study Notes
Sensation and Perception Introduction
- Sensation and perception work together, but play different roles in interpreting the world.
- This chapter describes theories, and explains their role in psychology.
Sensation
- It's the process where senses gather info, and send it to the brain.
- A large amount of information is sensed simultaneously.
Absolute Threshold
- It's the point where something becomes noticeable to our senses (softest sound, slightest touch).
- It's when a stimulus goes from unnoticeable to detectable.
Difference Threshold
- Weber's Law states that a constant percentage of change, not a fixed amount, is needed for a difference to be perceived.
Signal Detection Theory
- It describes how we focus on specific stimuli, and ignore others in situations like a noisy room.
- We try to select what to focus on and eliminate distractions
Sensory Adaptation
- It describes stimuli that become less noticeable over time when unchanged.
- Example: the ticking of a clock.
Perception
- Perception is our interpretation of sensory information, which differentiates us from others and explains individual differences.
- The way we perceive our environment differs between individuals.
Gestalt Principles of Grouping
- Gestalt psychology believes the whole is more than the sum of its parts.
- It helps us interpret incoming sensory information by arranging it into distinct groups.
Types of Gestalt Principles of Grouping
- Similarity: Grouping similar objects together. (e.g. like circles).
- Proximity: Grouping objects near each other together. (e.g. closely arranged dots).
- Continuity: Grouping continuous patterns together. (e.g. smooth curves)
- Closure: Completing incomplete figures/shapes. (e.g. drawing a circle around a partial circle).
Maintaining Perceptual Constancy
- Perceptual constancy is our ability to perceive objects consistently, despite changes in context.
- Examples: our perception of an object size when it moves from far to close, not changing how big it should appear to be.
Types of Perceptual Constancy
- Size Consistency: Perceiving objects as having a consistent Size, regardless of distance.
- Shape Consistency: Perceiving objects as having a consistent shape, regardless of its orientation.
- Brightness Consistency: Perceiving objects as having a consistent brightness regardless of lighting conditions.
Perceiving Distance
- Distance perception is the process of judging the space between two points.
- It's done using monocular and binocular cues.
Monocular Cues
- Size: Larger images signal closer objects.
- Texture: Smoother textures appear further away.
- Overlap: Overlapping objects appear closer.
- Shading/Shadows: Closer objects cast longer shadows, overlapping those farther away.
- Height: Objects higher in the visual field appear further away (compared to objects closer to the bottom of the field).
- Clarity: Clearer images imply closeness.
Binocular Cues
- Binocular cues require both eyes to perceive distance.
- Convergence: Eyes turn inward more for closer objects.
- Retinal Disparity: Slight difference in the images received by each eye (different angles/view).
The Five Senses
- Sight, smell, taste, touch, and hearing are the traditional five senses.
- Aristotle is credited with defining them.
Sight
- Occurs when light is processed by the eye and interpreted by the brain
- Light passes through the cornea (transparent part of the eye).
- The pupil (the opening) adjusts to regulate light entering the eye
Hearing
- Auditory processing involves steps in which the ear and auditory nervous system work together.
Taste
- The gustatory system perceives flavor.
- Receptors in the mouth (mostly the tongue) detect it through chemical reactions.
Smell
- Smell is part of the chemosensory system (chemical senses).
- Olfactory sensory neurons in the nose detect it directly and signal to the brain.
Touch
- Tactile sense involves receptors on the skin that process pressure, temperature, vibration, and pain.
Beyond the Five Senses
- Equilibrioception: sense of balance, spatial orientation. Prevents from falling.
- Thermoception: perception of temperature and temperature differences.
- Nociception: detection of painful stimuli, sending alerts to the body.
- Kinesthesia: awareness of muscle and joint movement.
- Synesthesia: one stimulation evokes another sensation. (e.g. colors with numbers)
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Description
Explore the fundamental concepts of sensation and perception in psychology. This quiz covers various theories, absolute and difference thresholds, signal detection theory, and sensory adaptation. Test your knowledge on how our senses work together to interpret the world around us.
