the process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment.
the process of organizing and interpreting sensory information; enabling us to recognize meaningful objects and events.
analysis that begins with the sense receptors and works up to the brain's integration of sensory information.
information processing guided by higher-level mental process, as when we construct perceptions drawing out our experience and expectation.
the study of relationship between the physical characteristic of stimuli, such as their intensity, and our psychological experience of them.
the minimum stimulation needed to detect a particular stimulus 50 percent of the time.
Signal detection theory
a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimuli ("signal") amid background stimulation ("noise"). Assume that there is no single absolute threshold and that focuses more on the processing of briefly stored information. (e.g. what determines a "hit", "miss," "false alarm" or "correct rejection")
the minimum difference between two stimuli required for detection 50 percent of the time. We experience the difference threshold as a just noticeable difference (also called just noticeable difference or JND.)
the principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than a constant amount).
conversion of one form of energy into another. In sensation, the transforming of stimulus energies into neural impulses.
the distance from the peak of one light or sound wave to the peak of the next. Electromagnetic wavelengths vary from the short blips of cosmic rays to the long pulses of radio transmission.
the dimension of color that is determine by the wavelength of light; what we know as the color names blue, green, and so forth.
a ring of muscle tissue that forms the color portions of the eye around the pupil and controls the size of the pupil opening.
the transparent structure behind the pupil that changes shape to help focus images on the retina.
the process by which the eye's lens changes shape to focus near or far objects on the retina.
the light-sensitive inner surface of the eye, containing the receptor rods and cones plus layers of neurons that begin the processing of visual information.
a condition in which nearby objects are seen more clearly than distant objects because distant objects focus right in front of the retina.
the condition in which faraway objects are seen more clearly that near objects because the image of near objects is focused behind the retina.
retinal receptors that detect black, white, and gray; necessary for peripheral and twilight vision, when cones don't respond.
receptors cells that are concentrated near the center of the retina and that function in daylight or in well-lit conditions. The cones detect fine details and give rise to color sensation.
the point at which the optic nerve leaves the eye; no receptors cells are located there. Creates a gap in our vision that is "filled" by the brain.
nerve cells in the brain that respond to specific features of the stimuli, such as shape, angle, or movement.
the processing of several aspects of a problem simultaneously; the brain's natural mode of information processing for many functions, including vision. Contrast with the step-by-step (serial) processing of most computers and of conscious problem solving.
Young-Helmholtz Trichromatic theory
the theory that the retina contains three different colors receptors-one most sensitive to red, one to green, one to blue-which when stimulated in combination can produce the perception of any color.
the theory that opposing retinal processes (red-green, yellow-blue, white-black) enable color vision; useful for explaining the phenomenon of "after-images"
perceiving familiar objects as having consistent color, even if changing illumination alters the wavelengths reflected by the objects.
the chamber between the eardrum and cochlea containing three tiny bones (hammer, anvil, and stirrup) that concentrate the vibrations of the eardrum on the cochlea's oval window.
the innermost part of the ear, containing the cochlea, semicircular canals, and vestibular sacs.
a coiled bony, fluid-filled tube in the inner ear through which sound waves trigger nerve impulses.
in hearing, the theory that links the pitch we hear with the place where the cochlea's membrane is stimulated.
in hearing, the theory that the rate of nerve impulses traveling up the auditory nerve matches the frequency of a tone, thus enabling us to sense its pitch.
Conduction Hearing Loss
hearing loss caused by damage to the mechanical system that conducts sound waves to the cochlea.
Sensorineural hearing loss
hearing loss caused by damage to the cochlea's receptors cells or to the auditory nerves; also called nerve deafness.
the theory that the spinal cord contains neurological "gate" that blocks pain signals or allows them to pass on to the brain. The "gate" is open by the activity of pain signals traveling up small nerve fibers and is closed by activity in larger fibers or by information coming form the brain.
the principle that one sense may influence another, as when the smell of food influences the taste.
the system for sensing the position and movement of individual body parts; enabled by feedback from proprioceptors (which provide info about the movement of muscles, tendons, joints)
the sense of body movement and position, including the sense of balance; enabled by feedback from semicircular canals in inner ear
finger-like projections on the basilar membrane that stimulate activity of the auditory nerve
snail-shaped tube in the inner ear that contains fluid that moves in response to vibrations, stimulating activity on the basilar membrane
fluid filled tubes in inner ear that provide information about movement of the head
early psychologist who established that the proportion of difference (rather than absolute difference) between two stimuli that is required for distinguishing between them is constant for particular types of sensation (e.g. weight, brightness, etc).
David Hubel & Torsten Wiesel
Nobel-prize-winning researchers who discovered "feature detectors" within the brain
a device for converting sounds into electrical signals and stimulating the auditory nerve through electrodes threaded into the cochlea
the principle that one sense may influence another, as when the smell of food influences taste
when one sort of sensation (such as hearing a sound) produces another (such as seeing color)
A gestalt perceptual phenomenon; the organization of the visual field into objects that stand out from their surroundings
Gestalt grouping principle; our tendency to perceive smooth, continuous patterns rather than discontinuous ones
Gestalt grouping principle; when objects uniform (in color or texture) are linked (no space exists between them) we perceive them as a single unit
imagined "boundaries" between one object and other; often created by the perception of "lines" that divide areas of color or texture
the ability to see objects in three dimensions although the images that strike the retina are two-dimensional; allows us to judge distance
laboratory device for testing depth perception among infants and young animals; its use demonstrated that, among most species, animals have the ability to perceive depth by the time they are mobile
depth cues that only require input from one eye; often used in 2D art to create illusion of depth
a binocular cue for perceiving depth; by comparing the images of the retinas of the two eyes, the brain computes distance. The greater the disparity (difference) between the two images, the closer the object
a binocular cue for perceiving depth; the more the eyes strain to turn inwards to view an object, the closer the object is (note: only a factor at close ranges)
monocular cue for depth perception; we perceive objects higher in our visual field to be farther away. Explanation for why the "bottom" of a figure-ground illusion usually is interpreted as the "figure"
monocular cue for depth perception; if we assume two objects are similar in size, most people perceive the one that casts the smaller retinal image to be farther away
monocular cue for depth perception; if one object partially blocks our view of another object, we perceive it as closer
monocular cue for depth perception; parallel lines, such as railroad tracks, appear to converge with distance. The more they converge, the greater the perceived distance
light and shadow
monocular cue for depth perception; nearby objects reflect more light to our eyes...thus, given two identical objects, the dimmer one seems farther away. Also, shading produces a sense of depth consistent with our assumption that light comes from above.
monocular cue for depth perception; as we move, stationary objects seem to "move" as well. Objects above a fixation point move "with" us, objects below the fixation point move "past" us.
monocular cue for depth perception; objects that seem "fuzzier" or less clear are perceived to be farther away.
monocular cue for depth perception; a gradual change from course, distinct texture to fine, indistinct texture signals increasing distance
an illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in rapid succession
the brain's perception of continuous movement in a rapid series of slightly varying images; this is how we perceive motion in film and animation
perceiving objects as unchanging (having consistent shapes, size, lightness, and color) even as illumination and retinal images change
the ability to adjust to an altered perceptual reality; in vision, the ability to adjust to an artificially displaced or inverted visual field (as when wearing visual displacement goggles).
mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another (for example, due to suggestion or expectations based on prior learning)
human factors psychology
Branch of psychology that explores how people & machines interact and how physical environment can be adapted to human behaviors
extrasensory perception (ESP)
the controversial claim that perception can occur apart from sensory input; includes telepathy, clairvoyance, and precognition
mind-to-mind communication; a person sending thoughts to another or perceiving another's thoughts
perceiving future events, such as a political leader's death or a sporting event's outcome
laboratory procedure used to test powers of extrasensory perception by reducing the distractions of other sensory information (e.g. noise cancelling headphones, ping-pong balls over the eyes, etc.)
the phenomenon that occurs when vision overtakes some other, conflicting sensory input
when paying attention to a specific aspect of a visual scene, we may fail to notice other fairly obvious changes or presentations of stimuli; demonstrated by the door study and the gorilla illusion
the same sound (e.g. "ba") can be perceived differently (e.g. "pa" or "fa") when the visual image of the mouth pronouncing it is changed
second layer of neurons in the retina that transmit impulses from rods and cones to ganglion cells; rods share these, but cones do not