Absolute threshold
the minimum amount of stimulation that an organism can detect
Binocular depth cues
are cues about distance based on the differing views of the two eyes
Cochlea
a fluid filled, coiled tunnel that contains the receptors for hearing. Sound enters through cochlea through oval window
Cones
responsible for color vision and function best in relatively bright light, eye has three types of cones
Convergence
a binocular cue that involves sensing the eyes converging toward each other as they focus on closer objects
Depth perception
involves interpretation of visual cues that indicate how near or far away objects are
Distal stimuli
the screech of tires, someone laughing, hum of refrigerator, produces a proximal stimulus in the form of soundwaves reaching the ears
Feature analysis
the process of detecting specific elements in visual input and assembling them into a more complex form, you start with the components of a form, such as lines, edges, and corners, and build them into perceptions of squares, triangles, stop signs, bikes,
Gustatory system
gustatory receptors are clusters of taste cells found in the taste buds that line the trenches around tiny bumps on the tongue
what is the lifespan of taste cells?
10 days until they are replaced
Just noticeable difference
is the smallest difference in the amount of stimulation that a specific sense can detect
- Close cousins of absolute threshold
- Vary by sense
- First demonstrated by Ernst Weber
Kinesthetic system
monitors the positions of the various parts of the body
Lens
the transparent eye structure that focuses the light rays falling on the retina
- Made of soft tissue
Monocular depth cues
are clues about distance based on the image in either eye alone
what are the 2 kinds of monocular depth cues?
- One is the result of active use of the eye in viewing the world
Eg.) if you cover one eye and move your head from side to side, closer objects appear to move more than distant objects - Pictorial depth cues: clues about distance that can be given in a flat picture
- Many pictorial cues to depth which is why some paintings and photographs seem so realistic
6 prominent pictorial depth cues
- Linear perspective: is a depth cure reflecting the fact that lines converge in the distance
- Texture gradient: provides information of depth
- Interposition: is if an object comes between you and another object, it much be closer to you
- Relative size: is a cue because closer objects appear larger
- Height in plane: reflects the fact that distant objects appear higher in a picture
- Light and shadow: the familiar effects of shadowing make light and shadow useful in judging distance
Motion parallax
involves images of objects at different distances moving across the retina at different rates
Olfactory system
is the sensory system for smell
Opponent process theory
holds that colour perception depends on receptors that make antagonist responses to three pairs of colours (red vs. green, yellow vs. blue, black vs. white)
Optic chiasm
point at which the optic nerves from the inside half of each eye cross over and then project to the opposite half of the brain
Optic disk
place in the retina where the optic nerve fibres exit the eye
Perception
the selection, organization, and interpretation of sensory input
Pictorial depth cues
clues about distance that can be given in a flat picture
Proximal stimuli
relies on perceptual constancies
