Cognitive Psychology Exam 2

Perception

The process of recognizing/organizing and interpretting information

Mental Precept

Mental representation of the stimulus that is perceived (organize stimulus to form a mental representation)

Distal Object

Object in external world (Gibson's Perceptual Continuum)

Informational medium

nature of the sensory info (auditory, olfactory)
(Gibson's Perceptual Continuum)

Proximal Stimulation

Contact with sensory receptor
(Gibson's Perceptual Continuum)

Perceptual object

perception of distal object
(Gibson's Perceptual Continuum)

Perceptual Basics
Sensory adaptation

receptor cells require constant stimulation by ceasing to fire until there is a change in stimulation.
-Constant stimulus reduces sensitivity
- Stimulus variation is essential for perception

Perceptual Constancies

Size Constancy

Perception of object size remains the same despite changes in the size of the proximal stimulus.
-The same object at two different distances project different sized images to the retina

Perceptual Constancies

Shape constancy

Perceived object maintains the same shape despite changes in the shape of the proximal stimulus
-the same object at two orientations projects different shaped images on the retina