Notes for PSY 252
Module 1: Sensation and Perception
Distinguish between sensation and perception
o Perception- the set of processes by which we recognize, organize,
and make sense of the sensations we receive from the
environment. Process turns sensory info into something
meaningful. Cognitive process in which we make meaning out of
sensory info vary in perspective with knowledge and
experiences.
o Modalities- systems for a sense, i.e.: smell, taste, auditory,
tactile, vision.
o Sensation- a physical feeling resulting from something meeting
the body. Process by which we gather environmental information
o Types of Processing
Bottom-up processing- using light and dark stimuli
properties
Top-Down Processing-using experience from the first
image, i.e., cow and dog ink drawings
o WYIWYG- What You See Is What You Get, some perceptions are
wrong.
Explain how optical illusions occur
o Optical Illusions- seeing something that does or does not exist or
that is other than it appears. Created by visual cues we see daily.
o The perception of visual information not physically present in
visual sensory stimuli. I.e.: the construction of the Parthenon
where the front two columns bulge to make it look like it is tilted
outward.
o Müller-Lyer illusion: using cues to make it look like one bar is
shorter than the other when it is actually the same.
o Ames Room- Slanted room that you can see through a peephole
where it looks like two people of the same height have a huge
discrepancy.
Describe depth perception
o Depth- Distance from an object. Used to pick up objects,
maneuver through space, drive, talk.
o How you perceive depth and distance beyond the bodies reach.
How you imagine perceiving 3d space when sensory receptors in
the retina map only a 2d representation of what you see.
Differentiate between monocular and Binocular
o Monocular- 2D observed with just one eye: 5 monocular depth
cues
1. Texture Gradients- space in between larger and
shorter pins. Looks like cubefield.
, 2. Relative size- Two objects that are relatively the
same size, or the same size. When one is bigger the
other appears smaller, so it looks like the big one is
closer, i.e., cue balls in pool.
3. Familiar Size- When we know the size of an object
using knowledge.
4. Interposition-something positioned to block another
thing we perceive it as closer if it looks like it is in the
front.
5. Linear perspective-curvature in the linear block.
Parallel lines seem to converge as they approach the
horizon.
6. Aerial Perspective- The closer the object, the object
looks clearer and crisper, more clearly delineated. Far
away things feel fuzzy and unclear.
7. Shadows/Light-
A larger shadow makes an object looks closer
to us and further away from the light source.
Light coming from above makes it looks like a
circle is curving outward. Light coming from the
bottom makes a circle look like it is concave.
8. Motion parallax- requires movement
o Binocular- both eyes; 2 binocular depth cues: EYES DISTANCE TO
OBJECT
1. Binocular convergence- eyes feels tug inward to
nose. Both eyes focus together towards one object.
The further an object is the more convergence is
used to focus on the object.
2. Binocular disparity- huge discrepancy through right
and left eyes in a picture. The closer the object is to
us, the more it has disparity.
Approaches to Form Perception
o Structuralism- independent components and put them together
to then perceive.
o Gestalt- we see the object first then break it up into the
independent components.
List and create your own examples of Gestalt cues
o The whole differs from the sum of its individual parts.
o Law of Prägnanz- we tend to perceive a visual in a way that
makes sense to us rather than a bunch of randomness.
o Gestalt Principle- Able to separate what is important and not
important. Really good at describing, however you can’t really
explain why the brain does this.
1. Proximity- we see things as close together as belonging
to each other; when things are farther apart, they look like
they don’t belong together.
, 2. Similarity- How much they look like each other
3. Continuity- When we look at something we see things as
being continuous. We see things in the simplest way
possible.
4. Principle of Closure- when we see something that has a
break in the line, we fill in the empty space to make more
sense to the viewer.
o Own examples of Gestalt cues
1. A ceiling made of slats.
2. Big tree and then surroundings after.
3. Orange juice then look at the brand.
4.making an 8 a continuous line rather than 2 circles.
Module 2- Overview of Sensation and Perception
Distinguish between Zoom Lens and Spotlight theories of
attention
o Attention- Controlled process of focusing in on different objects
and finding which is important in the moment. Not a passive
process. Requires:
1. Selection- can be selected by you or chosen for you.
2. Concentration- we must keep the process of paying
attention to the object
3. Control- you can refocus to have control of your
attention even though you could be distracted.
o Zoom Lens Attention Theory- Slowly start to spread the attention
out until you find something that you can zoom in on. More
concentrated way of paying attention to a scene.
o Spotlight Attention Theory- Jumping from thing to thing using
spotlight to see if you found the object in a search. Like a theatre
performance where people are lit up in a spotlight when you pay
attention to them.
Identify and describe the critical components of visual
search
o Visual Search- Search for a target in a display containing
distracting elements. Process of looking for something among
other objects.
o Target- The goal of the visual search. What you are looking for.
o Set Size- The total number of items in a visual display. Distractors
+ Target
The larger the set size, the longer it takes to find an object
o Distractor- Any stimulus other than the target.
o Reaction time- How long it takes to find the object.
Module 1: Sensation and Perception
Distinguish between sensation and perception
o Perception- the set of processes by which we recognize, organize,
and make sense of the sensations we receive from the
environment. Process turns sensory info into something
meaningful. Cognitive process in which we make meaning out of
sensory info vary in perspective with knowledge and
experiences.
o Modalities- systems for a sense, i.e.: smell, taste, auditory,
tactile, vision.
o Sensation- a physical feeling resulting from something meeting
the body. Process by which we gather environmental information
o Types of Processing
Bottom-up processing- using light and dark stimuli
properties
Top-Down Processing-using experience from the first
image, i.e., cow and dog ink drawings
o WYIWYG- What You See Is What You Get, some perceptions are
wrong.
Explain how optical illusions occur
o Optical Illusions- seeing something that does or does not exist or
that is other than it appears. Created by visual cues we see daily.
o The perception of visual information not physically present in
visual sensory stimuli. I.e.: the construction of the Parthenon
where the front two columns bulge to make it look like it is tilted
outward.
o Müller-Lyer illusion: using cues to make it look like one bar is
shorter than the other when it is actually the same.
o Ames Room- Slanted room that you can see through a peephole
where it looks like two people of the same height have a huge
discrepancy.
Describe depth perception
o Depth- Distance from an object. Used to pick up objects,
maneuver through space, drive, talk.
o How you perceive depth and distance beyond the bodies reach.
How you imagine perceiving 3d space when sensory receptors in
the retina map only a 2d representation of what you see.
Differentiate between monocular and Binocular
o Monocular- 2D observed with just one eye: 5 monocular depth
cues
1. Texture Gradients- space in between larger and
shorter pins. Looks like cubefield.
, 2. Relative size- Two objects that are relatively the
same size, or the same size. When one is bigger the
other appears smaller, so it looks like the big one is
closer, i.e., cue balls in pool.
3. Familiar Size- When we know the size of an object
using knowledge.
4. Interposition-something positioned to block another
thing we perceive it as closer if it looks like it is in the
front.
5. Linear perspective-curvature in the linear block.
Parallel lines seem to converge as they approach the
horizon.
6. Aerial Perspective- The closer the object, the object
looks clearer and crisper, more clearly delineated. Far
away things feel fuzzy and unclear.
7. Shadows/Light-
A larger shadow makes an object looks closer
to us and further away from the light source.
Light coming from above makes it looks like a
circle is curving outward. Light coming from the
bottom makes a circle look like it is concave.
8. Motion parallax- requires movement
o Binocular- both eyes; 2 binocular depth cues: EYES DISTANCE TO
OBJECT
1. Binocular convergence- eyes feels tug inward to
nose. Both eyes focus together towards one object.
The further an object is the more convergence is
used to focus on the object.
2. Binocular disparity- huge discrepancy through right
and left eyes in a picture. The closer the object is to
us, the more it has disparity.
Approaches to Form Perception
o Structuralism- independent components and put them together
to then perceive.
o Gestalt- we see the object first then break it up into the
independent components.
List and create your own examples of Gestalt cues
o The whole differs from the sum of its individual parts.
o Law of Prägnanz- we tend to perceive a visual in a way that
makes sense to us rather than a bunch of randomness.
o Gestalt Principle- Able to separate what is important and not
important. Really good at describing, however you can’t really
explain why the brain does this.
1. Proximity- we see things as close together as belonging
to each other; when things are farther apart, they look like
they don’t belong together.
, 2. Similarity- How much they look like each other
3. Continuity- When we look at something we see things as
being continuous. We see things in the simplest way
possible.
4. Principle of Closure- when we see something that has a
break in the line, we fill in the empty space to make more
sense to the viewer.
o Own examples of Gestalt cues
1. A ceiling made of slats.
2. Big tree and then surroundings after.
3. Orange juice then look at the brand.
4.making an 8 a continuous line rather than 2 circles.
Module 2- Overview of Sensation and Perception
Distinguish between Zoom Lens and Spotlight theories of
attention
o Attention- Controlled process of focusing in on different objects
and finding which is important in the moment. Not a passive
process. Requires:
1. Selection- can be selected by you or chosen for you.
2. Concentration- we must keep the process of paying
attention to the object
3. Control- you can refocus to have control of your
attention even though you could be distracted.
o Zoom Lens Attention Theory- Slowly start to spread the attention
out until you find something that you can zoom in on. More
concentrated way of paying attention to a scene.
o Spotlight Attention Theory- Jumping from thing to thing using
spotlight to see if you found the object in a search. Like a theatre
performance where people are lit up in a spotlight when you pay
attention to them.
Identify and describe the critical components of visual
search
o Visual Search- Search for a target in a display containing
distracting elements. Process of looking for something among
other objects.
o Target- The goal of the visual search. What you are looking for.
o Set Size- The total number of items in a visual display. Distractors
+ Target
The larger the set size, the longer it takes to find an object
o Distractor- Any stimulus other than the target.
o Reaction time- How long it takes to find the object.
