Ch 2 – Visual and Auditory Recognition
1) Understand a proximal vs distal stimulus
a) Distal stimulus: The actual object or event out in the environment (e.g., a tree you see)
b) Proximal stimulus: The image or pattern of light that actually reaches your sensory receptors (e.g.,
the image of the tree projected on your retina)
c) The brain interprets the proximal stimulus to perceive the distal stimulus
2) Understand what qualifies as a geon
a) Geons are basic 3D geometric components or building blocks that make up complex objects
b) They are simple shapes like cylinders, cones, blocks, and wedges
According to Biederman’s Recognition-by-Components (RBC) theory, objects are recognized by
identifying their geons and the spatial relationships between them
3) Hubel and Wiesel overall study findings
a) They studied how neurons in the primary visual cortex respond to visual stimuli
b) Found that neurons respond selectively to edges, lines, and orientations in specific locations in the
visual field
c) Discovered hierarchical processing: simple cells detect edges, complex cells detect motion and
orientation
d) This work helped explain the neural basis of visual perception
4) Understand the McGurk effect
a) A perceptual phenomenon showing interaction between hearing and vision in speech perception
b) When the auditory component of one sound is paired with the visual component of another (e.g.,
hearing "ba" but seeing lips say "ga"), people perceive a third sound (e.g., "da")
c) Demonstrates that what we see influences what we hear
5) Role of the fusifom face area
a) A specialized brain region in the fusiform gyrus involved primarily in face recognition
b) Activated strongly when viewing faces compared to other objects
c) Important for processing facial features, identity, and expressions
Ch 3 – Attention and Consciousness
1) Understand differences of divided, selective, sustained, alternating attention
a) Divided attention: Splitting focus between two or more tasks simultaneously (e.g., texting while
watching TV). Often reduces performance
b) Selective attention: Focusing on one specific stimulus or task while ignoring others (e.g., listening
to one conversation in a noisy room)
c) Sustained attention: Maintaining focus on a task or stimulus over a prolonged period (e.g.,
monitoring a radar screen)
d) Alternating attention: Shifting focus back and forth between tasks that require different cognitive
demands (e.g., reading a recipe, then chopping vegetables, then reading again)
2) Understand mindfulness meditation engages a specific network
a) Mindfulness meditation activates the default mode network (DMN) and executive attention network
b) It enhances sustained attention, reduces mind-wandering, and improves emotional regulation by
engaging these brain areas involved in self-awareness and cognitive control
3) Research findings on the Stroop effect
a) The Stroop effect shows interference when the meaning of a word and its ink color conflict (e.g.,
the word "red" printed in blue ink)
b) It demonstrates how automatic processes (reading) can interfere with controlled processes (color
naming)
c) Reaction times are slower and error rates higher for incongruent stimuli
4) Understand dichotic listening and when this may occur in daily life
a) A task where different auditory inputs are presented to each ear simultaneously
b) Demonstrates selective attention because participants can usually only focus on one input
c) Happens in daily life when trying to listen to one person in a noisy environment or multiple
conversations
5) Feature-present/feature-absent effect
1) Understand a proximal vs distal stimulus
a) Distal stimulus: The actual object or event out in the environment (e.g., a tree you see)
b) Proximal stimulus: The image or pattern of light that actually reaches your sensory receptors (e.g.,
the image of the tree projected on your retina)
c) The brain interprets the proximal stimulus to perceive the distal stimulus
2) Understand what qualifies as a geon
a) Geons are basic 3D geometric components or building blocks that make up complex objects
b) They are simple shapes like cylinders, cones, blocks, and wedges
According to Biederman’s Recognition-by-Components (RBC) theory, objects are recognized by
identifying their geons and the spatial relationships between them
3) Hubel and Wiesel overall study findings
a) They studied how neurons in the primary visual cortex respond to visual stimuli
b) Found that neurons respond selectively to edges, lines, and orientations in specific locations in the
visual field
c) Discovered hierarchical processing: simple cells detect edges, complex cells detect motion and
orientation
d) This work helped explain the neural basis of visual perception
4) Understand the McGurk effect
a) A perceptual phenomenon showing interaction between hearing and vision in speech perception
b) When the auditory component of one sound is paired with the visual component of another (e.g.,
hearing "ba" but seeing lips say "ga"), people perceive a third sound (e.g., "da")
c) Demonstrates that what we see influences what we hear
5) Role of the fusifom face area
a) A specialized brain region in the fusiform gyrus involved primarily in face recognition
b) Activated strongly when viewing faces compared to other objects
c) Important for processing facial features, identity, and expressions
Ch 3 – Attention and Consciousness
1) Understand differences of divided, selective, sustained, alternating attention
a) Divided attention: Splitting focus between two or more tasks simultaneously (e.g., texting while
watching TV). Often reduces performance
b) Selective attention: Focusing on one specific stimulus or task while ignoring others (e.g., listening
to one conversation in a noisy room)
c) Sustained attention: Maintaining focus on a task or stimulus over a prolonged period (e.g.,
monitoring a radar screen)
d) Alternating attention: Shifting focus back and forth between tasks that require different cognitive
demands (e.g., reading a recipe, then chopping vegetables, then reading again)
2) Understand mindfulness meditation engages a specific network
a) Mindfulness meditation activates the default mode network (DMN) and executive attention network
b) It enhances sustained attention, reduces mind-wandering, and improves emotional regulation by
engaging these brain areas involved in self-awareness and cognitive control
3) Research findings on the Stroop effect
a) The Stroop effect shows interference when the meaning of a word and its ink color conflict (e.g.,
the word "red" printed in blue ink)
b) It demonstrates how automatic processes (reading) can interfere with controlled processes (color
naming)
c) Reaction times are slower and error rates higher for incongruent stimuli
4) Understand dichotic listening and when this may occur in daily life
a) A task where different auditory inputs are presented to each ear simultaneously
b) Demonstrates selective attention because participants can usually only focus on one input
c) Happens in daily life when trying to listen to one person in a noisy environment or multiple
conversations
5) Feature-present/feature-absent effect
