Parts of the eye
Sclera- The whites of the eyes
Iris- the colored part of the eye
Pupil- the place where light enters the eye
Cornea- covers the pupil and the iris and bends light to focus images on the back of the eye
Lens- also bends light but used as a focus to make the image clear
Retina- thin membrane in the back of the eye said to be part of the brain
Fovea- is part of the retina allowing for our vision to be sharp
Optic nerve- contains ganglion cells (which contains axons). Starts at the retina and connects to
the brain.
Blind spot- the spot in which the optic nerve attaches to the retina
Macula- pigmented area where the fovea is
Optic chiasm- where half of the axons cross the side of the brain
Rods vs. cones
Rods- there are more rods than cone. The rods allow for us to see shapes and formations. Also allow us
to see better in the dark. (498nm). Rods are absent in fovea.
Cones- not as many cones as there are rods. They allow us to see color as well as when looking at
detailed stuff. Cones have three opsins (430,540,570nm) which allow us to see color. Mainly found in
fovea.
Dorsal vs. ventral cortical processing
Ventral cortical processing- allows for us to recognize objects but not move to grab them. (perception)
Dorsal cortical processing- allows us to be able to pick up an object but not recognize it. (action)
Parts of the ear
Outer ear
– Pinna
– Ear canal
The function of these two structures of the outer ear is to funnel the sound waves
to the eardrum.
Middle ear
– Ossicles (the 3 smallest bones in the body)
These bones vibrate from the sound waves hitting the eardrum at the same
frequency of the wave moving toward the inner ear.
Also known as the hammer, anvil, and the stirrup
Inner ear
– Cochlea
Converts vibrations into activity within the neurons
Has an inner cavity filled with fluid that is moved by the sound waves.
– Organ of corti
Has hair cells critical to hearing within it
Basilar membrane mechanics
– The membrane has hair cells that is critical to the sense of hearing. The hair cells have
cilia the are embedded within the cochlea touching the fluid within it this allows the hair
cells to get excited when the pressure deflects onto the cilia from the fluid being
disturbed.
, – Base of the membrane
More excited from tones of higher pitch
– Top of the membrane
More exited from tones of lower pitch
Pain (gate theory)
– Gate theory
o A theory that there is a neural mechanism within the spinal cord that acts as a gate which
blocks the feeling of pain from consciousness.
– Pain goes through the somatic nerves
Taste vs. Smell
– Gustation (taste)
o Detect taste with our taste buds on the tongues. Which are held within the papillae on the
tongue.
– Olfaction (smell)
o We have 1000 olfactory genes (347 code for olfactory receptors)
An odor can be detected by its shape by one of the olfactory neuron receptors.
(lock and key type of relationship)
Size and shape constancy
Allows us to see shapes and sizes for what they really are.
Gestalt laws (6)
– Proximity: when seeing things close together they are looked at, as a whole.
– Similarity: when things are equal, we see them as a whole.
o If there are dissimilar objects, such as red and yellow cubes mixed randomly we think
nothing of it.
o Now if the dissimilar objects such as the red and yellow cubes are placed in a line, we
then see it as rows.
– Continuity: if a part of an object is being covered, we still see the object as a whole
– Closure: our brains fill in the missing parts when we have only partial vision.
– Symmetry: we see things in symmetry as wholes
– Figure-ground: we focus on what we think is the figure we are supposed to be looking at rather
than the background.
Monocular vs. binocular vision (retinal disparity)
– monocular: use of one eye only. We rely on pictorial cues.
o Relative size
o Texture gradient
o Interposition
o Linear perspective
o Height in plane
o Light in shadows
– binocular: use of two eyes.
o Binocular disparity- the left and right eyes transmit quite different information for near
objects.
Sclera- The whites of the eyes
Iris- the colored part of the eye
Pupil- the place where light enters the eye
Cornea- covers the pupil and the iris and bends light to focus images on the back of the eye
Lens- also bends light but used as a focus to make the image clear
Retina- thin membrane in the back of the eye said to be part of the brain
Fovea- is part of the retina allowing for our vision to be sharp
Optic nerve- contains ganglion cells (which contains axons). Starts at the retina and connects to
the brain.
Blind spot- the spot in which the optic nerve attaches to the retina
Macula- pigmented area where the fovea is
Optic chiasm- where half of the axons cross the side of the brain
Rods vs. cones
Rods- there are more rods than cone. The rods allow for us to see shapes and formations. Also allow us
to see better in the dark. (498nm). Rods are absent in fovea.
Cones- not as many cones as there are rods. They allow us to see color as well as when looking at
detailed stuff. Cones have three opsins (430,540,570nm) which allow us to see color. Mainly found in
fovea.
Dorsal vs. ventral cortical processing
Ventral cortical processing- allows for us to recognize objects but not move to grab them. (perception)
Dorsal cortical processing- allows us to be able to pick up an object but not recognize it. (action)
Parts of the ear
Outer ear
– Pinna
– Ear canal
The function of these two structures of the outer ear is to funnel the sound waves
to the eardrum.
Middle ear
– Ossicles (the 3 smallest bones in the body)
These bones vibrate from the sound waves hitting the eardrum at the same
frequency of the wave moving toward the inner ear.
Also known as the hammer, anvil, and the stirrup
Inner ear
– Cochlea
Converts vibrations into activity within the neurons
Has an inner cavity filled with fluid that is moved by the sound waves.
– Organ of corti
Has hair cells critical to hearing within it
Basilar membrane mechanics
– The membrane has hair cells that is critical to the sense of hearing. The hair cells have
cilia the are embedded within the cochlea touching the fluid within it this allows the hair
cells to get excited when the pressure deflects onto the cilia from the fluid being
disturbed.
, – Base of the membrane
More excited from tones of higher pitch
– Top of the membrane
More exited from tones of lower pitch
Pain (gate theory)
– Gate theory
o A theory that there is a neural mechanism within the spinal cord that acts as a gate which
blocks the feeling of pain from consciousness.
– Pain goes through the somatic nerves
Taste vs. Smell
– Gustation (taste)
o Detect taste with our taste buds on the tongues. Which are held within the papillae on the
tongue.
– Olfaction (smell)
o We have 1000 olfactory genes (347 code for olfactory receptors)
An odor can be detected by its shape by one of the olfactory neuron receptors.
(lock and key type of relationship)
Size and shape constancy
Allows us to see shapes and sizes for what they really are.
Gestalt laws (6)
– Proximity: when seeing things close together they are looked at, as a whole.
– Similarity: when things are equal, we see them as a whole.
o If there are dissimilar objects, such as red and yellow cubes mixed randomly we think
nothing of it.
o Now if the dissimilar objects such as the red and yellow cubes are placed in a line, we
then see it as rows.
– Continuity: if a part of an object is being covered, we still see the object as a whole
– Closure: our brains fill in the missing parts when we have only partial vision.
– Symmetry: we see things in symmetry as wholes
– Figure-ground: we focus on what we think is the figure we are supposed to be looking at rather
than the background.
Monocular vs. binocular vision (retinal disparity)
– monocular: use of one eye only. We rely on pictorial cues.
o Relative size
o Texture gradient
o Interposition
o Linear perspective
o Height in plane
o Light in shadows
– binocular: use of two eyes.
o Binocular disparity- the left and right eyes transmit quite different information for near
objects.
