Chapter 6

1. Chapter 6 Perception

2. Perceptual Illusions • Illusions mislead us • playing on the ways we organize and interpret information • Understanding • Illusions provide clues to the ordinary mechanisms of perception • Vision Capture • When there is conflict between vision and other sensations: vision dominates

10. Perceptual Organization

11. Gestalt Psychology • Describe principle by which we organize our sensations into perceptions • Given a cluster of sensation human organize them into gestalts • German meaning “form” whole” • We are always filtering sensory information in ways that makes sense

12. Figure-Ground Relationship • First task in perception is to perceive any object (Figure) as distinct from its surroundings (Ground) • Then organize into a meaning form • Proximity: group nearby figures together • Similarity: group similar figures together • Continuity: perceive smooth continuous patterns • Connectedness: perceive spots lines or areas and a single unit • Closure: we fill in gaps to create a whole project

13. Depth Perception • Many species have depth perception at or very soon after birth • Transformation of two-dimensional retinal images into three deminsional using: • Binocular Cues which include retinal disparity and convergences • Monocular Cues

22. Stroboscopic Movement and Phi Phenomenon The Brain computes motion as objects move across towards the retina Stroboscopic Movement: brain interprets a rapid series of varying images as continuous movement Phi Phenomenon: Created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off

26. Perceptual Constancies • Perceptual Constancy • We perceive things as unchanging even as illumination and retinal images change • Given the perceived distance of an object we instantly and unconsciously infer the objects size

27. Perceptual Interpretation

28. Nature v. Nuture • Immanuel Kant • Knowledge comes from our innate ways of organizing sensory experiences • John Locke • We learn to perceive the world through our experiences of it • Experiences do help: Blind unable to distinguish forms once gaining sight

29. Adaptability • Human perception is remarkably adaptable • Turn the world upside down or distort our visions and we are able to adjust fairly quickly • Unless your pulled over for a DUI then your screwed!!!

30. Assumptions, Expectations, and Contexts • Through experiences we form concepts (schemas) which organize and interpret familiar information • Why some see UFO’s when other’s see planes, or others see Bigfoot while others see bushes!