Cog Sci C100 Midterm 1 | Questions and Correct
Answers | Latest Update 2024/2025 | Graded A+
Models of Object Perception - answer Template Matching Model
Feature-Analysis Model
Recognition by components Model
Prototype Model
Template Matching Model - answer Object perception involves a comparison of the stimulus
with a set of templates or specific patterns stored in memory.
Problem w/ this model:
cannot account for complexity and flexibility of object recognition (e.g individual differences in
handwriting)
Feature-analysis model - answer Discrimination of objects is based on a small number of
characteristics of stimuli
e.g People are faster at deciding whether the letters "G" and "M" are different than letters "P" and
"R"
Supported by neurological evidence - some neurons respond only to horizontal lines, others to
diagonals, etc.
Problem w/ this model:
Cannot explain recognition of complex objects with features that move/distort (e.g
horse/kangaroo)
recognition by components model - answer View that an object is represented as an arrangement
of simple 3-D shapes called geons.
-Cup/pail composed of cylinder and curved tube geons in a particular arrangement
, Prototype Model - answer Object perception involves a comparison of the stimulus with an
ideal, abstract example
- people are faster at identifying a sparrow as a bird than penguin
- one of the most famous models in all of cognitive psychology
-it has been hypothesized that our sensory systems act primarily as a selective filtering
mechanism
- But prototype theory suggests that our minds can also perceive objects in a very different way...
-that which is essential is invisible to the eye
Selective Filtering Mechanism (Baseline of the Prototype Model) - answer - This filter sorts
things according to a limited number of variables (e.g warm, unpleasant, green) out of which we
construct our world
Mindfulness - answer An alternative mode of perception.
Mindfulness is largely about seeing the "suchness" of things, that is , seeing things directly
without conceptual filters
- Our preconceived notions prevent us from seeing the real things in front of us.
Human Neurons - answer • Many different neurons connect to the dendrites of each neuron
-Some produce excitatory effect; others produce inhibitory effect
- There are also different levels of intensity of the effects
• If the activation of the neuron reaches a certain minimum threshold, the neuron will fire.
Artificial neural networks - answer • The nodes or neurons are organized into layers in much the
same way that human neural networks are
• The weights attached to the connections between pairs of units in adjacent layers determine the
overall behavior of the network
,− This is similar to the way in which excitatory and inhibitory neurons of various strengths
connect to a particular neuron in human neural networks
• The bias term indicates what the weighted sum needs to be before the node/neuron will activate
− This is similar to the threshold necessary for activation of a neuron in human neural networks
Two Pathways of Visual Perception - answer Active Pathway:
Activated when attention is directed actively towards a target
(I.e looking at every individual component in the circle example.)
Passive Pathway:
Activated when attention is based on "gut instinct"
eg. example with circles where participants used the secondary "passive" pathway to perform
task.
-Visual perception did not go through visual cortex
-Instead simply makes a very short loop through the limbic system: the emotional, instinctual
center of the brain.
As humans, we are cognitive beings who - answer • Acquire information about the world around
us
• Integrate that information with prior knowledge from our stored memory
• Store that knowledge in our memory so we can use it later to help us achieve our goals
First Step in the process of acquiring knowledge about the world involves: - answer Sensation
and Perception
Sensation - answer process by which our sensory receptors and nervous system receive stimulus
energies from the environment and transduce them into neural impulses
Perception - answer process of interpreting and organizing sensory information through use of
previous knowledge
, Evidence of two pathways - answer Rats auditory cortex was destroyed and then they were
exposed to a tone followed by an electric shock.
rats learned to fear tone, though they could not "hear it"
possible explanation:
the sound took the direct rout from ear to thalamus to amygdala, bypassing higher avenues.
Blindsight and the Second Pathway - answer the second pathway has been used to account for
this phenomenon where people who are blind due to damage in their visual cortex can "guess"
significantly above chance
- The Identity or location of particular objects
- The particular emotions expressed by a face in a photo in front of them
-> proposed mechanism for intuition
face recognition - answer Face Recognition is "special"
- Single cell recordings of monkeys show activation of particular cells in lower temporal lobe
only when full-face photos of other monkeys are presented
Recognition accuracy for faces and houses: parts vs. whole - answer •Participants were shown
series of faces with person's name and series of houses with owner's name
•Later on recognition test, they showed greater recall of
- Parts of Houses
-Whole Faces
People tend to perceive women more in parts
Prosopagnosia - answer failure to recognize particular people by the sight of their faces
-After stroke, a sheep rancher could not recognize people but could recognize sheep
Importance of Eyes - answer 70-90% of famous portrait painting sampled from the last 5
centuries have an eye at or within 5% of the painting's exact centerline
The benefits of buying summaries with Stuvia:
Guaranteed quality through customer reviews
Stuvia customers have reviewed more than 700,000 summaries. This how you know that you are buying the best documents.
Quick and easy check-out
You can quickly pay through credit card or Stuvia-credit for the summaries. There is no membership needed.
Focus on what matters
Your fellow students write the study notes themselves, which is why the documents are always reliable and up-to-date. This ensures you quickly get to the core!
Frequently asked questions
What do I get when I buy this document?
You get a PDF, available immediately after your purchase. The purchased document is accessible anytime, anywhere and indefinitely through your profile.
Satisfaction guarantee: how does it work?
Our satisfaction guarantee ensures that you always find a study document that suits you well. You fill out a form, and our customer service team takes care of the rest.
Who am I buying these notes from?
Stuvia is a marketplace, so you are not buying this document from us, but from seller TheExamMaestro. Stuvia facilitates payment to the seller.
Will I be stuck with a subscription?
No, you only buy these notes for $10.99. You're not tied to anything after your purchase.
