detection of stimuli below absolute threshold

when one sort of sensation (such as hearing a sound) produces another (such as seeing color)

monocular cue for depth perception; a gradual change from course, distinct texture to fine, indistinct texture signals increasing distance

information processing guided by higher-level mental process, as when we construct perceptions drawing out our experience and expectation.

conversion of one form of energy into another. In sensation, the transforming of stimulus energies into neural impulses

the process by which our receptors receive and represent stimulus energies from our environment.

diminished sensitivity as a consequence of constant stimulation.

Specialized structures that detect specific types of environmental stimuli and transduce them into neural signals

a theory predicting how and when we detect the presence of a faint stimuli ("signal") amid background stimulation ("noise").

Gestalt grouping principle; we group similar figures together

monocular cue for depth perception; we perceive objects higher in our visual field to be farther away. Explanation for why the "bottom" of a figure-ground illusion usually is interpreted as the "figure"

monocular cue for depth perception; as we move, stationary objects seem to "move" as well. Objects above a fixation point move "with" us, objects below the fixation point move "past" us.

monocular cue for depth perception; if we assume two objects are similar in size, most people perceive the one that casts the smaller retinal image to be farther away

a binocular cue for perceiving depth; by comparing the images of the retinas of the two eyes, the brain computes distance. The greater the disparity (difference) between the two images, the closer the object

ability to attend to only a limited amount of sensory information at one time

Activation, often unconsciously, of certain associations, thus predisposing one's perception, memory, or response

inability to recognize or perceive faces

Gestalt grouping principle; we group nearby figures together

the study of relationship between the physical characteristic of stimuli, such as their intensity, and our psychological experience of them.

monocular cue for depth perception; objects that seem "fuzzier" or less clear are perceived to be farther away.

the ability to adjust to an altered perceptual reality; in vision, the ability to adjust to an artificially displaced or inverted visual field (as when wearing visual displacement goggles).

perceiving objects as unchanging (having consistent shapes, size, lightness, and color) even as illumination and retinal images change

mental predisposition to perceive a specific stimulus as one thing and not another (for example, due to suggestion or expectations based on prior learning)

an illusion of movement created when two or more adjacent lights blink on and off in rapid succession

monocular cue for depth perception; if one object partially blocks our view of another object, we perceive it as closer

monocular cue for depth perception; nearby objects reflect more light to our eyes...thus, given two identical objects, the dimmer one seems farther away. Also, shading produces a sense of depth consistent with our assumption that light comes from above.

monocular cue for depth perception; parallel lines, such as railroad tracks, appear to converge with distance. The more they converge, the greater the perceived distance

depth cues that only require input from one eye; often used in 2D art to create illusion of depth

the study of paranormal phenomena, including ESP and psychokinesis

laboratory device for testing depth perception among infants and young animals; its use demonstrated that, among most species, animals have the ability to perceive depth by the time they are mobile

the phenomenon that occurs when vision overtakes some other, conflicting sensory input

Subliminal sensation

the principle that, to be perceived as different, two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum percentage (rather than a constant amount)