Psychology 3203

Questions to Ponder before Test 3

1. What is a binocular depth cue?

2. Be able to identify the difference between corresponding and noncorresponding retinal points. What conditions produce each?

3. What is the horopter? What is special about the retinal images of objects that are on the horopter?

4. Diagram two objects, one of which is in front of the horopter and another object that is beyond the horopter, and indicate where their retinal images will be located. Understand the difference between crossed and uncrossed disparity.

5. Imagine that you are sitting in class and you look at various people/objects. Explain how retinal disparity changes as you look about the room.

6. Understand how binocular stereograms, anaglyphs, and single image stereograms produce depth effects.

7. What is a monocular depth cue? What are examples of monocular depth cues? What is "linear perspective"?

8. What is an "Ames room"? Understand how an Ames room is constructed to create its illusion. Is it a size illusion or a depth illusion?

9. What is speed constancy and velocity transposition? Does speed of an image across the retina predict our experience of object speed? Why or why not?

10. What is "corollary discharge theory"? Understand how corollary discharge theory applies to concrete situations in which your eyes may be moving (or not) and an object may be moving (or not).

11. Understand how corollary discharge theory accounts for the case examples we discussed in class.

12. What is the autokinetic effect? Explain how corollary discharge theory accounts for these effects.

13. What is stroboscopic motion? What is the difference between beta and phi motion? What is seen in each case? Which one did Gestalt psychology consider more important? Why?

14. What is the approach of Gibson in "ecological psychology"? What is motion parallax? Why did Gibson think that motion parallax was important? Why did Gibson think that the Ames room was not important?

15. What is the Figure-Ground distinction in Gestalt psychology? How is that related to ambiguous figures like Rubin's vase?

16. What is Pragnanz? Be able to apply the Grouping Principles to concrete situations.

17. What is Change Blindness? How is it related to the Gestalt grouping principles?