PSYC 100 Chapter Notes - Chapter 4.2: Visual Cortex, Color Vision, Retina

• School: Queen's University
• Department: Psychology
• Course: PSYC 100
• Professor: Jordan Poppenk

Document Summary

Explain the different types of sensory energy in the different modalities, and which physical characteristics correspond to which psychological characteristics. Describe the visual system from eye to cortex. Describe how sensory information is translated by our visual system into psychological characteristics. Adequate stimulus: type of physical energy to which a sensory receptor is especially tuned. Light: form of electromagnetic energy: we are sensitive to a small range of spectrum; 400-700 nm, made out of photons, colour depends on wavelength or frequency of light, brightness = intensity, travels in waves. Characteristics of waves: wavelength: distance from crest of one wave to crest of next, amplitude: height of each wave; intensity depends on amplitude (higher hits retina) Iris changes size to increase or decrease amount of light entering eye: lens: transparent structure behind pupil, changes shape (through muscles); aka accommodation: This ability decreases with age (stiffens) amplitude = brighter)