Psychology of Perception
Psychology 4165-581 Online
Spring 2016
Lewis O. Harvey, Jr.–Instructor
Steven M. Parker–Teaching Assistant
Study Guide for the second quiz (Friday, 26 February 2016). Be able to answer the following
questions and be familiar with the concepts involved in the answers. Review your textbook
reading, lectures, homework and lab assignments and be familiar with the concepts included in
them.
1. Describe the main difference between the three different kinds of cone receptors (S, M,
and L). How do these three cones account for the facts of color mixing (need only three
primaries to match all colors) and for the facts of color appearance (red-green and
yellow-blue opponency)?
20
-20
-40
- (blue)
0
+ (yellow)
40
2. Using the concepts in Chapter 5 and homework 4, discuss the evidence supporting the
existence ofthree types of cone receptors and
Opponent-Process Color Space
two opponent-process color mechanisms.
Describe their characteristics and present two
perceptual phenomena that can be explained by
them. Be prepared to describe the color
experience an observer will have if you know
the activity of the red-green and of the yellowblue chromatic channels. Where are the
psychologically pure colorsof red, yellow,
green and blue located in the r-g, y-b color
space? Where is gray located?
-40
-20
- (green)
0
20
40
+ (red)
3. Write out the formula for the size-distance hypothesis. What happens to the perceived
size of an object if its retinal size is reduced by 0.5 and its apparent distance is increased
by 2.0? What happens if the retinal size of an object remains the same but its apparent
distance is doubled? How does the size distance hypothesis explain the Moon Illusion?
What is another illusion of size that is explained by this hypothesis?
–1–
Psychology of Perception
Psychology 4165-581 Online
Spring 2016
Lewis O. Harvey, Jr.–Instructor
Steven M. Parker–Teaching Assistant
4.
5. In this figure from the textbook, assume that
the observer is fixating the red crayon with
both eyes. Which color crayon will have
negative (crossed) retinal disparity? Which
color crayon will have positive (uncrossed)
retinal disparity? How is retinal disparity
related to depth perception?
6. A photograph is usually presented on a flat surface, like the one here. The contents of the
photograph often contain multiple cues to depth. Some of these cues can result in a
perception of three-dimensionality even though the photograph is flat. What are these
depth cues?
Two cues to depth, however, will
indicate that the photograph is flat.
What are these two cues and how can
you eliminate them so as to enhance
your enjoyment of the depth experience
in the photo?
–2–