In today's lecture we will complete our discussion of audition and then move to the discussion of the visual system. Finally, we will consider perception at a higher level (moving from peripheral sensory processes into brain processes). In particular, we will move from the underpinnings or workings of bottom up perceptual processes toward a discussion of some of the mechanisms underlying top down, contextually driven processes, and discuss how they work together to actively perceive the world.

The slides for today are a continuation of the set started last week. click here.

• Some operating characteristics of the auditory system. The eye and vision. Some operating characteristics of the eye (in addition to sensitivity and acuity), adaptation, etc.).
• Duplex theory of vision (two visual systems).
• Lateral inhibition and a focus on sensing spatial and temporal change in the world.
• The analysis of visual inputs--some brain functions in feature detection.
• Top-down and bottom-up processes in perception.
• Some examples of active perception.
• Contextually driven perceptual processes--the analysis of visual inputs. From lateral inhibition to frogs and cats: neural functioning in feature detection.
• Feature detection in cats and humans: the same kinds of features when you do single cell recording (cats) or stabilized retinal images (humans).
• Other examples of feature detection.
• Top down perceptual processes and one model of how they might be implemented. The important role played by context, expectation, motivation, etc. in allowing us to perceive the world. the basic moral is that we're not from Missouri!