Hi: I have not been folloiwng this thread as closely as I should have given that I am now going to spout off about it, but I think what you describe is an after- image--which is distince from sensory memory in a very important way. I do believe that the preponderance of the research evidence suggest that the after- image is a peripheral nervous system event, both at the retinal level and the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus. After that synapse in the thalamus we move into the CNS for vision. Afterimages occur primarily because of the opponent processes described below, which can occur at either of those two places (retinal, LGN). Sensory memory, however is a CNS event, probably occurring in a secondary visual area of occipital cortex. Thus, there is now some top down input in the making sense of the stimulus--I would put it another way maybe: afterimage is like sensation, it is physical; and sensory memory is like perception, it is psychological.
Anyway, I hope this isn't too far off base from what you were looking for; I don't know the specific 'apparition' you discuss below. Annette Quoting J L Edwards <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > > Hi Jennifer: > > Thanks for the answer. Is this all sensory memory is? Afterimages? > > Jean > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "jpuente" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > To: "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > Sent: Sunday, November 02, 2003 1:07 PM > Subject: RE: apparition > > > Hi Jean, > > I think this can possibly be explained in terms of the Opponent Process > Theory > (although this was proposed to explain color vision). This was a theory > that > came out after Trichromatic (three color) Theory (proposed by Young and > Helmholtz), to account for visual phenomena like after images that this > initial color theory could not explain. > > Basically, the Opponent Process Theory states that after leaving the > receptor > cells, visual information is analyzed in terms of the opponent colors. > In the retina and thalamus some neurons turn on for red, for example, but > off > for green. This explains afterimages, in the example where you stared at the > black and white image you have attached to this email, you saw an after > image > because your receptor cells tired of sending black and white responses, > while > they are in their refractory period their opponent cells are more active. > > Keyword searches for after images, opponent processes, visual processing, > should yeild some interesting answers for you. Also check out information > about vision at the exploratorium website: > http://www.exploratorium.edu/seeing/index.html; > other visual exhibits at > http://www.exploratorium.edu/exhibits/f_exhibits.html > > Jennifer Puente, M.A., A.B.D. > Cognitive Psychologist > Department of Psychology > William R. Harper College > 1200 W. Algonquin Road > Palatine, Illinois 60067-7398 > > > Phone: (847) 925-6344 > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Web: http://www.harpercollege.edu > > > >===== Original Message From "Teaching in the Psychological Sciences" > <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ===== > >Hi everyone: > > > >A student sent this to me asking for an explanation. If you look at the > column of four dots in the center of the design for about 30 seconds and > then > look away or close your eyes, you will see a circle of white light shortly > followed by an image of a person with long hair and a mustache > >which then fades. > > > >Sensation & perception are not my area of expertise. Does this have > something > to do with vision? Would it also be an example of sensory memory? Could this > also help to explain reports of "ghosts"? > > > >Any help in explaining this to my student (and to me) would be greatly > appreciated. > > > >Thanks, > > > >Jean Edwards > >[EMAIL PROTECTED] (home) > >[EMAIL PROTECTED] (work) > > Jennifer Puente, M.A., A.B.D. > Cognitive Psychologist > Department of Psychology > William R. Harper College > 1200 W. Algonquin Road > Palatine, Illinois 60067-7398 > > Phone: (847) 925-6344 > Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Web: http://www.harpercollege.edu > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > --- > You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > Annette Kujawski Taylor, Ph. D. Department of Psychology University of San Diego 5998 Alcala Park San Diego, CA 92110 [EMAIL PROTECTED] --- You are currently subscribed to tips as: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To unsubscribe send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
