Question 1

Which of the following is true?

Accepted Answer

A)  The absolute threshold for any stimulus is a constant. 
B)  The absolute threshold for any stimulus varies somewhat. 
C)  The absolute threshold is defined as the minimum amount of stimulation necessary for a stimulus to be detected 75 percent of the time. 
D)  The absolute threshold is defined as the minimum amount of stimulation necessary for a stimulus to be detected 60 percent of the time. 
A)  The absolute threshold for any stimulus is a constant. 
B)  The absolute threshold for any stimulus varies somewhat. 
C)  The absolute threshold is defined as the minimum amount of stimulation necessary for a stimulus to be detected 75 percent of the time. 
D)  The absolute threshold is defined as the minimum amount of stimulation necessary for a stimulus to be detected 60 percent of the time.

Question 2

Which theory predicts when we will first notice a faint stimulus presented amid competing background stimulation?

Accepted Answer

A)  place theory 
B)  frequency theory 
C)  signal-detection theory 
D)  opponent-process 
A)  place theory 
B)  frequency theory 
C)  signal-detection theory 
D)  opponent-process

Question 3

A decrease in sensory responsiveness accompanying an unchanging stimulus is called

Accepted Answer

A)  sensory fatigue. 
B)  bottom-up processing. 
C)  sensory adaptation. 
D)  transduction. 
A)  sensory fatigue. 
B)  bottom-up processing. 
C)  sensory adaptation. 
D)  transduction.

Question 4

Visual perceptions of objects often change when the objects are viewed in different surroundings. This best illustrates

Accepted Answer

A)  blindsight. 
B)  Weber's law. 
C)  context effects. 
D)  sensory adaptation. 
A)  blindsight. 
B)  Weber's law. 
C)  context effects. 
D)  sensory adaptation.

Question 5

Berdine has developed cataracts in both eyes, preventing her from being able to identify even her mother's face. Berdine most clearly suffers a deficiency in

Accepted Answer

A)  signal detection. 
B)  accommodation. 
C)  bottom-up processing. 
D)  psychophysics. 
A)  signal detection. 
B)  accommodation. 
C)  bottom-up processing. 
D)  psychophysics.

Question 6

The process of receiving and representing stimulus energies by the nervous system is called

Accepted Answer

A)  priming. 
B)  adaptation. 
C)  accommodation. 
D)  sensation. 
A)  priming. 
B)  adaptation. 
C)  accommodation. 
D)  sensation.

Question 7

The tendency to perceive a moving light in the night sky as belonging to an airplane rather than a weather balloon best illustrates the impact of

Accepted Answer

A)  signal detection. 
B)  sensory adaptation. 
C)  perceptual set. 
D)  bottom-up processing. 
A)  signal detection. 
B)  sensory adaptation. 
C)  perceptual set. 
D)  bottom-up processing.

Question 8

Patients who have negative expectations about the outcome of a surgical procedure may experience increased postoperative pain. This best illustrates the importance of

Accepted Answer

A)  accommodation. 
B)  sensory adaptation. 
C)  difference thresholds. 
D)  top-down processing. 
A)  accommodation. 
B)  sensory adaptation. 
C)  difference thresholds. 
D)  top-down processing.

Question 9

If a partially deaf person's hearing ability ________, his or her absolute threshold for sound ________.

Accepted Answer

A)  improves; remains unchanged 
B)  worsens; decreases 
C)  worsens; remains unchanged 
D)  improves; decreases 
A)  improves; remains unchanged 
B)  worsens; decreases 
C)  worsens; remains unchanged 
D)  improves; decreases

Question 10

A subliminal message is one that is presented

Accepted Answer

A)  below one's absolute threshold for conscious awareness. 
B)  in a manner that is unconsciously persuasive. 
C)  with very soft background music. 
D)  repetitiously. 
A)  below one's absolute threshold for conscious awareness. 
B)  in a manner that is unconsciously persuasive. 
C)  with very soft background music. 
D)  repetitiously.

Question 11

Which of the following is an example of sensory adaptation?

Accepted Answer

A)  finding the cold water of a swimming pool warmer after you have been in it for a while 
B)  developing an increased sensitivity to salt the more you use it in foods 
C)  becoming very irritated at the continuing sound of a dripping faucet 
D)  All of these are examples. 
A)  finding the cold water of a swimming pool warmer after you have been in it for a while 
B)  developing an increased sensitivity to salt the more you use it in foods 
C)  becoming very irritated at the continuing sound of a dripping faucet 
D)  All of these are examples.

Question 12

Experiments evaluating the impact of subliminal self-help recordings for improving memory indicated that they

Accepted Answer

A)  interfere with people's capacity for sensory adaptation. 
B)  did not help more than a placebo. 
C)  improve people's capacity for parallel processing. 
D)  have a positive long-lasting impact on people's health. 
A)  interfere with people's capacity for sensory adaptation. 
B)  did not help more than a placebo. 
C)  improve people's capacity for parallel processing. 
D)  have a positive long-lasting impact on people's health.

Question 13

During a hearing test, many sounds were presented at such a low level of intensity that Mr. Antall could hardly detect them. These sounds were below Mr. Antall's

Accepted Answer

A)  perceptual set. 
B)  absolute threshold. 
C)  prosopagnosia. 
D)  difference threshold. 
A)  perceptual set. 
B)  absolute threshold. 
C)  prosopagnosia. 
D)  difference threshold.

Question 14

The minimum amount of stimulation a person needs to detect a stimulus 50 percent of the time is called the

Accepted Answer

A)  critical period. 
B)  just noticeable difference. 
C)  perceptual set. 
D)  absolute threshold. 
A)  critical period. 
B)  just noticeable difference. 
C)  perceptual set. 
D)  absolute threshold.

Exam 17: Basic Principles of Sensation and Perception

Which of the following is true?

Which theory predicts when we will first notice a faint stimulus presented amid competing background stimulation?

A decrease in sensory responsiveness accompanying an unchanging stimulus is called

Visual perceptions of objects often change when the objects are viewed in different surroundings. This best illustrates

Berdine has developed cataracts in both eyes, preventing her from being able to identify even her mother's face. Berdine most clearly suffers a deficiency in

The process of receiving and representing stimulus energies by the nervous system is called

The tendency to perceive a moving light in the night sky as belonging to an airplane rather than a weather balloon best illustrates the impact of

Patients who have negative expectations about the outcome of a surgical procedure may experience increased postoperative pain. This best illustrates the importance of

If a partially deaf person's hearing ability ________, his or her absolute threshold for sound ________.

A subliminal message is one that is presented

Which of the following is an example of sensory adaptation?

Experiments evaluating the impact of subliminal self-help recordings for improving memory indicated that they

During a hearing test, many sounds were presented at such a low level of intensity that Mr. Antall could hardly detect them. These sounds were below Mr. Antall's

The minimum amount of stimulation a person needs to detect a stimulus 50 percent of the time is called the

The Story of Psychology

A: the Story of Psychology

Thinking Critically With Psychological Science

A: Thinking Critically With Psychological Science

Research Strategies

A: Research Strategies

Neural and Hormonal Systems

A: Neural and Hormonal Systems

Tools of Discovery and Older Brain Structures

A: Tools of Discovery and Older Brain Structures

The Cerebral Cortex and Our Divided Brain

A: the Cerebral Cortex and Our Divided Brain

Brain States and Consciousness

A: Brain States and Consciousness

Sleep and Dreams

A: Sleep and Dreams

Hypnosis

A: Hypnosis

Drugs and Consciousness

A: Drugs and Consciousness

Behavior Genetics and Evolutionary Psychology

A: Behavior Genetics and Evolutionary Psychology

Culture, Gender, and Other Environmental Influences

A: Culture, Gender, and Other Environmental Influences

Developmental Issues, Prenatal Development

A: Developmental Issues, Prenatal Development

Infancy and Childhood

A: Infancy and Childhood

Adolescence

A: Adolescence

Adulthood

A: Adulthood

A: Basic Principles of Sensation and Perception

Vision and Perceptual Organization and Interpretation

A: Vision and Perceptual Organization and Interpretation

The Nonvisual Senses

A: the Nonvisual Senses

Basic Learning Concepts and Classical Conditioning

A: Basic Learning Concepts and Classical Conditioning

Operant Conditioning

A: Operant Conditioning

Effects of Biology and Cognition

A: Effects of Biology and Cognition

Studying and Building Memories

A: Studying and Building Memories

Storage- Retaining Information in the Brain

A: Storage A: Retaining Information in the Brain

Retrieval

A: Retrieval

Forgetting, Memory Construction

A: Forgetting, Memory Construction

Thinking

A: Thinking

Language and Thought

A: Language and Thought

Introduction to Intelligence

A: Introduction to Intelligence

Assessing Intelligence

A: Assessing Intelligence

Genetic and Environmental Influences on Intelligence

A: Genetic and Environmental Influences on Intelligence

Basic Motivational Concepts and Hunger

A: Basic Motivational Concepts and Hunger

Sexual Motivation and the Need to Belong

A: Sexual Motivation and the Need to Belong

If a partially deaf person's hearing ability , his or her absolute threshold for sound .