Question 1

Light shone onto the surround of an off-center receptive field causes _______ of the cell

Accepted Answer

A)  excitation 
B)  inhibition 
C)  integration 
D)  temporal Summation 
E)  accommodation 
A)  excitation 
B)  inhibition 
C)  integration 
D)  temporal Summation 
E)  accommodation

Question 2

Intracellular recordings from complex cells in the visual cortex reveals that these cells receive most of their synaptic contacts through long-latency inputs. What is the significance of this finding?

Accepted Answer

The student should answer that this resu

Question 3

The lateral geniculate nucleus is comprised of six layers. Each layer receives visual information from

Accepted Answer

A)  the entire visual field of one eye. 
B)  the entire visual field of both eyes. 
C)  half of the visual field of one eye. 
D)  half of the visual field of both eyes. 
E)  half of the inputs from each eye. 
A)  the entire visual field of one eye. 
B)  the entire visual field of both eyes. 
C)  half of the visual field of one eye. 
D)  half of the visual field of both eyes. 
E)  half of the inputs from each eye.

Question 4

The first general step in the analysis of the visual world is to

Accepted Answer

A)  define edges and lines. 
B)  categorize objects. 
C)  determine absolute light levels. 
D)  detect motion. 
E)  recognize faces. 
A)  define edges and lines. 
B)  categorize objects. 
C)  determine absolute light levels. 
D)  detect motion. 
E)  recognize faces.

Question 5

In which of the following layers of visual cortex are simple cells typically found?

Accepted Answer

A)  Layer 1 
B)  Deep layer 2 
C)  Superficial layer 3 
D)  Layer 4 
E)  Layer 5 
A)  Layer 1 
B)  Deep layer 2 
C)  Superficial layer 3 
D)  Layer 4 
E)  Layer 5

Question 6

Severing the optic chiasm along the midline will result in blindness in

Accepted Answer

A)  the left visual field. 
B)  the right visual field. 
C)  the central visual field. 
D)  the peripheral visual field. 
E)  all visual fields. 
A)  the left visual field. 
B)  the right visual field. 
C)  the central visual field. 
D)  the peripheral visual field. 
E)  all visual fields.

Question 7

A neuron in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) sends input to many visual cortical cells. This property is called

Accepted Answer

A)  receptive field. 
B)  convergence. 
C)  divergence. 
D)  accommodation. 
E)  dilation. 
A)  receptive field. 
B)  convergence. 
C)  divergence. 
D)  accommodation. 
E)  dilation.

Question 8

Experiments using calcium imaging to examine responses of cells in mouse visual cortex to moving gratings reveals that

Accepted Answer

A)  cortical cells do not respond to drifting grating stimuli. 
B)  neighboring cortical cells show similar responses. 
C)  cellular responses are selective for the direction of the stimulus. 
D)  orthogonal stimuli activate overlapping populations of neurons. 
E)  mouse visual cortex is arranged identically to primate visual cortex. 
A)  cortical cells do not respond to drifting grating stimuli. 
B)  neighboring cortical cells show similar responses. 
C)  cellular responses are selective for the direction of the stimulus. 
D)  orthogonal stimuli activate overlapping populations of neurons. 
E)  mouse visual cortex is arranged identically to primate visual cortex.

Question 9

Binocular receptive fields found in cortical simple cells can be used in the perception of

Accepted Answer

A)  movement. 
B)  depth. 
C)  color. 
D)  size. 
E)  light. 
A)  movement. 
B)  depth. 
C)  color. 
D)  size. 
E)  light.

Question 10

The orientation of a bar of light is important for responses for which of the following cell types?

Accepted Answer

A)  Photoreceptor 
B)  Retinal ganglion cell 
C)  Lateral geniculate nucleus cell 
D)  Cortical simple cell 
E)  None of the above 
A)  Photoreceptor 
B)  Retinal ganglion cell 
C)  Lateral geniculate nucleus cell 
D)  Cortical simple cell 
E)  None of the above

Question 11

Which of the following is a difference between simple and complex cells in the visual cortex?

Accepted Answer

A)  Simple cells have end inhibition while complex cells do not. 
B)  Simple cells have orientation selectivity while complex cells do not. 
C)  Simple cells have distinct "off" regions while complex cells do not. 
D)  Simple cells have binocular visual fields while complex cells do not. 
E)  Simple cells have movement sensitivity while complex cells do not. 
A)  Simple cells have end inhibition while complex cells do not. 
B)  Simple cells have orientation selectivity while complex cells do not. 
C)  Simple cells have distinct "off" regions while complex cells do not. 
D)  Simple cells have binocular visual fields while complex cells do not. 
E)  Simple cells have movement sensitivity while complex cells do not.

Question 12

Describe how the visual system uses information about local differences in illumination to convey information about the visual world. Use examples as appropriate.

Accepted Answer

The student should answer with an explan

Question 13

The relationship between the center and surround portions of the Retinal Ganglion Cell receptive field can best be described as

Accepted Answer

A)  synchronous. 
B)  subtractive. 
C)  antagonistic. 
D)  synergistic. 
E)  mutually compatible. 
A)  synchronous. 
B)  subtractive. 
C)  antagonistic. 
D)  synergistic. 
E)  mutually compatible.

Question 14

What is meant by an "excitatory" portion of the receptive field?

Accepted Answer

A)  The portion of the receptive field that increases the number of action potentials fired by a cell 
B)  The portion of the receptive field that decreases the number of action potentials fired by a cell 
C)  The portion of the receptive field that causes the action potentials fired by a cell to increase in size 
D)  The portion of the receptive field that causes the action potentials fired by a cell to decrease in size 
E)  The portion of the receptive field that causes other neurons to fire action potentials 
A)  The portion of the receptive field that increases the number of action potentials fired by a cell 
B)  The portion of the receptive field that decreases the number of action potentials fired by a cell 
C)  The portion of the receptive field that causes the action potentials fired by a cell to increase in size 
D)  The portion of the receptive field that causes the action potentials fired by a cell to decrease in size 
E)  The portion of the receptive field that causes other neurons to fire action potentials

Question 15

What is one result of converging input in the visual system?

Accepted Answer

A)  Assembly of complex receptive fields from simpler ones 
B)  Conductance of action potentials to the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus 
C)  Sharing information from one part of the visual field to many cells 
D)  A reduction in receptive field size from photoreceptors to LGN cells 
E)  Monocular receptive fields 
A)  Assembly of complex receptive fields from simpler ones 
B)  Conductance of action potentials to the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus 
C)  Sharing information from one part of the visual field to many cells 
D)  A reduction in receptive field size from photoreceptors to LGN cells 
E)  Monocular receptive fields

Question 16

In the visual cortex, a complex cell's receptive field requires that a stimulus fall

Accepted Answer

A)  only on the center of the receptive field in any orientation. 
B)  only on the surround of the receptive field in any orientation. 
C)  anywhere in the receptive field in a specific orientation. 
D)  anywhere in the receptive field in any orientation. 
E)  on both eyes simultaneously. 
A)  only on the center of the receptive field in any orientation. 
B)  only on the surround of the receptive field in any orientation. 
C)  anywhere in the receptive field in a specific orientation. 
D)  anywhere in the receptive field in any orientation. 
E)  on both eyes simultaneously.

Question 17

Discuss the function of a receptive field with end inhibition, and explain how it differs from a conventional "off" region of a receptive field

Accepted Answer

The student should explain that a cell e

Question 18

Many cells respond best to bars of light moving in one direction. This property of direction selectivity is found commonly in

Accepted Answer

A)  photoreceptors. 
B)  retinal ganglion cells. 
C)  LGN cells. 
D)  simple cells. 
E)  complex cells. 
A)  photoreceptors. 
B)  retinal ganglion cells. 
C)  LGN cells. 
D)  simple cells. 
E)  complex cells.

Question 19

Describe the progression of image information from the photoreceptors to the primary visual cortex. What information is being conveyed at each stage?

Accepted Answer

Photoreceptors detect light at a particu

Question 20

What role does integration play in the receptive field of a retinal ganglion cell?

Accepted Answer

The student should explain that the rece

Exam 2: Signaling in the Visual System

Light shone onto the surround of an off-center receptive field causes _______ of the cell

Intracellular recordings from complex cells in the visual cortex reveals that these cells receive most of their synaptic contacts through long-latency inputs. What is the significance of this finding?

The lateral geniculate nucleus is comprised of six layers. Each layer receives visual information from

The first general step in the analysis of the visual world is to

In which of the following layers of visual cortex are simple cells typically found?

Severing the optic chiasm along the midline will result in blindness in

A neuron in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) sends input to many visual cortical cells. This property is called

Experiments using calcium imaging to examine responses of cells in mouse visual cortex to moving gratings reveals that

Binocular receptive fields found in cortical simple cells can be used in the perception of

The orientation of a bar of light is important for responses for which of the following cell types?

Which of the following is a difference between simple and complex cells in the visual cortex?

Describe how the visual system uses information about local differences in illumination to convey information about the visual world. Use examples as appropriate.

The relationship between the center and surround portions of the Retinal Ganglion Cell receptive field can best be described as

What is meant by an "excitatory" portion of the receptive field?

What is one result of converging input in the visual system?

In the visual cortex, a complex cell's receptive field requires that a stimulus fall

Discuss the function of a receptive field with end inhibition, and explain how it differs from a conventional "off" region of a receptive field

Many cells respond best to bars of light moving in one direction. This property of direction selectivity is found commonly in

Describe the progression of image information from the photoreceptors to the primary visual cortex. What information is being conveyed at each stage?

What role does integration play in the receptive field of a retinal ganglion cell?

Principles of Signaling and Organization

Functional Architecture of the Visual Cortex

Ion Channels and Signaling

Structure of Ion Channels

Ionic Basis of the Resting Potential

Ionic Basis of the Action Potential

Electrical Signaling in Neurons

Ion Transport Across Cell Membranes

Properties and Functions of Neuroglial Cells

Mechanisms of Direct Synaptic Transmission

Indirect Mechanisms of Synaptic Transmission

Release of Neurotransmitters

Neurotransmitters in the Central Nervous System

Transmitter Synthesis, Storage, Transport, and Inactivation

Synaptic Plasticity

The Molecular and Cellular Biology of Synaptic Plasticity

Mechanisms of Extrasynaptic Communication

Autonomic Nervous System

Walking, Flying, and Swimming: Cellular Mechanisms of Sensorimotor Behavior in Invertebrates

Sensory Transduction

Transduction and Transmission in the Retina

Touch, Pain, and Texture Sensation

Auditory and Vestibular Sensation

Constructing Perception

Initiation and Control of Coordinated Muscular Movements

Development of the Nervous System

Critical Periods in Sensory Systems

Regeneration and Repair of Synaptic Connections After Injury

Appendix

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