Deck 3: Sensation and Perception

Question 1

The study of relationships between the characteristics of external stimuli and sensations is called

A)psychophysics.
B)perception.
C)parapsychology.
D)subliminal perception.
E)sensory adaptation.

Answer 1

psychophysics.

Question 2

Dr. Dawson's research program is concerned with how a person's experience changes as the intensity of a sound is increased. Dawson is studying

A)psychophysics.
B)subliminal perception.
C)perceptual constancy.
D)extrasensory perception.
E)parapsychology.

Answer 2

psychophysics.

Question 3

In the process of sensation, the sensory receptors

A)make sense of external stimulation.
B)assemble information from various sensory organs into meaningful patterns.
C)form meaningful representations of sensory information.
D)transform sensory signals into neural signals.
E)interpret the meaning of sensory data.

Answer 3

transform sensory signals into neural signals.

Question 4

The process by which we receive, transform, and process stimuli is

A)sensation.
B)perception.
C)telepathy.
D)habituation.
E)psychophysics.

Question 5

The process of sensation enables us to _________, where the process of perception enables us to _________.

A)detect the world around us; make sense of the world around us
B)make sense of the world around us; detect the world around us
C)form meaningful representations of sensory information; experience the rich tapestry of colors and sounds
D)transform sensory signals into sensations; convert external stimulation into neural signals
E)convert external stimulation into neural signals; transform sensory signals into sensations

Question 6

The minimal difference between two stimuli that people can reliably detect is the

A)absolute threshold.
B)difference threshold.
C)perceptual threshold.
D)sensitivity threshold.
E)Weber's constant.

Question 7

Which of the following absolute thresholds for taste is correct?

A)Detecting a gram of salt dissolved in five gallons of water
B)Detecting a difference in tastes between two spots on the tongue, one-eighth of an inch apart
C)Detecting one teaspoon of sugar dissolved in two gallons of water
D)Detecting a teaspoon of vinegar mixed in with two gallons of water
E)Detecting the sweetness of a fruit while blindfolded

Question 8

Graduate student Shalanda Huffman studies how physical sources of stimulation relate to the physical experience of these stimuli. Huffman's field of study is called

A)subliminal perception.
B)perception.
C)parapsychology.
D)psychophysics.
E)sensory adaptation.

Question 9

Weber's constant for brightness of lights is

A)one-seventh.
B)one-tenth.
C)one-sixtieth.
D)one-fiftieth.
E)one-twentieth.

Question 10

The smallest amount of a stimulus that a person can reliably detect is called

A)absolute threshold.
B)difference threshold.
C)just-noticeable difference.
D)perceptual constancy.
E)Weber's constant.

Question 11

Weber's law suggests that

A)absolute threshold measurements underestimate true perceptual sensitivity.
B)difference thresholds are a constant proportion of the original stimulus.
C)difference thresholds are a constant quantity.
D)difference thresholds decrease as stimuli increase.
E)difference thresholds increase as stimuli decrease.

Question 12

Which of the following is FALSE regarding sensory receptors?

A)They are specialized cells.
B)They allow us to detect difference thresholds but not absolute thresholds.
C)They are located in sensory organs.
D)They detect stimuli from the environment.
E)They convert external stimuli into neural impulses used to create sensations.

Question 13

Difference thresholds are determined by a constant fraction of the magnitude of the original stimulus. This is the premise of

A)Weber's law.
B)selective attention theory.
C)Gestalt laws of perceptual organization.
D)signal-detection theory.
E)the volley principle.

Question 14

In the process of perception, the brain

A)senses the presence of objects in the world.
B)produces experiences of vision, hearing, and so on.
C)forms meaningful impressions by piecing together sensory information.
D)transforms sensory signals into sensations.
E)converts external stimulation into neural signals.

Question 15

Psychophysics began with the work of which 19th-century German scientist(s)?

A)David Hubel and Torsten Wiesel
B)Hermann von Helmholtz and Ewald Hering
C)Wilhelm Wundt
D)Ernst Weber
E)Gustav Fechner

Question 16

A psychologist Dr. Shonda Romblay is conducting an experiment to determine how different intensities of light affect the sensations these stimuli produce. The field of study she is exploring is called

A)psychomotor processing.
B)parapsychology.
C)psychophysics.
D)psychochemistry.
E)psychological adaptation.

Question 17

The specialized cells in sense organs that detect external stimuli are called

A)dichromats.
B)sensory neurons.
C)bipolar cells.
D)ganglion cells.
E)sensory receptors.

Question 18

In the study of sensory system functioning, ______ is to absolute threshold as ______ is to difference threshold.

A)Gustav Fechner; Ernst Weber
B)Ernst Weber; Gustav Fechner
C)Wilhelm Wundt; Ernst Weber
D)Max Wertheimer; Thomas Young
E)Gustav Fechner; Wilhelm Wundt

Question 19

Hans and Franz lift weights at their local gym. When their trainer adds a two-pound weight to Hans's normal 50-pound load, Hans immediately notices. However, when the same two-pound weight is added to Franz's normal 200-pound load, he isn't aware of the extra weight. The difference in Hans's and Franz's experience is consistent with

A)absolute threshold theory.
B)difference threshold theory.
C)Weber's Law.
D)signal-detection theory.
E)Gestalt laws of perceptual organization.

Question 20

Regarding the absolute and difference thresholds, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)The amount a stimulus must change to detect a difference is given by a constant proportion of the original stimulus.
B)Just-noticeable difference is another term for difference threshold.
C)People differ in their absolute thresholds.
D)People are more sensitive to changes in pitch than to changes in volume.
E)The difference threshold is the same for each of the senses.

Question 21

______ is the visual process by which the lens changes its shape to focus images more clearly on the retina.

A)Convergence
B)Retinal disparity
C)Habituation
D)Accommodation
E)Closure

Question 22

Other factors being equal, which sensory stimulus is least likely to lead to sensory adaptation?

A)the wail of a loud car alarm
B)the pressure of wearing a new ring on one's finger
C)the intense odors of a cattle farm
D)the pressure of wearing a new bracelet on one's wrist
E)the temperature of water when entering a pool

Question 23

In the human eye, rods are to _____ as cones are to _____.

A)light; color
B)color; light
C)retina; pupil
D)monochromat; dichromat
E)dichromat; monochromat

Question 24

In vision, the photoreceptors are called

A)retina, lens, and pupil.
B)olfactory bulbs.
C)semicircular canals and vestibular sacs.
D)pheromones.
E)rods and cones.

Question 25

Dr. Rhoden conducts animal experiments on visual perception. Rhoden wants to stop the animal's pupil from changing size, so he paralyzes the

A)cornea.
B)iris.
C)lens.
D)retina.
E)pupil.

Question 26

According to signal detection theory, the threshold for detecting a signal depends on

A)the properties of the stimulus, like its intensity.
B)the amount and type of background noise.
C)both the properties of the stimulus and the amount and type of background noise.
D)the biological and psychological characteristics of the perceiver.
E)the properties of the stimulus, background noise, and biological and psychological characteristics of the perceiver.

Question 27

Which part of the eye gives a person her/his eye color?

A)cornea
B)iris
C)pupil
D)fovea
E)retina

Question 28

Signal detection theory predicts all but which of the following?

A)Arturro more often notices the aroma wafting from his neighbor's apartment after he has eaten than when he is hungry.
B)During allergy season, Bettina's sense of smell becomes duller.
C)When her stereo is on, Carolyn does not notice an increase in her neighbor's television volume, but, when she is reading a book, Carolyn immediately notices the increased volume.
D)As he has gotten older, David notices that his sense of taste has diminished.
E)Etyda walks the same route every day. Now that the days are getting shorter and part of her walk is in the dark, Etyda notices more sounds that signal possible danger.

Question 29

Sebastian's eyeball is shorter than normal. Light from nearby objects is focused behind his retina instead of on his retina. What condition does Sebastian have?

A)Nearsightedness
B)Blindness
C)Monochromatic color blindness
D)Red-green color blindness
E)Farsightedness

Question 30

A recipe requires 10 grams of salt. According to Weber's constant for saltiness, which is 1/5, how much more salt must a chef add to make the recipe noticeably saltier?

A)1/5 of a gram
B)2 grams
C)5 grams
D)10.5 grams
E)1/5 of a gram squared

Question 31

When Harold first enters his swimming pool, the water feels uncomfortably cold. Five minutes later, it feels comfortable to Harold. This is an example of

A)convergence.
B)sensory adaptation.
C)selective attention.
D)accommodation.
E)just-noticeable difference.

Question 32

According to Weber's Law, a person would be most sensitive to changes in which sensation?

A)the loudness of sounds
B)the heaviness of weight
C)the saltiness of food
D)brightness of lights
E)the pitch of sounds

Question 33

The part of the eye that changes shape to adjust for an object's distance is the

A)lens.
B)pupil.
C)cornea.
D)retina.
E)iris.

Question 34

A foreign object has entered Kiara's eye, leaving a scratch. The part of Kiara's eye that is affected is her

A)pupil.
B)iris.
C)lens.
D)fovea.
E)cornea.

Question 35

Regarding light and vision, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Light is physical energy in the form of electromagnetic radiation.
B)The visible spectrum that humans perceive represents only a small portion of the full spectrum of "light."
C)Human vision perceives wavelengths of light between approximately 300 and 750 nanometers.
D)X-rays, ultraviolet waves, and radio waves are portions of the electromagnetic radiation spectrum that humans cannot "see."
E)Of the colors, red has the shortest wavelength.

Question 36

The idea that the threshold for sensing a stimulus depends not only on the properties of the stimulus itself but on the level of background stimulation, as well as characteristics of the perceiver, is explained by

A)Weber's Law.
B)the volley principle.
C)opponent-process theory.
D)signal-detection theory.
E)sensory adaptation.

Question 37

Repeated exposure to the same stimulus ______ leads to _____ sensitivity in our sensory systems.

A)always; reduced
B)always; no change in
C)sometimes; reduced
D)sometimes; no change in
E)sometimes; reduced or no change in

Question 38

When sensory systems become less sensitive to unchanging stimuli, it is called

A)accommodation.
B)sensory adaptation.
C)precognition.
D)threshold degradation.
E)subliminal perception.

Question 39

Which of the following describes the pupil?

A)opening through which light enters the eye
B)part of the eye that adjusts its shape to view objects at varying distances
C)transparent covering at the front of the eye
D)part of the eye that contains the photoreceptors
E)structure responsible for peripheral vision

Question 40

Which of the following is a psychological factor that influences a person's threshold for determining a signal?

A)The sensitivity of their visual system
B)Their level of fatigue
C)Their physical health
D)The sensitivity of their auditory system
E)Their motivational state

Question 41

Regarding vision, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Objects are seen most clearly when their images are focused on the fovea.
B)Cones, which are more sensitive to light than rods, are responsible for peripheral vision and vision in dim light.
C)Light enters the eye through the cornea and then passes through the pupil and lens, which focuses the light on the retina.
D)As a form of physical energy, light is the stimulus to which receptors in the eyes respond.
E)Vision is the process by which light energy is converted into neural impulses that the brain interprets as the experience of sight.

Question 42

The optic nerve consists of the axons of the _____ cells and exits the eye in the _____.

A)bipolar; fovea
B)bipolar; blind spot
C)ganglion; fovea
D)ganglion; blind spot
E)optic; blind spot

Question 43

The ratio of rods to cones is approximately

A)10 to 1.
B)1 to 10.
C)20 to 1.
D)1 to 20.
E)1 to 1.

Question 44

The existence of afterimages provides support for the ________  theory of color vision.

A)trichromatic
B)feature detection
C)color constancy
D)threshold detection
E)opponent-process

Question 45

______ cells are nerve cells in the back of the eye that transmit neural impulses in response to light stimulation.

A)Bipolar
B)Optic
C)Foveal
D)Retinal
E)Ganglion

Question 46

Trichromatic theory suggests that

A)the retina has one type of color receptor that responds differently to each color.
B)the retina has two types of color receptors that respond in a different manner for each color.
C)the retina has three types of color receptors-red, green, and blue-violet.
D)color results from opposing processes involving three sets of color receptors: red-green, blue-yellow, and black-white.
E)the process of color vision differs in men and women because of sex-linked genetic defects on the Y chromosome.

Question 47

Regarding color blindness, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)More men suffer from red-green color blindness than do women.
B)Red-green color blindness is more common than blue-yellow color blindness.
C)People who are monochromats can only perceive the world in shades of gray.
D)About one in 40,000 people is completely color blind.
E)Red-green color blindness appears to be carried on the Y chromosome.

Question 48

In color vision, blue-violet cones are most sensitive to _____ wavelengths, red cones to ______ wavelengths, and green cones to ______ wavelengths.

A)short; middle; long
B)short; long; middle
C)long; short; middle
D)long; middle; short
E)middle; short; long

Question 49

Red, green, and blue-violet light can be combined to create any color of the spectrum. This has been interpreted as supporting

A)the trichromatic theory of color vision.
B)the opponent-process theory of color vision.
C)the feature detection theory of color vision.
D)the color constancy theory of color vision.
E)the existence of afterimages.

Question 50

Neurons that respond to specific characteristics of the visual stimulus are called

A)photoreceptors.
B)ganglion cells.
C)bipolar cells.
D)optic neurons.
E)feature detectors.

Question 51

Who won the Nobel Prize for discovering that the visual cortex contains nerve cells that respond only to lines of particular orientations?

A)Ewald Hering
B)Thomas Young and Hermann von Helmholtz
C)Ronald Melzack and Patrick Wall
D)Gustav Theodor Fechner
E)David Hubel and Torsten Wiesel

Question 52

Regarding vision, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Nearsightedness and farsightedness result from abnormalities in the shape of the eye.
B)The fovea is the part of the retina that corresponds to the center of one's gaze, and it provides the sharpest vision.
C)The fovea contains both rods and cones.
D)The far ends of the retina contain only rods, no cones.
E)Bipolar cells connect photoreceptors to ganglion cells.

Question 53

Some birds must return to roost as darkness approaches. This is because their eyes contain

A)cones, but no rods.
B)rods, but no cones.
C)too many cones.
D)too many rods.
E)more rods than cones.

Question 54

An object that reflects primarily long wavelength light would most stimulate which category of cone?

A)blue-violet
B)green
C)red
D)yellow
E)black-white

Question 55

The role of feature detectors is to

A)compensate for retinal disparity in nearsightedness and farsightedness.
B)detect color stimuli.
C)detect black and white stimuli.
D)respond to particular features of visual stimuli.
E)regulate the size of the pupil.

Question 56

To see a dimly lit object at night, the image must fall on your

A)fovea.
B)blind spot.
C)cones.
D)rods.
E)optic nerve.

Question 57

All but which of the following are suggested by opponent-process theory?

A)Black-white photoreceptors are responsible for detecting differences in brightness.
B)Continually staring at a green image will result in an afterimage of red.
C)Continually staring at a yellow image will result in an afterimage of blue.
D)Red-green receptors simultaneously transmit messages for red and green.
E)Afterimages are the eye's attempt to maintain equilibrium between receptors.

Question 58

Regarding the theories of color vision, which of the following is TRUE?

A)Trichromatic theory is supported by the behavior of cells lying between the cones and the occipital lobe of the cerebral cortex.
B)Opponent-process theory is supported at the receptor level.
C)Most authorities today suggest that color vision includes elements of both trichromatic and opponent-process theories.
D)Trichromatic theory is based on Hering's work with afterimages.
E)Helmholtz showed that three primary colors of light could be mixed in different ways to create any color.

Question 59

All of the following are true of cones EXCEPT

A)they are responsible for peripheral vision.
B)they provide color vision.
C)they allow discernment of fine details in bright light.
D)they are less sensitive to light than are rods.
E)there are fewer cones than rods in the human eye.

Question 60

For the sharpest vision, the image of an object should be focused on the

A)fovea.
B)blind spot.
C)olfactory bulb.
D)optic nerve.
E)retina.

Question 61

Jack has the most common form of color blindness. What type of color blindness does he have?

A)blue-green
B)red-yellow
C)red-green
D)blue-yellow
E)blue-red

Question 62

Humans can hear frequencies between about ______ cycles per second.

A)100,000 and 200,000.
B)50,000 and 100,000.
C)20,000 and 50,000
D)20 and 20,000
E)1 and 20

Question 63

Regarding the sensation of sound, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)The brain determines where a sound originated by comparing the sounds received in each ear.
B)The hair cells of the ear are not actual hairs.
C)The auditory cortex is located in the frontal lobes of the cerebral cortex.
D)For each 10-decibel increase in a sound wave's amplitude, there is a tenfold increase in the loudness of the sound.
E)Sounds typically reach one ear before the other, with the brain able to detect a difference as small as 1/10,000^th of a second.

Question 64

Among pitch theories, place theory best explains _______ frequency sounds, frequency theory best explains ______ frequency sounds, and volley principle best explains ______ frequency sounds.

A)mid-range; high; low
B)high; mid-range; low
C)high; low; mid-range
D)low; high; mid-range
E)low; mid-range; high

Question 65

The basis of the place theory of pitch detection is that pitch is determined by the place along the _______ that vibrates the most.

A)ear drum
B)basilar membrane
C)oval window
D)auditory nerve
E)ossicles

Question 66

Regarding the experience of sound, which of the following statements is FALSE?

A)Sound waves travel slower than light waves.
B)The amplitude of sound waves determines their perceived loudness and is measured in decibels.
C)Humans hear by sensing sound waves that result from changes in molecular vibration.
D)Pitch is the perception of how high or low a sound seems, which corresponds to the frequency of the sound wave's vibration.
E)Women's voices are usually higher than men's because their vocal cords are longer and tend to vibrate more slowly than men's.

Question 67

Hearing loss can occur after prolonged exposure to noise as low as _____ decibels, while hearing loss can result from brief exposure to sounds as low as ______ decibels.

A)55; 85
B)65; 100
C)75; 115
D)85; 120
E)120; 160

Question 68

Rebecca tells Tom that he is singing "off pitch." Rebecca is referring to which physical property of sound?

A)Amplitude
B)Frequency
C)Loudness
D)Speed
E)Decibel

Question 69

In what order do the ossicles vibrate during hearing?

A)anvil, hammer, stirrup
B)stirrup, hammer, anvil
C)stirrup, anvil, hammer
D)hammer, stirrup, anvil
E)hammer, anvil, stirrup

Question 70

According to a study reported in the text, about what percentage of teenagers show evidence of hearing loss?

A)less than 10 percent
B)about 20 percent
C)about 33 percent
D)about 50 percent
E)more than 75 percent

Question 71

Marlee's right eardrum was punctured in an accident when she was three years old. She is deaf in her right ear, but is helped with a hearing aid that amplifies sound waves. What type of deafness does Marlee have?

A)nerve
B)continuity
C)closure
D)subliminal
E)conduction

Question 72

Which of the following suggests that pitch detection is coded by combining frequencies of neurons firing in alternate succession?

A)volley principle
B)place theory
C)opponent-process theory
D)frequency theory
E)gate-control theory

Question 73

Which of the following best describes the organ of Corti?

A)an auditory receptor that transforms vibration of sound waves into neural impulses
B)a gelatinous structure in the cochlea that contains the auditory receptors
C)a sheet of connective tissue separating the outer ear from the middle ear
D)a shell-shaped organ in the inner ear that contains sensory receptors for hearing
E)a collection of tiny bones in the middle ear that vibrate in response to vibrations from the eardrum

Question 74

People who only see in black and white are called

A)monochromats.
B)dichromats.
C)trichromats.
D)gray tones.
E)partially color blind.

Question 75

High-frequency sounds cause the greatest vibration of

A)hair cells in the middle of the basilar membrane.
B)hair cells nearest the oval window.
C)hair cells nearest the auditory nerve.
D)hair cells farthest down the basilar membrane from the oval window.
E)the membrane of the eardrum.

Question 76

In human audition, the vibration of the ossicles is triggered by vibration of the _____ and transmitted directly to the ______.

A)eardrum; oval window
B)tympanic membrane; oval window
C)oval window; auditory nerve
D)eardrum; tympanic membrane
E)auditory nerve; tympanic membrane

Question 77

People with normal color vision are described as

A)monochromats.
B)dichromats.
C)trichromats.
D)nearsighted.
E)farsighted.

Question 78

Sound from which of the following should produce the most danger to hearing upon brief exposure?

A)a ringing telephone
B)a jet airplane
C)a lawn mower
D)a jack hammer
E)speakers at a rock concert

Question 79

In human hearing, the auditory receptors are _____ and approximately ______ are in each ear.

A)hair cells; 15,000
B)hair cells; 5,000
C)follicles; 5,000
D)follicles; 15,000
E)hair cells; 150,000

Question 80

Which theory of pitch best accounts for the perception of sounds between 1,000 and 4,000 cycles per second?

A)place theory
B)gate-control theory
C)frequency theory
D)opponent-process theory
E)volley principle