Deck 2: The First Steps in Vision: From Light to Neural Signals

Question 1

Light can be described as a stream of photons or a(n)

A) signal.
B) wave.
C) source.
D) outlet of energy.
E) illuminant.

Answer 1

wave.

Question 2

Refer to the figure.
The top part of the figure shows the

A) spectrum of visible light.
B) different kinds of light.
C) amount of heat emitted by a light source.
D) number of photons emitted by a light source.
E) spectrum of electromagnetic energy.

Answer 2

spectrum of electromagnetic energy.

Question 3

Refer to the figure.
The bottom part of the figure shows the

A) spectrum of visible light.
B) different kinds of light.
C) spectrum of electromagnetic energy.
D) number of photons emitted by a light source.
E) amount of heat emitted by a light source.

Answer 3

spectrum of visible light.

Question 4

Light cannot be

A) absorbed.
B) refracted.
C) dissolved.
D) transmitted.
E) scattered.

Question 5

Refraction of a wave of energy means

A) oscillation that travels through a medium.
B) bending or spreading out of waves as they pass through a medium.
C) bending or spreading out of waves as they pass the edge of an obstacle.
D) passing of waves with no interruption.
E) redirection of light back toward its source.

Question 6

When something strikes a surface, especially light, sound, or heat, and is redirected (usually back toward its point of origin), it is being

A) refracted.
B) transmitted.
C) scattered.
D) reflected.
E) absorbed.

Question 7

The transparent "window" on the outer part of the eye that allows light into the eyeball is called the

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

Question 8

The aqueous humor is a(n)

A) funny substance.
B) watery fluid between the cornea and iris.
C) gel-like fluid between the lens and retina.
D) circular opening at the center of the iris.
E) opaque fluid.

Question 9

The vitreous humor is a(n)

A) funny substance.
B) watery fluid between the cornea and iris.
C) gel-like fluid between the lens and retina.
D) circular opening at the center of the iris.
E) opaque fluid.

Question 10

The dark, circular opening at the center of the eye, where light enters the eye, is called the

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

Question 11

The colored part of the eye, consisting of a muscular diaphragm, is called the

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

Question 12

The structure that becomes thicker or thinner to allow images to be focused onto the back of the eye is called the

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

Question 13

This term refers to the process by which the eye changes focus.

A) Accommodation
B) Adaptation
C) Presbyopia
D) Convergence
E) Emmetropia

Question 14

The light-sensitive membrane at the back of the eye that contains rods and cones is called the

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

Question 15

The retina

A) is the tough outer covering that protects the eye.
B) contains watery fluid.
C) focuses the image.
D) diffracts light.
E) contains rods and cones.

Question 16

The retina is analogous to the _______ in a camera.

A) lens
B) stop
C) flash
D) film
E) shutter

Question 17

Which of the following sense light?

A) Ganglion cells
B) Rods and cones
C) Horizontal cells
D) Amacrine cells
E) Bipolar cells

Question 18

Rods are photoreceptors that are specialized for

A) daylight vision.
B) sensing narrow objects.
C) transmitting light.
D) night vision.
E) processing color.

Question 19

Photoreceptors that are specialized for daylight vision, fine acuity, and color are called

A) duplexes.
B) ganglion cells.
C) rods.
D) bipolar cells.
E) cones.

Question 20

The iris is analogous to the _______ in a camera.

A) lens
B) aperture
C) flash
D) film
E) shutter

Question 21

Refer to the figure.
Eye doctors use an instrument called an ophthalmoscope to look at the _______ of their patients' eyes, as seen in the image.

A) cornea
B) iris
C) lens
D) focal point
E) fundus

Question 22

People with _______ do not require an optical correction to see normally.

A) myopia
B) hyperopia
C) astigmatism
D) emmetropia
E) All the above require optical correction.

Question 23

Which of the following is a unit of measurement of the optic power of a lens?

A) Diopter
B) Visual angle
C) Accommodation
D) Hertz
E) Wavelength

Question 24

Refer to the figure.
Which part of the figure depicts hyperopia without correction?

A) A
B) B
C) C
D) D
E) E

Question 25

Accommodation is the process during which the _______ of the eye changes its shape.

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

Question 26

Refer to the figure.
This chart is used to test for

A) myopia.
B) hyperopia.
C) astigmatism.
D) macular degeneration.
E) retinitis pigmentosa.

Question 27

Literally meaning "old sight," this term refers to age-related loss of accommodation, which makes it difficult to focus on near objects.

A) Emmetropia
B) Hyperopia
C) Macular degeneration
D) Retinitis pigmentosa
E) Presbyopia

Question 28

In presbyopia, the lens becomes stiff with age and cannot change its shape. What is the perceptual consequence of this change?

A) Too much light gets into the eye, causing difficulties with daytime vision.
B) Not enough light gets into the eye, causing difficulties with nighttime vision.
C) It may become difficult to focus on objects at certain depths.
D) Light becomes so scattered in the eye that perception is impossible.
E) Peripheral vision is lost gradually over time.

Question 29

The light energy from an object is _______ into neural energy that can be interpreted by the brain.

A) transferred
B) transformed
C) transduced
D) absorbed
E) translated

Question 30

Rods are most highly concentrated in which area of the retina?

A) Blind Spot
B) Cornea
C) Fovea
D) Lens
E) Periphery

Question 31

Cones are most highly concentrated in which area of the retina?

A) Blind Spot
B) Cornea
C) Fovea
D) Lens
E) Periphery

Question 32

The retina can be referred to as _______ because it contains rods and cones, which operate under different conditions.

A) a focal point
B) a shutter
C) duplex
D) a light-passing membrane
E) bipartisan

Question 33

The high-resolution part of the eye that is used for detailed vision is called the

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

Question 34

_______ refers to the distance between the location of a retinal image and the fovea.

A) Degradation
B) Density
C) Circularity
D) Eccentricity
E) Signal strength

Question 35

Light and dark adaptation can occur by pupil constriction or dilation and

A) lateral inhibition.
B) changes in photoreceptor concentration.
C) photoactivation.
D) bipolar cell activation and deactivation.
E) ganglion cell activation and deactivation.

Question 36

Suppose your pupils are dilated after visiting the eye doctor. What is the effect on the amount of photopigment in your photoreceptors, and why?

A) You have more photopigment than normal because your photoreceptors are trying to adapt to the decreased amount of light striking the retina.
B) You have more photopigment than normal because your photoreceptors are trying to adapt to the increased amount of light striking the retina.
C) You have less photopigment than normal because your photoreceptors are trying to adapt to the decreased amount of light striking the retina.
D) You have less photopigment than normal because your photoreceptors are trying to adapt to the increased amount of light striking the retina.
E) You have the same amount of photopigment as normal because photoreceptors do not adapt to changes in the amount of light entering the eyes.

Question 37

A neuron will not fire if a stimulus does not activate its

A) axon.
B) action potential.
C) central region.
D) photoreceptor.
E) receptive field.

Question 38

In retinitis pigmentosa, there is

A) regeneration of too many photoreceptors.
B) loss of color in the iris of the eye.
C) loss of macular opacity.
D) loss of the ability to use the lens in order to focus.
E) degeneration of the pigment epithelium.

Question 39

In aging-related macular degeneration (AMD) there is a _______ loss of _______ vision.

A) sudden; peripheral
B) gradual; peripheral
C) sudden; central
D) gradual; central
E) complete; all

Question 40

With regard to retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which would have the greatest impact on scotopic (nighttime) vision, and why?

A) RP, because it damages peripheral vision, which is most important for scotopic vision.
B) RP, because it damages central vision, which is most important for scotopic vision.
C) AMD, because it damages peripheral vision, which is most important for scotopic vision.
D) AMD, because it damages central vision, which is most important for scotopic vision.
E) Neither of these diseases affects scotopic vision.

Question 41

With regard to retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which would have the greatest impact on photopic (daytime) vision, and why?

A) RP, because it damages peripheral vision, which is most important for photopic vision.
B) RP, because it damages central vision, which is most important for photopic vision.
C) AMD, because it damages peripheral vision, which is most important for photopic vision.
D) AMD, because it damages central vision, which is most important for photopic vision.
E) Neither of these diseases affects photopic vision.

Question 42

The part of the photoreceptor that contains photopigment molecules is called the

A) retina.
B) outer segment.
C) inner segment.
D) synaptic terminal.
E) vitreous humor.

Question 43

There may be a third type of photoreceptor in the retina that helps regulate our sleep and wake cycles. What type of photopigment do these cells contain?

A) Macular pigment
B) Melanopsin
C) Rhodopsin
D) Chromopsin
E) Vitreous humor

Question 44

When light strikes a photoreceptor, what happens to its electrical potential?

A) It decreases and becomes more negative.
B) It decreases but stays positive.
C) It increases but stays negative.
D) It increases and becomes more positive.
E) Its electrical potential stays the same.

Question 45

Lateral inhibition is the

A) increase in activation caused by nearby regions of the retina.
B) measure of the finest detail that one can resolve.
C) process of inhibiting light from moving.
D) processing of inhibitory cells.
E) antagonistic neural interaction between adjacent regions of the retina.

Question 46

Why is lateral inhibition important for retinal ganglion cell receptive fields?

A) It opposes and counteracts the lateral excitation also happening in the retina.
B) It inhibits perception of the sides of objects, causing the eyes to focus on the center.
C) It creates the center-surround receptive field structure, which acts like a filter for perception.
D) It stops the receptive fields from responding to contrast in the retinal image.
E) Lateral inhibition is not important in the retina.

Question 47

Which of the following is a specialized retinal cell responsible for lateral inhibition?

A) Amacrine cell
B) Bipolar cell
C) Ganglion cell
D) Horizontal cell
E) Photoreceptor

Question 48

Retinal cells that make connections with bipolar cells, ganglion cells, and other cells like themselves are called

A) amacrine cells.
B) cones.
C) horizontal cells.
D) chromophores.
E) rods.

Question 49

Which of the following are retinal cells that synapse with photoreceptors, horizontal cells, and ganglion cells?

A) Amacrine cells
B) Bipolar cells
C) Chromophores
D) Cones
E) Rods

Question 50

In the fovea, single cones pass information to single ganglion cells via _______ cells.

A) horizontal
B) amacrine
C) midget bipolar
D) diffuse bipolar
E) rod

Question 51

In which area of the eye would you find midget bipolar cells?

A) Blind spot
B) Fovea
C) Lens
D) Periphery
E) Pupil

Question 52

In which area of the eye would you find diffuse bipolar cells?

A) Blind spot
B) Fovea
C) Lens
D) Periphery
E) Pupil

Question 53

Retinal cells called _______ leave the eye via the optic nerve and transmit information to the brain and midbrain.

A) Ganglion cells
B) Bipolar cells
C) Amacrine cells
D) Horizontal cells
E) Photoreceptors

Question 54

If the optic nerve is severed, which retinal cells are damaged?

A) Amacrine cells
B) Bipolar cells
C) Ganglion cells
D) Horizontal cells
E) Photoreceptors

Question 55

The vertical pathway in the retina consists of all the following except

A) cones.
B) rods.
C) bipolar cells.
D) ganglion cells.
E) amacrine cells.

Question 56

The lateral pathway in the retina consists of horizontal cells and

A) photoreceptors.
B) amacrine cells.
C) midget bipolar cells.
D) diffuse bipolar cells.
E) ganglion cells.

Question 57

P ganglion cells are different than M ganglion cells in that P ganglion cells

A) have larger receptive fields than M ganglion cells do.
B) are more sensitive to motion than M ganglion cells are.
C) synapse with more photoreceptors than M ganglion cells do.
D) operate better in low-light conditions than M ganglion cells do.
E) are more sensitive to color than M ganglion cells are.

Question 58

If the P ganglion cells in the retina suddenly disappeared, what would be the consequences for perception?

A) Motion perception would be severely impaired.
B) Peripheral vision would be severely impaired.
C) Color and form perception would be severely impaired.
D) Color and form perception would be improved.
E) Scotopic vision would be severely impaired.

Question 59

If the M ganglion cells in the retina suddenly disappeared, what would be the consequences for perception?

A) Motion perception would be severely impaired.
B) Peripheral vision would be greatly improved.
C) Foveal vision would be greatly improved.
D) Foveal vision would be severely impaired.
E) Color and form perception would be severely impaired.

Question 60

A neuron will not fire if a stimulus does not activate its

A) axon.
B) action potential.
C) central region.
D) photoreceptor.
E) receptive field.

Question 61

Which stimulus would optimally activate an ON-center ganglion cell?

A) A spot of light in the center of the receptive field
B) A shadow in the center of the receptive field
C) A ring of light covering the surround of the receptive field
D) A large spot of light covering both the center and surround portions of the receptive field
E) A large shadow covering both the center and surround portions of the receptive field

Question 62

Which stimulus would optimally activate an OFF-center ganglion cell?

A) A spot of light in the center of the receptive field
B) A shadow in the center of the receptive field
C) A ring of shadow covering the surround of the receptive field
D) A large spot of light covering both the center and surround portions of the receptive field
E) A large shadow covering both the center and surround portions of the receptive field

Question 63

Describe the journey of light from the time it is emitted by the sun to the time it is registered by our eyes. In what ways is light reflected, refracted, transmitted, and absorbed?

Question 64

Describe how the shape of the human lens and eyeball can cause blurry vision that requires correction. What are the differences between emmetropia, myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism?

Question 65

We all have a blind spot in each eye. In normal circumstances, why is it that we do not experience large black empty regions in our visual field?

Question 66

What are age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and retinitis pigmentosa (RP)? How are they similar and how are they different?

Question 67

Describe the various ways that our visual system adapts to darkness and allows us to see in low lighting conditions. Why are we said to have a "duplex retina"?

Question 68

In what ways is the human eye similar to a camera? In what ways does it differ from a camera? Compare and contrast camera functions to the physiology of the human eye.

Question 69

Describe the transmission of information in the retina from photoreceptors to the optic nerve. What cells are functioning in what order, and how do they transform visual information on the way to the brain?