Deck 3: Sensation and Perception

Question 1

The smallest level of added or reduced stimulation required to sense that a change in stimulation has occurred is known as the _____.

A) difference threshold
B) absolute threshold
C) adaptation threshold
D) intensity threshold

Answer 1

difference threshold

Question 2

_____ is a basic law of psychophysics stating that a just noticeable difference is a constant proportion to the intensity of an initial stimulus.

A) Fitt's law
B) Weber's law
C) Bloch's law
D) Hick's law

Answer 2

Weber's law

Question 3

A(n)_____ threshold is the stimulus intensity that is detected 50% of the time.

A) difference
B) absolute
C) adaptation
D) frequency

Answer 3

absolute

Question 4

Which of the following most closely approximates the meaning of the term noise as psychophysicists use it?

A) Only unwanted stimuli
B) An unpleasant sound
C) Any distraction
D) Only auditory stimuli

Question 5

Which of the following statements is true of sensation and perception?

A) Perception generally precedes sensation in our processing of a stimulus.
B) Sensation and perception are essentially synonyms.
C) Sensation involves the interpretation of a stimulus,whereas perception does not.
D) Sensation involves the activation of sense receptors;perception involves interpretation.

Question 6

The study of the relationship between the physical aspects of stimuli and our psychological experience of them is known as _____.

A) developmental psychology
B) thermodynamics
C) psychophysics
D) experimental psychology

Question 7

The function relating the value of a stimulus along some dimension to the just noticeable difference is known as _____ law.

A) Wernicke's
B) Wundt's
C) Weber's
D) Wertheimer's

Question 8

"It's so noisy! How can you stand it?" remarks Caitlyn as the thruway traffic screams past her friend Dave's ground floor apartment."I don't even notice it anymore," Dave replies.This exchange best exemplifies the concept of:

A) adaptation.
B) accommodation.
C) acclimation.
D) attenuation.

Question 9

Which of the following laws would help explain why a person in a quiet room is more startled by the ringing of a telephone than a person who is already in a noisy room?

A) Fitt's law
B) Weber's law
C) Bloch's law
D) Hick's law

Question 10

_____ is an adjustment in sensory capacity after prolonged exposure to unchanging stimuli.

A) Adaptation
B) Accommodation
C) Acclimation
D) Attenuation

Question 11

A(n)_____ is the smallest intensity of a stimulus that must be present for the stimulus to be detected.

A) difference threshold
B) absolute threshold
C) adaptation threshold
D) intensity threshold

Question 12

The sorting out,interpretation,analysis,and integration of stimuli by the sense organs and brain is known as _____.

A) perception
B) sensation
C) activation
D) stimulation

Question 13

Dr.Breiland examines the relationship between the physical properties of light,such as its amplitude and wavelength,and human perception of color.Which of the following terms most accurately describes Dr.Breiland's field of study?

A) Developmental psychology
B) Psychophysics
C) Thermodynamics
D) Experimental psychology

Question 14

Acme Foods wants to make its chips saltier,but it doesn't want to spend more than it has to on salt.A sample of consumers are asked to compare its current chip (saltiness = 100)with saltier versions and to say whether the new version is saltier.On average,sample consumers reliably say the new chip is saltier when its saltiness value is 108,but not when its saltiness value is below 108.Assuming Acme Foods' sample consumers are representative of people in general,which of the following best represents the just noticeable difference for saltiness?

A) 8%
B) 108
C) 80%
D) 100

Question 15

A snack manufacturer realizes that he must increase the salt content of his company's chips by 3% in order for a sample of consumers to notice that the chips are saltier than they were before.This example most nearly illustrates the concept of a(n):

A) absolute threshold.
B) difference threshold.
C) frequency threshold.
D) adaptation threshold.

Question 16

One can detect a single drop of perfume diffused in an area the size of a one-bedroom apartment.This is due to:

A) absolute threshold.
B) difference threshold.
C) adaptation threshold.
D) psychophysical minimum.

Question 17

The activation of the sense organs by a source of physical energy is known as _____.

A) perception
B) sensation
C) integration
D) interpretation

Question 18

Weber's law states that a just noticeable difference is a _____.

A) fixed value
B) constant proportion of the intensity of an initial stimulus
C) variable proportion of the intensity of an initial stimulus
D) random value

Question 19

Anna is reading her psychology text.The activation of receptors in her retina by a source of physical energy is called _____.

A) perception
B) sensation
C) integration
D) interpretation

Question 20

In the context of what we see in our world,the range of wavelengths that humans are sensitive to is called the _____.

A) power spectrum
B) mass spectrum
C) frequency spectrum
D) visual spectrum

Question 21

_____ is the activation of neurons in the cortex by visual stimuli of specific shapes or patterns.

A) Blob detection
B) Interest point detection
C) Corner detection
D) Feature detection

Question 22

The part of the eye that converts the electromagnetic energy of light to electrical impulses for transmission to the brain is known as the _____.

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

Question 23

As compared to women,color blindness is _____ among men.

A) less common
B) about as common
C) five times less common
D) more common

Question 24

_____ are light-sensitive receptor cells in the retina that are responsible for sharp focus and color perception,particularly in bright light,and are concentrated on the part of the retina called the fovea.

A) Lenses
B) Pons
C) Rods
D) Cones

Question 25

Which of the following words is most nearly synonymous with the term refract?

A) Bend
B) Transmit
C) Split
D) Reflect

Question 26

Adelaide notices a flicker of motion out of the corner of her eye as she hurries down a dimly lit alley late at night.Sydney deciphers a complex wiring diagram under the bright glare of her desk lamp.Adelaide's vision is driven mainly by her _____.Sydney is mainly using her _____.

A) cones;cones as well
B) rods;rods as well
C) cones;rods
D) rods;cones

Question 27

Refraction is to accommodation what the _____ is to the _____.

A) pupil;lens
B) cornea;pupil
C) cornea;lens
D) lens;cornea

Question 28

The _____ nerve is a bundle of ganglion axons that carry visual information to the brain.

A) cochlear
B) optic
C) lacrimal
D) phrenic

Question 29

Which of the following sequences accurately reflects the order in which light passes through the structures of the eye during vision?

A) Pupil $\rarr$ cornea $\rarr$ lens $\rarr$ retina
B) Pupil $\rarr$ lens $\rarr$ cornea $\rarr$ retina
C) Cornea $\rarr$ lens $\rarr$ pupil $\rarr$ retina
D) Cornea $\rarr$ pupil $\rarr$ lens $\rarr$ retina

Question 30

The point at which the optic nerves meet and then split is termed the optic:

A) callosum.
B) fissure.
C) chiasm.
D) sulcus.

Question 31

Thin,cylindrical receptor cells in the retina that are highly sensitive to light are called _____.

A) lenses
B) pons
C) rods
D) cones

Question 32

The ultimate processing of visual images takes place in the visual _____ of the brain.

A) callosum
B) thalamus
C) cortex
D) medulla

Question 33

The _____ bends light as it passes,playing a primary role in focusing the light more sharply.

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

Question 34

_____ cells receive information directly from the rods and cones and communicate that information to the _____ cells.

A) Bipolar;ganglion
B) Dendritic;microglial
C) Adrenergic;peptidergic
D) Squamous;columnar

Question 35

Which of the following sequences accurately reflects the order in which light stimulates cells early in the visual processing of an image?

A) Bipolar cells $\rarr$ ganglion cells $\rarr$ rods and cones
B) Bipolar cells $\rarr$ rods and cones $\rarr$ ganglion cells
C) Ganglion cells $\rarr$ rods and cones $\rarr$ bipolar cells
D) Rods and cones $\rarr$ bipolar cells $\rarr$ ganglion cells

Question 36

Which of the following is TRUE of cones?

A) They play a key role in night vision.
B) They are thin,cylindrical receptor cells that are highly sensitive to light.
C) They are primarily responsible for the sharply focused perception of color.
D) They play a key role in seeing objects that are outside the main center of focus.

Question 37

As compared to cones,rods:

A) are more densely concentrated in the fovea.
B) are responsible for color perception.
C) are highly sensitive to light.
D) are less numerous.

Question 38

The _____ play a key role in peripheral vision,seeing objects that are outside the main center of focus.

A) lenses
B) pons
C) rods
D) cones

Question 39

The _____ is a dark hole in the center of the _____,the colored part of the eye.

A) pupil;iris
B) iris;pupil
C) cornea;lens
D) lens;cornea

Question 40

A major function of the ganglion cells is to:

A) detect variations in light and darkness.
B) detect a variety of basic visual features,such as motion.
C) detect specific types of objects in the visual field.
D) integrate the activity of different neural systems for vision.

Question 41

The _____ states that there are three kinds of cones in the retina,each of which responds primarily to a specific range of wavelengths.

A) opponent-process theory
B) emission theory
C) trichromatic theory of color vision
D) visual perception theory

Question 42

The eardrum is a:

A) part of the outer ear that vibrates when sound waves hit it.
B) thin membrane leading to the inner ear.
C) coiled tube in the inner ear filled with fluid that vibrates in response to sound.
D) vibrating structure that runs through the center of the cochlea,dividing it into an upper chamber and a lower chamber and containing sense receptors for sound.

Question 43

Damon is among the 7% of males with color blindness.He suffers from the most common form of color blindness.Which of the following statements best illustrates Damon's experience of color?

A) The blue sky and green grass appear to be the same color.
B) A pound of butter looks to be the same color as the blue dish on which it is resting.
C) Everything looks black,gray,or white.
D) Red apples on a tree seem to be yellow.

Question 44

People can detect sounds ranging in frequency from _____ to _____.

A) 20 dB;20,000 dB
B) 50 dB;50,000 dB
C) 20 cycles per second;20,000 cycles per second
D) 50 cycles per second;50,000 cycles per second

Question 45

Suppose you stare at an illustration of the American flag for a while,then glance at a blank white page.The red stripes look green when you glance at the blank page because:

A) cones responsive to green light begin firing.
B) cones responsive to red light stop firing.
C) the receptor cells for the red component of the pairing become fatigued.
D) the receptor cells for the green component of the pairing begin to adapt.

Question 46

Which of the following sequences correctly arranges the structures of the inner ear from the largest and most inclusive to the smallest and most specific?

A) Cochlea $\rarr$ basilar membrane $\rarr$ hair cells
B) Cochlea $\rarr$ hair cells $\rarr$ basilar membrane
C) Basilar membrane $\rarr$ hair cells $\rarr$ cochlea
D) Basilar membrane $\rarr$ cochlea $\rarr$ hair cells

Question 47

According to the _____ of color vision,receptor cells are linked in pairs,working in opposition to each other.

A) opponent-process theory
B) emission theory
C) trichromatic theory of color vision
D) visual perception theory

Question 48

In the most common form of color blindness:

A) everything is seen in black and white.
B) blue and yellow cannot be distinguished.
C) all red and green objects appear yellow.
D) green objects appear red.

Question 49

Which of the following is TRUE of the opponent-process theory?

A) According to the opponent-process theory,perception of color is influenced by the relative strength with which each of the three kinds of cones is activated.
B) The opponent-process theory suggests that in addition to black and white,there are four,rather than three,colors.
C) According to the opponent-process theory,the cells that respond to color operate independently,rather than in conjunction.
D) The opponent-process theory provides a weak explanation for afterimages.

Question 50

Making an analogy between hearing and vision,the auditory hair cells in the_____ are similar to the _____ in the _____.

A) cochlea;rods and cones;retina
B) cochlea;ganglion cells;cornea
C) eardrum;rods and cones;cornea
D) eardrum;ganglion cells;retina

Question 51

The cochlea is a:

A) part of the outer ear that vibrates when sound waves hit it.
B) thin membrane leading to the inner ear.
C) coiled tube in the inner ear filled with fluid that vibrates in response to sound.
D) vibrating structure that runs through the center of the cochlea,dividing it into an upper chamber and a lower chamber and containing sense receptors for sound.

Question 52

The basilar membrane is a:

A) part of the outer ear that vibrates when sound waves hit it.
B) a tube like passage that leads to the eardrum.
C) coiled tube in the inner ear filled with fluid that vibrates in response to sound.
D) vibrating structure that runs through the center of the cochlea,dividing it into an upper chamber and a lower chamber and containing sense receptors for sound.

Question 53

The bones of the middle ear include each of the following EXCEPT the:

A) hammer.
B) anvil.
C) pinna.
D) stirrup.

Question 54

With respect to the trichromatic and the opponent-process theories of color perception,which of the following statements is most accurate?

A) The trichromatic theory has largely been discredited.
B) The opponent-process theory has largely been discredited.
C) Trichromatic process works within the retina itself;whereas opponent mechanisms operate both in the retina and at later stages of neuronal processing.
D) The opponent-process theory describes color processing early in the visual system;trichromatic theory describes color processing later on in the visual system.

Question 55

The trichromatic theory was first proposed by _____.The opponent-process theory was first proposed by _____.

A) Thomas Young;Ewald Hering
B) Ewald Hering;Hermann von Helmholtz
C) Hermann von Helmholtz;Thomas Young
D) Thomas Young;Hermann von Helmholtz

Question 56

_____ is the number of wave cycles that occur in a second.

A) Amplitude
B) Wavelength
C) Frequency
D) Sound pressure

Question 57

The _____ states that different areas of the basilar membrane respond to different frequencies.

A) place theory of hearing
B) proximal stimuli theory
C) frequency theory of hearing
D) wave theory

Question 58

_____ is a feature of wave patterns that allows us to distinguish between loud and soft sounds.

A) Amplitude
B) Wavelength
C) Frequency
D) Sound pressure

Question 59

Amplitude range is measured in _____.

A) decibels
B) hertz
C) sones
D) phones

Question 60

Hair cells for hearing are located in the:

A) eardrum.
B) cochlea.
C) auditory canal.
D) semicircular canals.

Question 61

Roast beef with a rich brown gravy is often described as a "savory" dish.The basic taste prominent in such a dish is:

A) bitter.
B) salty.
C) umami.
D) sweet.

Question 62

The _____ suggests that the entire basilar membrane acts as a microphone,vibrating as a whole in response to a sound.

A) place theory of hearing
B) proximal stimuli theory
C) frequency theory of hearing
D) wave theory

Question 63

The _____ consists of three tubes containing fluid that sloshes through them when the head moves,signaling rotational or angular movement to the brain.

A) oval window
B) auditory canal
C) Eustachian tube
D) semicircular canal

Question 64

Which of the following statements regarding smell is FALSE?

A) Men generally have a better sense of smell than women.
B) People can distinguish men from women based only on the smell of breath.
C) People can distinguish happy from sad emotions based on underarm smells.
D) Women are able to identify their babies solely on the basis of smell just a few hours after birth.

Question 65

Which of the following statements is true about the place theory and the frequency theory?

A) Place theory and frequency theory explain our perception of high- but not low-frequency sounds.
B) Place theory and frequency theory explain our perception of low- but not high-frequency sounds.
C) Both place theory and frequency theory provide the full explanations for hearing.
D) Place theory accounts for the perception of high-frequency sounds;frequency theory explains our perception of low-frequency sounds.

Question 66

The human sense of smell permits us to detect _____ separate smells.

A) more than 10,000
B) 1,000-10,000
C) 100-1,000
D) 10-100

Question 67

Approximately how much does pain cost the United States each year?

A) $100 billion
B) $1 billion
C) $100 million
D) $3.49

Question 68

To manage Mrs.Sampson's excruciating pain,a low-voltage electric current is occasionally passed through her lower back,the affected body part.Which of the following pain management techniques is Mrs.Sampson using?

A) Acupuncture
B) Cognitive restructuring
C) Biofeedback
D) Nerve stimulation

Question 69

Which of the following treatments for pain is most effective for people who continually say to themselves,"This pain will never stop," "The pain is ruining my life"?

A) Cognitive restructuring
B) Biofeedback and relaxation techniques
C) Light therapy
D) Nerve and brain stimulation

Question 70

The body's own painkillers are called:

A) substance Ps.
B) endorphins.
C) g factors.
D) opioids.

Question 71

The brain's inexperience in interpreting messages from the weightless _____ is the cause of the space sickness commonly experienced by two-thirds of all space travelers.

A) hair cells
B) otoliths
C) Eustachian tube
D) cochlea

Question 72

Whenever Mr.Redding catches himself saying,"This pain is ruining my life," he is supposed to immediately tell himself,"STOP! I am in control of my pain." This pain management technique is known as _____ restructuring.

A) psychodynamic
B) cognitive
C) neuroscience
D) personality

Question 73

Which of the following sequences correctly arranges structures from the largest and most inclusive to the smallest and most specific?

A) Inner ear $\rarr$ otoliths $\rarr$ semicircular canal
B) Inner ear $\rarr$ semicircular canals $\rarr$ otoliths
C) Otoliths $\rarr$ semicircular canals $\rarr$ inner ear
D) Otoliths $\rarr$ inner ear $\rarr$ semicircular canals

Question 74

Which of the following ear structures is correctly matched with an auditory or body sense?

A) Otoliths;hearing
B) Semicircular canals;rotational or angular motion of the body
C) Cochlea;body acceleration
D) Eardrum;body balance

Question 75

_____ are chemicals nonhumans secrete into the environment that produce a reaction in other members of the same species,permitting the transmission of messages such as sexual availability.

A) Pheromones
B) Ketones
C) Hydratones
D) Kairomones

Question 76

Gustation is to olfaction what _____ is to _____.

A) hearing;smell
B) taste;hearing
C) taste;smell
D) small;taste

Question 77

Nerve receptor cells for the skin senses are:

A) located at a uniform depth throughout the skin.
B) evenly distributed throughout the skin.
C) unevenly distributed throughout the skin.
D) not related to the sense of pressure.

Question 78

Which of the following is true of "supertasters"?

A) They seek out relatively sweeter and fattier foods than nontasters.
B) They are prone to obesity.
C) They are relatively insensitive to taste.
D) They find sweets sweeter,cream creamier,and spicy dishes spicier.

Question 79

How many basic types of taste are there?

A) 1-3
B) 4-5
C) 6-7
D) 8-10

Question 80

Which of the following is the main reason for the fact that women experience pain more intensely than men?

A) Women produce certain hormones related to the menstrual cycle.
B) Women have more pain gates in the nervous system than men.
C) Women have more substance P than do men.
D) Women are encouraged by our culture to experience and express pain more intensely than men.