Deck 3: Section 1: Sensation and Perception

Question 1

The top-down processing involved in context effects is similar to that involved in closure because in both instances top-down processing _____.

A) completes perception by using information other than the stimulus itself
B) is more accurate than bottom-up processing
C) is faster than bottom-up processing
D) All of these are similarities.

Answer 1

completes perception by using information other than the stimulus itself

Question 2

Suppose you stared for a minute at a flag with alternating yellow and white stripes and a rectangular patch of green. According to opponent-process theory, if you then gazed at a white piece of paper, you would see a flag with alternating _____ stripes and a rectangular patch of _____.

A) red and green; white
B) white and yellow; blue
C) blue and black; red
D) green and blue; yellow

Answer 2

blue and black; red

Question 3

Why does perceptual processing require both bottom-up and top-down processing?

A) Without bottom-up processing, there would be no stimulus to perceive.
B) Without top-down processing, there would be no way to identify the input.
C) Bottom-up processing provides the sensation that is needed for perception.
D) All of these explanations are correct.

Answer 3

All of these explanations are correct.

Question 4

Why can neither place theory nor frequency theory independently explain human perception of pitch?

A) Place theory cannot explain how we perceive pitches < 500 Hz.
B) Frequency theory, even with the volley principle, cannot explain how we perceive pitches > 5,000 Hz.
C) Hair cells cannot generate firing rates to match high frequencies.
D) All of these explanations are true.

Question 5

People who are farsighted have difficulty seeing objects that are _____ because their images are focused _____ the retina.

A) distant; in front of
B) distant; behind
C) close; in front of
D) close; behind

Question 6

What does a really large constant fraction in Weber's law tell us about our ability to judge differences?

A) Most people are very similar in their ability to judge differences.
B) Most people are very different in their ability to judge differences.
C) Most people can distinguish stimuli even if differences between them are relatively small.
D) Most people can distinguish stimuli only if the differences between them are relatively large.

Question 7

Shorter wavelengths lead to _____ frequencies because the wavelengths cycle a _____ number of times per second.

A) lower; large
B) lower; small
C) higher; large
D) higher; small

Question 8

Why were absolute and difference thresholds given statistical definitions?

A) Researchers wanted to express their findings in a scientific manner.
B) Statistical definitions are better understood by scientists with different cultural backgrounds.
C) Results did not indicate a constant point for these thresholds across multiple trials.
D) Statistical definitions are easier to extend to other phenomena.

Question 9

Longer wavelengths lead to _____ frequencies because the wavelengths cycle a _____ number of times per second.

A) lower; large
B) lower; small
C) higher; large
D) higher; small

Question 10

All of the following statements, except one, accurately describe how the brain applies the geometric relationship between retinal image size and distance to create the Ponzo, Muller-Lyer, and moon illusions. Which one statement is FALSE?

A) For all these illusions, the retinal image size of the two objects is the same.
B) For all these illusions, the brain concludes that the object that appears farther away is smaller.
C) For all these illusions, distance cues lead people to think one object is closer than another.
D) For all these illusions, the brain enlarges the size of the object it thinks is more distant.

Question 11

Why is it adaptive for the constant exponent in Stevens's power law to be greater than one for physical energies that are dangerous to us at high intensities?

A) Even a small change can alert us to danger and give us a chance to escape.
B) The higher the exponent is, the more realistic the judgment is.
C) It is easier to understand the law if higher intensities have greater exponents.
D) It is adaptive for us not to be overwhelmed by large changes.

Question 12

According to signal detection theory, what would happen to a person's false alarm and miss rates if this person switched from a very lax to a very strict decision criterion?

A) False alarms and misses would both decrease.
B) False alarms would decrease but misses would increase.
C) False alarms would increase but misses would decrease.
D) False alarms and misses would both increase.

Question 13

People who are nearsighted have difficulty seeing objects that are ______ because their images are focused ______ the retina.

A) distant; in front of
B) distant; behind
C) close; in front of
D) close; behind

Question 14

When Mary sees her psychology professor in the grocery store, she does not immediately recognize her professor. Based on perceptual principles, what is the MOST likely explanation for this lack of immediate recognition?

A) Mary is more distracted in the grocery store than she is in class.
B) Mary is so busy taking notes in class that she does not pay attention to her professor's appearance.
C) Mary does not expect to see her professor in the context of the grocery store.
D) Mary is too focused on her shopping to pay attention to other people around her.