Deck 4: Recognizing Objects

Question 1

Researchers have used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to disrupt portions of the healthy brain. When asking participants to search for a target, we expect TMS applied to the parietal lobe to

A) have no effect on participants who have not suffered parietal damage.
B) disrupt the search for both a target defined by a single feature (e.g., "Find the red shape") and a target defined by a conjunction of features (e.g., "Find the shape that is red and round").
C) disrupt the search for a target defined by a single feature (e.g., "Find the red shape").
D) disrupt the search for a target defined by a conjunction of features (e.g., "Find the shape that is red and round").

Answer 1

D

Question 2

A tachistoscope is a device used to

A) measure the rate at which a neuron is firing.
B) provide precise measurements of reaction times.
C) display stimuli briefly.
D) record the moment-by-moment activities of the brain.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Laura suffered brain damage and now has difficulty identifying objects. Specifically, she can see components, but has a hard time putting them together. She is likely suffering from

A) prosopagnosia.
B) apperceptive agnosia.
C) associative agnosia.
D) memory loss.

Answer 3

B

Question 4

In tachistoscopic studies, a poststimulus mask is usually employed to

A) disrupt sensory processing of the stimulus.
B) prevent verbalization.
C) help the participants maintain proper eye position.
D) discourage guessing about the stimulus.

Question 5

In tachistoscopic recognition, participants often make overregularization errors. These are errors in which participants

A) perceive a word as pertaining to their personal experiences even when the word is relatively neutral.
B) perceive a word as being related to the previous word when in fact it is not.
C) are shown a frequently used word but perceive it as an infrequently used word.
D) are shown a pattern such as MJLK but perceive it as MILK.

Question 6

Imagine you are reading a puzzling email from a friend. You identify the words, but have a hard time "reading between the lines." In this example, word identification involves ________ processing while "reading between the lines" involves ________ processing.

A) bottom-up; top-down
B) top-down; bottom-up
C) bottom-up; bottom-up
D) top-down; top-down

Question 7

It is suggested that features have special status. Which of the following findings does NOT support this hypothesis?

A) Figures with single features are detected very easily in visual search tasks.
B) People with integrative agnosia can detect features but cannot combine them.
C) Feature recognition is separate and occurs before recognition of objects.
D) Perception of features changes based on the perceiver's expectations, but perception of objects does not.

Question 8

In a tachistoscopic procedure, participants are shown the sequence NACL. Evidence indicates that

A) the distinctive letter pattern in the sequence will help participants recognize the sequence.
B) the familiarity of the sequence (i.e., the chemical formula for table salt) will help participants recognize the sequence.
C) participants are likely to misperceive the sequence, reading it as if it were a common letter pattern, such as NAIL.
D) participants will be unable to organize the letters, and therefore they will only perceive some of the sequence's features, not the large-scale units.

Question 9

What sort of processing is dependent on factors in the environment or in the stimulus?

A) top-down
B) bottom-up
C) expectation-based
D) knowledge-driven

Question 10

"Bottom-up" (or "data-driven") mechanisms are

A) the scientific process in which all claims must be rooted in well-established biological evidence.
B) mechanisms for which activity is primarily triggered and shaped by the incoming stimulus information.
C) mechanisms for which activity is influenced by thoughts provided by the individual.
D) the process by which researchers seek to develop new theories by paying close attention to the available data.

Question 11

A participant reads a list of words in which the word "elephant" appears several times. Later, the participant tachistoscopically views another list of words. When the word "elephant" appears in the second list, the participant's response rate is faster than for other words not found on the previous list. This effect is called

A) the word-superiority effect.
B) the redundancy claim.
C) working-memory availability.
D) repetition priming.

Question 12

Apperceptive agnosia and associative agnosia both involve difficulties with object recognition; however, they differ in that

A) apperceptive agnosia is associated with memory loss.
B) associative agnosia involves problems linking visual forms together.
C) associate agnosia involves difficulties linking visual information to previous knowledge.
D) someone is born with apperceptive agnosia, but associate agnosia is acquired through trauma.

Question 13

Imagine you are putting together a puzzle. The lid of the box comes with a picture of the completed puzzle, and you reference that while you are working. The picture on the lid is acting as a

A) top-down influence.
B) bottom-up influence.
C) expectation.
D) distraction.

Question 14

You are shown an odd-looking image and asked to identify it. According to our knowledge of object recognition, your first step would be gathering the raw data, and the second would be ________ data.

A) memorizing the
B) ignoring the irrelevant
C) interpreting the
D) suppressing the

Question 15

The word-superiority effect refers to the fact that it is easier to recognize

A) short (three- or four-letter) words than long words.
B) a letter within the context of a word than it is to recognize a letter presented by itself.
C) a word presented in a phrase than it is to recognize a word presented by itself.
D) words that are frequently used under tachistoscopic conditions.

Question 16

Participants are shown the letter-string TPUM for 30 ms and asked to identify what they saw. If they are going to answer incorrectly, which response are they most likely to give?

A) I did not see anything presented.
B) OPUM
C) TRUM
D) TMPU

Question 17

Bob suffered brain damage and now has difficulty recognizing objects. He was shown a clock and was asked to draw it, but drew only a square. However, when asked to draw a clock from memory, he was able to do it. Bob is likely suffering from

A) prosopagnosia.
B) apperceptive agnosia.
C) associative agnosia.
D) memory loss.

Question 18

When identifying nonword letter strings that are presented very briefly, participants tend to make specific kinds of errors. How would these errors be best described?

A) They are unable to identify any letters if the string is a nonword.
B) They identify many of the letters correctly but tend to incorrectly identify the vowels.
C) They tend to misidentify strange letter combinations as more common letter combinations.
D) They misidentify more-common letter combinations as less-common letter pairs.

Question 19

Participants are shown a visual stimulus for just 30 milliseconds (ms) and are then asked, "Was there an E or a K in the stimulus?" We would expect the best performance if the stimulus is

A) BARK.
B) K.
C) BWQK.
D) GALK.

Question 20

In a tachistoscopic procedure, a word is likely to be more difficult to recognize if it

A) has been encountered by the participant recently.
B) is used frequently in the language.
C) has an unusual spelling pattern.
D) has been primed by an earlier exposure.

Question 21

A bigram detector fires in response to the

A) appropriate object weight.
B) appropriately shaped curve.
C) appropriately positioned corner.
D) appropriate letter pair.

Question 22

We often encounter ambiguous letters when reading handwritten words but can still interpret them. For example, the same shape can be interpreted as an A in CAT but an H in THE. At what level of analysis does the feature net resolve this issue?

A) the bigram level
B) the letter level
C) the word level
D) overregularization

Question 23

English nonwords (e.g., "HICE") are easier to perceive than strings of letters not resembling English words (e.g., "RSFK") because

A) they are encountered more often.
B) bigram detectors for more-common letter combinations fire more readily.
C) they are more distinctive.
D) word detectors will respond to near words as well as true words.

Question 24

Which of the following statements about a feature-net model is FALSE?

A) It can be applied to recognition of print.
B) It can be applied to recognition of three-dimensional objects.
C) It can be applied to recognition of faces.
D) It is only one part of a recognition framework that also includes top-down influences.

Question 25

In a feature-net model, knowledge of spelling patterns

A) can influence the perception of whole words but not the perception of single letters or bigrams.
B) is distributed across the model, and therefore the knowledge is only detectable in the overall functioning of the network.
C) is locally represented, allowing the network to draw inferences about partially viewed stimuli.
D) is overshadowed by the parallel processing employed by the net.

Question 26

Compared to detectors that have not fired recently, a detector that has fired recently is likely to

A) be at a higher position within the network of detectors.
B) have a higher response threshold.
C) have a higher activation level.
D) require more priming in order to fire.

Question 27

The bigram layer of a feature net is

A) rigid, so that once it is created it can never be modified.
B) something with which we are born.
C) the same for every language.
D) developed with experience

Question 28

Mistakes in word reading occur under a feature-net model of recognition. This results because the feature net encourages ________ over ________.

A) accuracy; efficiency
B) efficiency; accuracy
C) laziness; hard work
D) bottom-up processing; top-down processing

Question 29

A response threshold is the

A) exposure duration for which a word must be displayed tachistoscopically for a particular participant to perceive it.
B) number of correct responses required in order for a participant to perform above average on a particular task.
C) amount of certainty or conviction a participant expresses when selecting a particular response.
D) activation level at which a response occurs.

Question 30

Participants in a tachistoscopic procedure are shown the sequence CQRN. Participants misperceive this string as CORN. In a feature-net account, which of the following statements probably does NOT contribute to this effect?

A) O is a more frequently used letter in English than is Q. Therefore, the O-detector is better primed.
B) CO is a more frequent letter pair in English than CQ. Therefore, the CO-detector is better primed.
C) A well-primed bigram detector will fire even if the letter detectors feeding into that bigram detector are firing weakly.
D) Feature nets are generally unable to identify nonwords.

Question 31

The efficiency of a feature-net model occasionally leads to errors. We could avoid making word-recognition mistakes if we scrutinized each letter. Why is this a suboptimal strategy (and not the one we use)?

A) Reading would be very slow.
B) We do not have the attentional resources to scrutinize every letter.
C) The visual system would be overwhelmed.
D) Letters are easy to discriminate from one another.

Question 32

A feature net is a

A) network of cognitive "detectors" organized in hierarchical layers.
B) collective of features used to describe an object's form.
C) netlike structure of brain cells designed to detect features.
D) conceptualization of how features are visually related to one another.

Question 33

The bigram CO is more common in English than CQ, which makes identifying CORN more likely than identifying CQRN. According to feature nets, how is knowledge of bigram frequency stored?

A) It is locally represented in the feature net.
B) It is not explicitly stored anywhere.
C) It is built into a specific bigram-detection process.
D) It is stored in the hippocampus, a brain structure crucial for memory.

Question 34

A vertical line (like the "l" in "line") could activate all of the following nodes in a feature net EXCEPT

A) O
B) K
C) CK
D) CLICK

Question 35

One type of error that can result from feature nets is overregularization. Is overregularization a significant problem?

A) Yes; it leads to many errors.
B) Yes; not many errors occur, but they are really devastating.
C) No; these errors are infrequent and usually not problematic.
D) No; these errors occur often, but are small and easily corrected.

Question 36

The middle layer of a basic feature net contains ________ detectors.

A) feature
B) letter
C) syllable
D) word

Question 37

Which of the following would be considered a benefit of a feature net?

A) slow, but cautious, processing
B) flexibility to deal with unclear inputs
C) Errors are impossible.
D) New information will not affect past organization of the net.

Question 38

Participants' recognition thresholds are

A) lower for frequently seen words.
B) higher for recently seen words.
C) not affected by priming.
D) lower for highly unusual words.

Question 39

On one trial of an experiment, a participant is shown the sequence GWXT. On a different trial, the participant is shown the sequence PAFE. On the basis of prior research, we should expect that

A) PAFE will be easier to perceive than GWXT because detectors for PA and FE are likely to be well primed.
B) the letter sequences will be equally difficult to perceive because neither is a word.
C) participants will perceive more of the letters in GWXT because they are likely to confuse PAFE with PACE or SAFE.
D) the letter sequences will be equally difficult to perceive because both contain regular bigram patterns.

Question 40

Recognition errors (like mistaking CQRN for CORN) lead us to what conclusion about feature nets?

A) Feature nets are an imperfect system, and thus unlikely to accurately represent our cognitive processing.
B) The interactive nature of feature nets usually allows us to identify stimuli, but can also lead to errors.
C) Feature nets are capable of explaining accurate performance, but not errors.
D) Feature nets are the only possible explanation for object recognition.

Question 41

Facial recognition differs from recognition of other objects in all of the following ways EXCEPT

A) facial recognition depends on holistic recognition.
B) the component parts of a face have no influence on perception.
C) the configuration of the component parts of a face is critical.
D) the component parts of a face are not considered individually.

Question 42

Evidence from single-cell recording experiments suggests that we might have a cell that responds to a picture of Jennifer Aniston. Which of the following statements about that experiment is true?

A) The study was done on monkeys, because it is unethical to do such a study on humans.
B) The cells only responded to close-up pictures of Jennifer Aniston.
C) Most cells only responded to the pictures of Jennifer Aniston with short hair, like she had on Friends.
D) Some cells responded to pictures of Jennifer Aniston, regardless of the viewpoint of the photo.

Question 43

Some models of word recognition include detectors that ________ one another, so that activation of one detector decreases activation in another detector.

A) excite
B) improve
C) change
D) inhibit

Question 44

Biederman's recognition by components (RBC) model

A) does not rely on a hierarchy of detectors.
B) makes use of geon detectors, which in turn trigger detectors for geon assemblies.
C) asserts that priming takes place primarily at levels higher than the level of geon detectors.
D) can recognize three-dimensional objects provided they are seen from the appropriate viewing angle.

Question 45

Facial recognition depends on recognition of

A) the configuration of the parts.
B) the familiarity of the individual.
C) the lighting conditions.
D) the individual features of the face.

Question 46

This chapter describes in detail one way a feature net can be designed, but other designs may turn out to be preferable. For example, McClelland and Rumelhart's model makes use of all of the following statements EXCEPT

A) inhibitory connections among the detectors.
B) the elimination of feature detectors, relying instead on geon detectors.
C) connections allowing detectors at one level in the network to influence detectors at lower levels.
D) connections allowing detectors at one level in the network to influence other detectors at the same level.

Question 47

We can often recognize an object even if some of the object's parts are hidden from view. Evidence indicates that this recognition from partial viewing will be easiest if

A) we can see enough of the object to identify some of its geons.
B) we can see at least 20% of the object's features.
C) the object's features are unfamiliar to us, so there is no risk of false alarms.
D) the object does not have too many geons.

Question 48

Which of the following neural areas is NOT likely to be activated when looking at a face?

A) fusiform face area
B) occipital face area
C) prefrontal cortex
D) superior temporal sulcus

Question 49

If instructed to identify the briefly presented word "PORK," which of the following hints will provide the greatest benefit for identification?

A) The word will be presented in capital letters.
B) The word is something you can eat.
C) The word will be shown for 50 ms.
D) The word does not contain an I.

Question 50

McClelland and Rumelhart's model of word recognition suggests detectors on separate levels can interact in a bidirectional manner. Biological evidence ________ this notion because ________.

A) supports; visual processing is bidirectional
B) supports; there is parallel processing in the visual system
C) does not support; visual processing is an entirely bottom-up process
D) does not support; word recognition does not depend on visual processing

Question 51

The term "geons" is short for

A) geometric ions.
B) geometric objects.
C) geometric examples of objects in space.
D) It is not short for anything.

Question 52

The form of brain damage identified as prosopagnosia is primarily characterized by an inability to

A) recognize faces.
B) comprehend written text.
C) identify inverted stimuli even though perception of upright stimuli seems normal.
D) identify familiar voices.

Question 53

According to the RBC model, geons are NOT

A) simple shapes.
B) viewpoint independent.
C) always easy to identify.
D) capable of identification if they are partially obstructed.

Question 54

The fusiform face area (FFA) is known to be an area that is specifically responsive to faces. Which of the following statements is also true about the FFA?

A) It is primarily thought to be the area used to mentally rotate an inverted face into its upright position for further processing.
B) It only responds to famous faces (e.g., President Barack Obama).
C) It is also a crucial area in the processing of features within an object (e.g., edges and curves).
D) Tasks requiring other subtle distinctions within a category (e.g., identifying different birds or cars) also produce high levels of activation in this area.

Question 55

Which of the following models for object recognition emphasizes the role that rotation plays in object recognition?

A) feature net
B) McClelland and Rumelhart
C) recognition by components
D) multiple views

Question 56

The term "top-down processing" can be interchanged with the term "________ processing."

A) concept-driven
B) stimulus-driven
C) repetition-priming
D) interactive

Question 57

The recognition of faces

A) seems to rely on the detection of features and geons, indicating that the recognition by components model can be applied to face recognition.
B) resembles other forms of recognition in that our ability to recognize faces is relatively unimpaired by changes in viewing angle or orientation.
C) differs from other forms of recognition in that face recognition appears not to be influenced by expectation or knowledge effects.
D) is influenced by configurational factors, suggesting that a model based on feature detection will provide a poor explanation of face recognition.

Question 58

Which of the following statements best describes viewpoint-dependent object recognition?

A) An object is memorized faster if it is upright.
B) One must match the current view of an object with a view of the object stored in memory, using the process of rotation.
C) An object will be recognized at the same speed regardless of its orientation.
D) Recognition of an object is dependent on how many geons are visible to the viewer.

Question 59

Top-down mechanisms suggest that

A) upright stimuli are processed faster than inverted stimuli.
B) faces are processed faster than other body parts or inanimate objects.
C) processing can be driven by knowledge and expectations.
D) incoming information about a stimulus activates feature detectors.

Question 60

Which of the following statements is true about the recognition of inverted faces?

A) Recognition of inverted faces is harder than for upright faces.
B) Face processing is not affected by inverting the image.
C) Inverting a nonliving object, such as a house, produces a bigger deficit in recognition than inverting a face, as we are less familiar with houses.
D) Specialist neurons in the parietal cortex rapidly restore a face to its upright position for further processing.

Question 61

Describe how top-down influences affect object recognition by focusing on the relationship between letter and word recognition. Describe at least two examples that were mentioned in the book / lecture, and create one novel example of these top-down influences.

Question 62

Is object recognition viewpoint dependent? Argue for or against this notion by discussing the neuropsychological evidence to support your view.

Question 63

Argue for or against the notion that "face processing is a special case." Support your perspective by referencing behavioral or neuropsychological evidence.

Question 64

Compare and contrast the models of object recognition (McClelland and Rumelhart, geons, and multiple views).

Question 65

A researcher shows a group of participants letter strings for a brief period of time (50 ms) and asks them to identify the letters that they saw. Based on previous research, describe the pattern of performance that is expected by answering the following questions:
a. Can participants do this task?
b. If they make mistakes, what sort of mistakes do they make?
c. What do these results tells us about object recognition?

Question 66

Consider the word "HARP." Using a classic feature net model, describe how you might recognize this word, even if it was only shown for a few milliseconds.

Question 67

In what ways are facial and word recognition similar? In what ways are they different?

Question 68

Describe the trade-off of efficiency versus accuracy in word recognition. Make sure to reference feature nets in your answer. Why is such a trade-off necessary?

Question 69

You are driving in your car listening to the radio when a new song by your favorite artist comes on. Describe how top-down and bottom-up processing both contribute to your ability to identify (either correctly or incorrectly) the lyrics of the song.

Question 70

Explain how the McClelland and Rumelhart model could account for word-superiority effects.