Deck 7: Sensory Physiology

Question 1

Which of the following statements regarding the perception of pain is true?

A)Substance P is an important neurotransmitter in specific pain pathways
B)Transmission of information in the pain pathway may be inhibited by activation of neurons that synthesize endorphins
C)Synaptic activity in afferent neurons associated with pain receptors can be inhibited by axon-axon synapses with neurons from descending pathways
D)Both substance P is an important neurotransmitter in specific pain pathways and transmission of information in the pain pathway may be inhibited by activation of neurons that synthesize endorphins are true
E)All of the choices are true

Answer 1

E

Question 2

Which of the following statements regarding sensory systems is correct?

A)All sensory information that reaches the brain can be experienced as a conscious sensation
B)Sensory information that leads to conscious awareness of the stimulus is called a sensation
C)The term, "sensory unit," refers to a group of receptors that receive a particular stimulus and the afferent neuron associated with those receptors
D)Both all sensory information that reaches the brain can be experienced as a conscious sensation and the term, "sensory unit," refers to a group of receptors that receive a particular stimulus and the afferent neuron associated with those receptors are correct
E)Both sensory information that leads to conscious awareness of the stimulus is called a sensation and the term, "sensory unit," refers to a group of receptors that receive a particular stimulus and the afferent neuron associated with those receptors are correct

Answer 2

E

Question 3

A given sensory receptor

A)Responds to nonspecific physical or chemical changes in its environment
B)Transduces several forms of energy to electrical impulses
C)Is found at the peripheral endings of efferent neurons
D)Is described by all of the choices
E)Is described by none of the choices

Answer 3

E

Question 4

Which of the following statements regarding the precision of locating a somatic stimulus is true?

A)The precision is greater in areas of the body that have small, overlapping receptive fields than in areas with large, nonoverlapping receptive fields
B)The precision is greater in the lips and fingers than on the back
C)The precision is greater for the skin than for the internal organs
D)Both the precision is greater in areas of the body that have small, overlapping receptive fields than in areas with large, nonoverlapping receptive fields and the precision is greater in the lips and fingers than on the back are true
E)All of the choices are true

Question 5

Which of the following is not true regarding cortical association areas?

A)They may receive sensory information directly from primary sensory areas
B)They may receive sensory information directly from the thalamus
C)They may integrate two or more types of sensory information
D)They are found in each lobe of the cerebral cortex
E)They are involved with complex processing of sensory information

Question 6

Regarding the ascending pathways in the sensory system,

A)Specific pathways for all sensory information ultimately synapse in the cerebral cortex
B)Specific pathways for all sensory information ultimately synapse in the somatosensory cortex
C)Specific pathways for olfaction ultimately synapse in the limbic system
D)Both specific pathways for all sensory information ultimately synapse in the cerebral cortex and specific pathways for olfaction ultimately synapse in the limbic system are correct
E)Both specific pathways for all sensory information ultimately synapse in the somatosensory cortex and specific pathways for olfaction ultimately synapse in the limbic system are correct

Question 7

Adaptation in sensory receptors

A)Refers to the decrease or cessation of receptor potentials despite maintenance of a stimulus
B)Occurs to the same extent in all receptors
C)May be rapid or slow, depending on the receptor
D)Both refers to the decrease or cessation of receptor potentials despite maintenance of a stimulus and occurs to the same extent in all receptors are correct
E)Both refers to the decrease or cessation of receptor potentials despite maintenance of a stimulus and may be rapid or slow, depending on the receptor are correct

Question 8

Regarding the somatic sensations:

A)They include information about the environment that is transduced by Pacinian corpuscles
B)The sensations of "cold" and "warmth" are transduced by the same receptors; the rate of action potential firing in the afferent neurons associated with temperature receptors increases as the temperature increases
C)They include proprioception and kinesthesia
D)They include both information about the environment that is transduced by Pacinian corpuscles and the sensations of "cold" and "warmth" are transduced by the same receptors; the rate of action potential firing in the afferent neurons associated with temperature receptors increases as the temperature increases
E)They include both information about the environment that is transduced by Pacinian corpuscles and they include proprioception and kinesthesia

Question 9

A sensory unit is

A)All of the sensory receptors in a given area of the body that respond to the same stimulus
B)A single receptor ending and its afferent nerve fiber
C)A single afferent neuron and all its receptor endings
D)An afferent neuron and its postsynaptic interneurons
E)None of the choices are correct

Question 10

The primary cortical receiving areas for sensory information are

A)Composed of the first neurons in the cerebral cortex to receive sensory information from specific ascending pathways
B)The only cerebral cortex neurons that process specific sensory information
C)Located in anatomically specific areas of the brain according to stimulus type
D)Both composed of the first neurons in the cerebral cortex to receive sensory information from specific ascending pathways and located in anatomically specific areas of the brain according to stimulus type are correct
E)All of the choices are correct

Question 11

Which of the following statements regarding sensory pathways is correct?

A)All somatic sensory information that reaches the cerebral cortex is first processed in the thalamus
B)Somatic sensory information from the left side of the body is projected to the left side of the somatosensory cortex
C)All somatic sensory information travels together in a single tract in the spinal cord
D)Stimulation of any neuron in a specific ascending pathway will convey information about only one stimulus type
E)None of the choices are correct

Question 12

The receptive field of an afferent neuron

A)Refers to the number of interneurons with which the central process of the afferent neuron makes synaptic contact via divergence
B)Refers to the body surface that, when stimulated by a specific stimulus, gives rise to graded potentials in the receptors of that neuron
C)Is determined by the number and length of branches of the peripheral terminals of that neuron
D)Both refers to the number of interneurons with which the central process of the afferent neuron makes synaptic contact via divergence and is determined by the number and length of branches of the peripheral terminals of that neuron are correct
E)Both refers to the body surface that, when stimulated by a specific stimulus, gives rise to graded potentials in the receptors of that neuron and is determined by the number and length of branches of the peripheral terminals of that neuron are correct

Question 13

Polymodal neurons are

A)Afferent neurons
B)Interneurons that receive synaptic input from different kinds of sensory units
C)Part of specific ascending sensory pathways
D)Unimportant because they do not convey specific sensory information
E)Both afferent neurons and part of specific ascending sensory pathways

Question 14

A stimulus to which afferent neurons X,Y and Z are sensitive is detected in the middle of Y's receptive field.The same stimulus simultaneously activates receptors on the periphery of the receptive fields of X and Z.Which of the following is likely to be true?

A)Neuron Y activates inhibitory interneurons that directly inhibit the synaptic transmission of neurons X and Z
B)Neuron Y directly inhibits the synaptic transmission of neurons X and Z
C)The synaptic activity of neuron Y is not affected by action potentials in neurons X and Z
D)Both neuron Y activates inhibitory interneurons that directly inhibit the synaptic transmission of neurons X and Z and the synaptic activity of neuron Y is not affected by action potentials in neurons X and Z are correct
E)Both neuron Y directly inhibits the synaptic transmission of neurons X and Z and the synaptic activity of neuron Y is not affected by action potentials in neurons X and Z are correct

Question 15

The precision of locating a somatosensory stimulus is

A)Greater in areas of the body that have large, nonoverlapping receptive fields than in areas with small, overlapping fields
B)About the same for all parts of the skin
C)Greater for pathways with extensive lateral inhibition than for those lacking lateral inhibition
D)Both greater in areas of the body that have large, nonoverlapping receptive fields than in areas with small, overlapping fields and about the same for all parts of the skin are correct
E)Both about the same for all parts of the skin and greater for pathways with extensive lateral inhibition than for those lacking lateral inhibition are correct

Question 16

One reason you can distinguish between a needle prick on the foot and an ice cube on the wrist is that

A)The ice cube stimulates a different class of receptors than the needle prick, even though both signals go to exactly the same location in the brain
B)The nerve impulse from the needle prick is inherently different from the impulse generated by the ice cube
C)The region of the brain to which one receptor pathway leads is different from the region to which the other pathway leads
D)The needle prick generates a stronger action potential in any one neuron than an ice cube does
E)None of the choices are correct

Question 17

Lateral inhibition in the somatic sensory system serves to

A)Reduce the intensity of nerve signals sent to the somatosensory cortex
B)Enhance the precision of locating a stimulus by increasing the contrast between wanted and unwanted information
C)Alter pain sensation by simultaneously activating other sensory systems
D)Both reduce the intensity of nerve signals sent to the somatosensory cortex and enhance the precision of locating a stimulus by increasing the contrast between wanted and unwanted information are correct
E)Both enhance the precision of locating a stimulus by increasing the contrast between wanted and unwanted information and alter pain sensation by simultaneously activating other sensory systems are correct

Question 18

The receptor potential

A)Is an action potential
B)May trigger action potentials
C)Varies in magnitude with stimulus strength
D)Is both an action potential and varies in magnitude with stimulus strength
E)Is both may trigger action potentials and varies in magnitude with stimulus strength

Question 19

Which of the following statements regarding the determination of stimulus intensity is true?

A)The frequency of action potentials increases with increasing stimulus intensity
B)The magnitude of action potentials increases with increasing stimulus intensity
C)The magnitude of receptor potentials increases with increasing stimulus intensity
D)Both the frequency of action potentials increases with increasing stimulus intensity and the magnitude of action potentials increases with increasing stimulus intensity are true
E)Both the frequency of action potentials increases with increasing stimulus intensity and the magnitude of receptor potentials increases with increasing stimulus intensity are true

Question 20

Which of the following is important for the determination of stimulus type?

A)The relative sensitivity of different receptors to different stimulus energies
B)The presence of polymodal neurons in the sensory pathway
C)The location of the highest-order neuron in the specific ascending pathway
D)Both the relative sensitivity of different receptors to different stimulus energies and the presence of polymodal neurons in the sensory pathway are correct
E)Both the relative sensitivity of different receptors to different stimulus energies and the location of the highest-order neuron in the specific ascending pathway are correct

Question 21

Which of the following statements related to "ON pathways" and "OFF pathways" of visual pathways to the brain is correct?

A)In the ON pathway bipolar cells fire action potentials only when bright light strikes the photoreceptors linked to them
B)In the OFF pathway bipolar cells fire action potentials when the photoreceptors linked to them are struck by bright light
C)The functional benefit of the coexistence of both pathways in the retina is to increase the brain's ability to perceive contrast at the edges and borders of the visual field
D)Both in the ON pathway bipolar cells fire action potentials only when bright light strikes the photoreceptors linked to them and the functional benefit of the coexistence of both pathways in the retina is to increase the brain's ability to perceive contrast at the edges and borders of the visual field are correct
E)Both in the OFF pathway bipolar cells fire action potentials when the photoreceptors linked to them are struck by bright light and the functional benefit of the coexistence of both pathways in the retina is to increase the brain's ability to perceive contrast at the edges and borders of the visual field are correct

Question 22

In the visual pathway providing sensory action potentials to the brain,the first cells which are capable of initiating action potentials are

A)Cone cells
B)Rod cells
C)Rods and cone cells
D)Ganglion cells
E)Bipolar cells

Question 23

Accommodation for near vision requires

A)Elongation of the lens
B)Contraction of the ciliary muscles
C)Activation of the sympathetic nervous system
D)Both elongation of the lens and contraction of the ciliary muscles
E)Both elongation of the lens and activation of the sympathetic nervous system

Question 24

The ossicles in the middle ear

A)Serve to keep the pressure on the two sides of the tympanic membrane equal
B)Are part of the vestibular apparatus
C)Are in direct contact with both the tympanic membrane and the round window
D)Serve to amplify the pressure of sound vibrations from the air in the outer ear to the fluid in the inner ear
E)Are easily damaged by loud sounds

Question 25

Each of the following statements regarding vision is true.Which statement best explains why we cannot see colors in dim light?

A)The human eye has three kinds of cone photoreceptors
B)There are six types of opponent color cells in the lateral geniculate nucleus
C)The human eye has only one kind of rod photoreceptor
D)All photoreceptors contain the same chromophore
E)Cone photoreceptors are concentrated in the fovea

Question 26

Which of the following statements regarding vision is false?

A)The cornea plays a larger role than the lens in focusing light on the retina
B)Presbyopia is a condition in which the lens cannot accommodate adequately for near vision
C)Myopia is a condition in which the lens focuses light from distant objects behind the retina
D)Cataract results from an increase in opacity (clouding) of the lens
E)The image of an object that is focused on the retina is upside down relative to the object's actual position in space

Question 27

Which of the following statements regarding hearing is true?

A)The pitch of sounds is conveyed by the intensity of the vibration of the oval window
B)Low-pitched tones selectively cause vibration of the basilar membrane at a point closer to the oval window than high-pitched ones do
C)Sound is amplified as it is conducted from the oval window to the tympanic membrane
D)Conduction deafness is a result of damage to the hair cells of the inner ear
E)The loudness of a sound is conveyed by the frequency of action potentials generated in the cochlear nerve

Question 28

When light strikes photoreceptors

A)The chromophore retinal undergoes a change of shape
B)There is a decrease in neurotransmitter release from the photoreceptors
C)The photoreceptors become depolarized
D)Both the chromophore retinal undergoes a change of shape and there is a decrease in neurotransmitter release from the photoreceptors are correct
E)All of the choices are correct

Question 29

While taking a human physiology midterm exam,Susan came across a question on material she had not studied.Suddenly she experienced difficulty reading the words on her exam.She correctly assumed that the most logical explanation for this was that

A)She had suddenly developed presbyopia
B)Activation of her parasympathetic nerves had caused sudden contraction of her ciliary muscles
C)Activation of her sympathetic nerves had caused sudden contraction of her ciliary muscles
D)Activation of her parasympathetic nerves had inhibited contraction of her ciliary muscles
E)Activation of her sympathetic nerves had inhibited contraction of her ciliary muscles

Question 30

Which of the following statements with regard to vision is false?

A)Photoreceptors are neurons
B)There are four different photoreceptors in the retina
C)There are four different photopigments in the retina
D)There are four types of chromophores in the retina
E)There are four types of opsin in the retina

Question 31

Vitamin A plays a critical role in night vision since

A)It is required for the synthesis of the retinal portion of rhodopsin
B)It is associated with the proper function of bright light receptors differentiating dimly lit or darkened objects
C)It acts as the coenzyme required to degrade scotopsinin brightly lit circumstances
D)It catalyzes the mitotic generation of light reflecting epithelial cells which support widely dispersed rod receptors
E)It deactivates the photopigment transducing chemical pathways within cone photoreceptors

Question 32

A person whose lens focuses light from distant objects in front of (rather than on)the retina has a condition called

A)Presbyopia
B)Hyperopia
C)Myopia
D)Cataract
E)Glaucoma

Question 33

In ______ photoreceptors infoldings of the plasma membranes contribute to the bright light sensitivity and ability to accomplish color vision

A)Bipolar cell
B)Rod cell
C)Ganglion cell
D)Cone cell
E)Pigment cell

Question 34

Which of the following statements about rods and cones in the retina is true?

A)Cones enable us to see in dim light; rods provide color vision
B)Rods and cones all have the same kind of opsin
C)Cones are clustered in the fovea; rods are more scattered throughout the retina
D)Both cones enable us to see in dim light; rods provide color vision and rods and cones all have the same kind of opsin are true
E)Both cones enable us to see in dim light; rods provide color vision and cones are clustered in the fovea; rods are more scattered throughout the retina are true

Question 35

The actual receptors for hearing are called

A)Baroreceptors
B)Nociceptors
C)Hair cells
D)Pacinian corpuscles
E)Somatic receptors

Question 36

The receptors for hearing are found on the

A)Tympanic membrane
B)Basilar membrane
C)Stapes
D)Oval window
E)Scala vestibuli

Question 37

In light adaptation - i.e.,eventually being able to see objects in a brightly lit place,after being in the dark

A)Cone photoreceptors only, are stimulated
B)Rods quickly deplete their stores of rhodopsin
C)Rods continue to propagate sensory action potentials
D)Cones and rods are stimulated equally, leading to difficulties in interpreting the sensory inputs to the brain
E)Cones begin to diminish the frequency and intensity of action potentials they propagate and transmit

Question 38

When viewing a distant object,the

A)Firing of parasympathetic nerves to ciliary muscles increases
B)Zonular fibers relax
C)Lens flattens
D)Both firing of parasympathetic nerves to ciliary muscles increases and zonular fibers relax are correct
E)All of the choices are correct

Question 39

The plasma membranes of rod and cone cells are

A)At their resting potential in the dark and depolarized in the light
B)At their resting potential in the dark and hyperpolarized in the light
C)Depolarized in the dark and hyperpolarized in the light
D)Hyperpolarized in the dark and at their resting potential in the light
E)Hyperpolarized in the dark and depolarized in the light

Question 40

Which of the following symptoms would a patient with a lesion (injury)on the right side of the spinal cord in the region of the neck be most likely to experience?

A)Loss of both pressure sense and pain in the right foot
B)Loss of both pressure sense and pain in the left foot
C)Loss of pressure sense in the right foot and pain in the left foot
D)Loss of pressure sense in the left foot and pain in the right foot

Question 41

Olfactory receptors

A)Can discriminate only among the four primary tastes - sweet, sour, salty and bitter
B)When stimulated, send impulses directly to the limbic system
C)Are stimulated by chemicals called odorants
D)Both can discriminate only among the four primary tastes - sweet, sour, salty and bitter and, when stimulated, send impulses directly to the limbic system are correct
E)Both, when stimulated, send impulses directly to the limbic system and are stimulated by chemicals called odorants are correct

Question 42

The transmission of information in a sensory system is analogous to the transmission of sound in a telephone system except that,unlike the telephone system,the sensory system does not retranslate the electrical signaling code back to the specific energy of the stimulus.

Question 43

Shaking one's head "no" activates hair cells in the

A)Cochlea
B)Utricle
C)Semicircular canals
D)Olfactory mucosa
E)Scalp

Question 44

Perceptions are derived from higher-order processing of sensory information.

Question 45

Mechanoreceptors include

A)Hair cells in the cochlea
B)Hair cells in the ampulae of the semicircular canals
C)Hair cells in the olfactory mucosa
D)Hair cells in the cochlea and hair cells in the ampulae of the semicircular canals
E)All of the choices are correct

Question 46

Receptors for the chemical senses are located in the

A)Organ of Corti and the saccule
B)Cochlea and lateral geniculate nucleus
C)Skin and tendons
D)Tongue and nose
E)Fovea and the semicircular canals

Question 47

The rate of change of a stimulus may be important in determining receptor response.

Question 48

The phenomenon known as referred pain

A)Is a very infrequent perception of a false painful stimulus which is actually nonexistent; i.e., the mind playing a trick on us
B)Is a direct association of an activity which is on the verge of causing tissue damage, to its specific location and cause in the body
C)Is the projected perception of pain as a sensation being experienced at a site other than that of the actual injured or diseased tissue
D)Is a process closely related to the specific nature of sensory action potentials along pathways dedicated to specific modalities ending in each specific sensory processing area of the brain which produces a correct precise perception of the source of painful stimuli every time
E)Is synonymous with the persistence of perceptions of painful stimuli long after the activity responsible for triggering them has ceased

Question 49

The greater the magnitude of the receptor potential generated by a stimulus,the greater the amplitude of the action potentials the receptor potential induces.

Question 50

"Somatosensory" refers to the part of the cerebral cortex that receives synaptic input from specific ascending pathways originating only with receptors for touch.

Question 51

"Sensation" is sensory information that reaches the brain.

Question 52

Which of the following statements regarding the vestibular system is true?

A)Hair cells in the cochlea are involved in the detection of movement and position of the head
B)Receptors in the utricle and saccule detect changes in position of the head with respect to gravity
C)Fluid in the semicircular canals causes deformation of receptor cells leading to their depolarization in response to changes in angular (rotational) acceleration of the head
D)Both hair cells in the cochlea are involved in the detection of movement and position of the head and receptors in the utricle and saccule detect changes in position of the head with respect to gravity are true
E)Both receptors in the utricle and saccule detect changes in position of the head with respect to gravity and fluid in the semicircular canals causes deformation of receptor cells leading to their depolarization in response to changes in angular (rotational) acceleration of the head are true

Question 53

The process by which sensory receptors change various forms of energy into electrical energy is called translation.

Question 54

In addition the "classical taste sensation" areas of the tongue two new "tastes," have or will be added to the list.Which of the sensations and its stimulus is associated with newest of these to gain scientific acceptance?

A)Acids, sour
B)Poisonous alkaloids, bitter
C)Sugars, sweet
D)Glutamate, umami
E)Lipids, fatty acids

Question 55

Information about the location of a given stimulus on or in the body is conveyed by the same mechanisms that convey information about stimulus intensity.

Question 56

Information from the vestibular system

A)Is conveyed in the form of action potentials in the optic nerve
B)Is conveyed to nerves controlling eye movements
C)Does not reach consciousness
D)Both is conveyed in the form of action potentials in the optic nerve and is conveyed to nerves controlling eye movements are correct
E)All of the choices are correct

Question 57

Highly processed sensory information is invested with emotional significance by neurons in the association cortex of the temporal lobes.

Question 58

Which of the following is not a function of the tensor tympani and stapedius muscles?

A)Maintaining the proper amount of "stretch" or tension in the membranes of the middle and inner ear associated with proper auditory acuity
B)Protection of the delicate inner ear from sudden intermittent loud sounds
C)Reflexive contraction when vocalizing to reduce the loudness of your own voice
D)Optimization of the state of the inner ear for hearing over certain frequency ranges

Question 59

Distinguishing the pitch of sounds is possible because

A)Different frequencies of sounds make the eardrum vibrate with different amplitudes
B)Different frequencies of sounds stimulate different regions of the basilar membrane in the cochlear duct
C)Different frequencies of sounds cause different kinds of action potentials in neurons in the auditory nerve
D)Different frequencies of sounds cause different frequencies of action potentials in neurons in the auditory nerve
E)There are many different receptors for sound, each of which responds only to one narrow range of frequency

Question 60

As the pitch of a sound gets higher,displacements of the basilar membrane

A)Occur closer to the oval window
B)Occur closer to the helicotrema
C)Occur uniformly throughout the membrane
D)Become greater in amplitude
E)Become smaller in amplitude

Question 61

A sound with a frequency of 4000 Hz has a lower pitch than a sound with a frequency of 1000 Hz.

Question 62

One function of saccades is to prevent adaptation of photoreceptors to a visual image.

Question 63

Vitamin A deficiency can lead to blindness.

Question 64

In both ON and OFF visual pathways,light stimulates the release of glutamate onto bipolar cells.

Question 65

The characteristics of the visual system are first sorted out by cells in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus.

Question 66

In the somatosensory cortex,neuronal representation of body parts is proportional to their size.

Question 67

The response of a bipolar cell,i.e.,whether it acts to bring about an "ON pathway" or an "OFF pathway" is directly dependent upon the amount of glutamate released within a very brief span of time.

Question 68

The tympanic membrane separates an air-filled chamber from a fluid-filled chamber.

Question 69

The afferent pathways for pain differ from those for other somatic sensations in that information about the pain stimulus is transmitted to the hypothalamus.

Question 70

"Phantom limb" pain is imaginary pain because it is "felt" in an amputated limb.

Question 71

The optic nerve fibers from each eye meet at the optic chiasm,where they cross.Thus,visual information from the right eye is received by the left side of the brain.

Question 72

The greatest concentration of cones is in the fovea centralis of the retina.

Question 73

The density of receptors in a receptive field is usually greatest in the periphery of the field.

Question 74

The conscious sensation of sight is a result of integration of information that is processed by cortical areas of the occipital,temporal,parietal and frontal lobes of the brain.

Question 75

The precision of locating a somatosensory stimulus is greater in areas of the body that have small,overlapping receptive fields than in areas with large,nonoverlapping fields.

Question 76

The phenomenon of referred pain may occur because the ascending pathways for pain are not completely specific with respect to localization of the pain receptor.

Question 77

Presbyopia is correctable by a convex lens in eyeglasses.

Question 78

A common neurotransmitter for afferent neurons carrying information about pain is prostaglandin.

Question 79

The photoreceptor cell (rods and cones)is different from other sensory receptors in that it is the only type that is actually depolarized at rest.

Question 80

Increased pressure in the eye caused by an accumulation of aqueous humor is called astigmatism.