Question 1

The difference threshold is the minimum difference a person can detect between any two stimuli

Accepted Answer

The answer of The difference threshold is the minimum difference...

Question 2

We experience the difference threshold as a

Accepted Answer

The JND (just noticeable difference) is the smallest difference between two stimuli that a person can detect. This is also known as the difference threshold, and is the correct answer for this question. A is incorrect because perceptual set refers to the tendency to perceive stimuli in a certain way based on our expectations, experiences, and assumptions. B is incorrect because the blind spot is the area in our visual field where the optic nerve leaves the eye, and we cannot see anything in that spot. C is incorrect because subliminal stimulus refers to stimuli that are below the threshold of conscious perception.

Question 3

In one experiment,preschool children judged french fries as tasting better when served in a McDonald's bag rather than a plain white bag.This best illustrates the impact of

Accepted Answer

The experiment shows the impact of perceptual set, which refers to a mental predisposition to perceive something in a certain way based on expectations and prior experiences. The children had a preconceived notion that McDonald's fries are better than fries from other restaurants, and this influenced their perception of the taste based on the packaging it was delivered in.

Question 4

Sensory adaptation helps us to focus our attention on ________ stimuli.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Sensory adaptation helps us to focus our...

Question 5

Which of the following strategies best illustrates the use of subliminal stimulation?

Accepted Answer

Subliminal stimulation refers to stimuli that are below the threshold of conscious awareness, and therefore can influence behavior without the individual's knowledge or intention. In this scenario, the imperceptible flashing of a trim female figure is an example of subliminal stimulation being used in an advertisement for a weight-reduction clinic.

Question 6

Schemas are best described as

Accepted Answer

Schemas are mental frameworks or concepts that we use to interpret and organize sensory input. They help us make sense of new information by allowing us to categorize and compare it to existing knowledge and experiences.

Question 7

After reading her horoscope in the morning newspaper,Sabrina readily interpreted many experiences that day as clear proof of its accuracy.This best illustrates the dangers of

Accepted Answer

Sabrina's interpretation of her experiences as proof of her horoscope's accuracy suggests that she had a preconceived expectation or bias towards the horoscope's predictions, which influenced her perception of the events of her day. This is an example of a perceptual set, which is a tendency to perceive stimuli in a certain way based on prior experiences, expectations or context.

Question 8

After watching a scary television movie,Julie perceived the noise of the wind rattling her front windows as the sound of a burglar breaking into her house.Her mistaken interpretation best illustrates the influence of

Accepted Answer

Perceptual set refers to a mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another. In this case, Julie's previous experience with scary movie stimuli created a perceptual set that led her to interpret the sound of the wind as a burglar breaking in.

Question 9

Which of the following is an example of sensory adaptation?

Accepted Answer

Sensory adaptation refers to the process of becoming less responsive to a constant stimulus over time. Option C is an example of sensory adaptation because, over time, our body adjusts to the cold environment and we no longer feel as cold as we did when we first stepped outside. Options A and D are not examples of sensory adaptation because they do not involve becoming less responsive to a constant stimulus over time. Option B is an example of classical conditioning, in which a particular stimulus (the fire alarm) is consistently followed by a specific response (responding vigorously), but it is not an example of sensory adaptation.

Question 10

In 1972,a British newspaper published pictures of a "Loch Ness Monster." Many people readily perceived a floating tree trunk in the photographs as the partially submerged monster.This best illustrates the powerful influence of

Accepted Answer

Perceptual set refers to a mental predisposition to perceive one thing and not another. In this case, people had a preconceived notion of what the Loch Ness Monster should look like and therefore perceived a floating tree trunk as the monster. This demonstrates the influence of one's expectations and past experiences on perception, which is the basis of perceptual set. Bottom-up processing refers to the process of analyzing individual features of a stimulus to build up a complete perception, which does not apply in this scenario. Sensory adaptation refers to the diminishing sensitivity to an unchanging stimulus over time, which also does not apply in this scenario. Similarly, subliminal stimulation refers to stimulation that is too weak to be consciously detected, which is not relevant to the situation.

Question 11

After sensory adaptation to an angry face,a morphed blend of an angry face and a scared face appears predominantly ________.After sensory adaptation to a scared face,a morphed face blend of an angry and a scared face appears predominantly ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of After sensory adaptation to an angry face,a...

Question 12

Some people are better than others at detecting slight variations in the tastes of various blends of coffee.This best illustrates the importance of

Accepted Answer

The ability to detect slight variations in the taste of different blends of coffee is an example of difference thresholds, which refers to the minimum amount of difference that is required for a person to detect a change in a stimulus. This suggests that some people are better than others at detecting these differences, highlighting the variability in sensory thresholds among individuals.

Question 13

If we could stop our eyes from quivering as we stare at a stationary object,the object would probably

Accepted Answer

The quivering of our eyes, called saccades, helps to refresh the information being sent to our brain and allows us to perceive stationary objects as continuous. If we were able to stop our eyes from quivering, the image would eventually fade from our perception and vanish from sight.

Question 14

If the just noticeable difference for a 10-ounce weight is 1 ounce,the just noticeable difference for an 80-ounce weight would be ________ ounces.

Accepted Answer

The Weber-Fechner Law states that the just noticeable difference (JND) between two stimuli is proportional to the magnitude of the stimuli. In other words, the larger the stimuli, the larger the JND.

Using the formula:
JND = k * S
where k is a constant and S is the magnitude of the stimuli.

We can set up a ratio of the two weights:
JND1 / S1 = JND2 / S2

Substituting in the given values:
1 / 10 = JND2 / 80

Solving for JND2:
JND2 = (1/10) * 80 = 8

Therefore, the just noticeable difference for an 80-ounce weight is 8 ounces. So the answer is C.

Question 15

Diminished sensitivity to an unchanging stimulus is known as

Accepted Answer

Sensory adaptation is the term used to describe diminished sensitivity to an unchanging stimulus. Priming refers to the phenomenon of exposure to a stimulus influencing an individual's response to a subsequent stimulus, while prosopagnosia is a disorder characterized by difficulty recognizing familiar faces. Transduction is the process by which sensory information is converted into neural signals.

Question 16

Pablo sees 75-watt light bulbs as giving off more light than 60-watt bulbs.His wife sees them as giving off the same amount of light.Pablo apparently has a ________ threshold for light than his wife.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Pablo sees 75-watt light bulbs as giving...

Question 17

According to Weber's law,to be perceived as different,two stimuli must differ by a constant minimum

Accepted Answer

The answer of According to Weber's law,to be perceived as...

Question 18

An assumption or expectation that affects (top-down)what we see or hear is called a

Accepted Answer

A perceptual set is an expectation or assumption that affects what we see or hear. It is a top-down process because it influences our perception based on our prior experiences, beliefs, and context.

Question 19

Those who believe in the value of subliminal audio messages would be wrong to claim that

Accepted Answer

Subliminal messages are not typically unusually persuasive; they are processed without conscious awareness but do not have a strong influence on behavior or decision-making.

Question 20

Soothing musical recordings accompanied by unheard verbal messages designed to increase a desire to lose weight best illustrate

Accepted Answer

Soothing musical recordings accompanied by unheard verbal messages designed to increase a desire to lose weight are an example of subliminal stimulation, where the messages are presented below the threshold of conscious awareness. This aims to influence behavior without the person being consciously aware of it.

Quiz 5: Sensation and Perception