Question 1

While driving on a highway, George sees a sign on a building that says "MO_EL." George knows that the building is a motel even though the sign is missing a letter because of the Gestalt ________.

Accepted Answer

The Gestalt law of closure explains how we fill in gaps to perceive a complete, whole object even when parts of it are missing. In this case, George fills in the missing letter to understand that "MO_EL" is "MOTEL."

Question 2

Which of the following statements is true about hair cells?

Accepted Answer

There is a one-to-one connection between the size of a hair cell and its sensitivity to different frequencies of sound.

Question 3

The Gestalt law of ________ says that we tend to group together objects that are near one another.

Accepted Answer

The Gestalt law of proximity states that objects that are near or proximate to each other tend to be grouped together in our perceptions.

Question 4

Which of the following statements is true about absolute thresholds?

Accepted Answer

Absolute thresholds can indeed change based on factors such as the cost of making an error, motivation, and personality. These factors can influence an individual's sensitivity to detecting stimuli.

Question 5

Lillian sees a store sign that says CL_ ED. Due to the Gestalt law of ________, Lillian knows the store is closed even though the sign is missing letters.

Accepted Answer

The Gestalt law of closure explains how we perceive objects as whole even when they are incomplete or parts of them are missing. In this case, Lillian perceives the word "CLOSED" as complete despite the missing letters, thanks to the law of closure.

Question 6

Stephan sees a plane flying at a distance. The plane appears to become smaller as it gets farther away from him. Stephan understands that the plane is not shrinking in size in reality because of ________.

Accepted Answer

Perceptual constancy allows us to perceive objects as having a constant size, shape, and color despite changes in perspective, distance, or lighting. In this case, Stephan understands that the plane's size remains constant even though it appears smaller as it moves away, thanks to size constancy, a type of perceptual constancy.

Question 7

The blind spot of the eye ________.

Accepted Answer

The blind spot of the eye contains no receptor cells, which is why it is a part of the visual field where no image is formed. This occurs because the optic nerve exits the eye at the blind spot, leaving no room for photoreceptor cells.

Question 8

The Gestalt tendency to group like objects together is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

The Gestalt principle of similarity states that objects that are similar are perceived to be more related than objects that are not. This principle explains why we tend to group like objects together in our perceptions.

Question 9

The ability of the brain to preserve perception of objects in spite of the changes in retinal image when an object changes position or distance from the viewer is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Perceptual constancy refers to the brain's ability to recognize objects as being constant even though the lighting, angle, distance, and other aspects of the object's appearance may change. This allows us to perceive objects as unchanging despite variations in the environment or our viewpoint.

Question 10

The lowest intensity levels of a stimulus a person can detect half of the time is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

The absolute threshold refers to the minimum intensity of a stimulus that a person can detect 50% of the time.

Question 11

The pinnae collect and funnel sounds into a passage known as the ________.

Accepted Answer

The pinnae, which are the external parts of the ears, collect and funnel sounds into the auditory canal, leading them towards the eardrum and the inner ear.

Question 12

According to the ________ theory of pain, acupuncture should successfully alleviate pain.

Accepted Answer

The gate control theory of pain suggests that pain signals passing through the nervous system can be regulated or blocked by gates in the spinal cord. Acupuncture is believed to stimulate certain nerves that can close these gates, thereby reducing the sensation of pain.

Question 13

Rahul, who experiences the most common type of color deficiency, cannot distinguish some shades of ________.

Accepted Answer

The most common type of color deficiency is red-green color blindness, where individuals have difficulty distinguishing between some shades of red and green.

Question 14

In the context of the Trichromatic theory, humans have cones that are sensitive to ________.

Accepted Answer

The Trichromatic theory, also known as the Young-Helmholtz theory, posits that the human eye has three types of cones that are sensitive to red, blue, and green wavelengths of light. These cones work together to enable us to see the full spectrum of colors.

Question 15

________ is a complex emotional and sensory experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage.

Accepted Answer

Pain is defined as a complex emotional and sensory experience that is often associated with actual or potential tissue damage, distinguishing it from the other options listed.

Question 16

The trichromatic theory explains processing at the retina or cone, of which there are three types. The ________ explains more about how cells in the LGN of the thalamus and visual cortex process color information.

Accepted Answer

The opponent-process theory complements the trichromatic theory by explaining how cells in the LGN (lateral geniculate nucleus) of the thalamus and the visual cortex process color information. It suggests that color perception is controlled by the activity of two opponent systems: a blue-yellow mechanism and a red-green mechanism, along with a black-white mechanism for brightness. This theory accounts for various color perception phenomena that the trichromatic theory cannot, such as afterimages and the fact that certain color combinations (like reddish-green) are never seen.

Question 17

Which of the following is true of the papillae at the center of the human tongue?

Accepted Answer

The papillae at the center of the human tongue contain very few taste cells, making them relatively insensitive to tastes. This area is not specialized for processing specific tastes like sweet, sour, or umami.

Question 18

In the brain, the first major structure involved in processing bodily sensations is the ________, which relays the impulses to the somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes.

Accepted Answer

The thalamus acts as a relay station for sensory information, including bodily sensations, directing these impulses to the appropriate areas of the brain, such as the somatosensory cortex in the parietal lobes for processing.

Question 19

________ is the act of organizing and interpreting sensory experience.

Accepted Answer

Perception is the process through which we organize and interpret our sensory impressions to give meaning to the environment. Sensation involves the simple awareness of various stimuli, but perception adds to this by making sense of these stimuli.

Question 20

Physicians generally refrain from prescribing ________ as an opioid for pain relief.

Accepted Answer

Heroin is not prescribed by physicians for pain relief due to its high potential for addiction and its illegal status in many countries. Oxycodone, hydrocodone, and morphine, however, are legally prescribed opioids for managing pain under medical supervision.

Quiz 4: Sensing and Perceiving Our World