Question 1

Which of the following is part of the organ of Corti?
A) semicircular canals
B) tectorial membrane
C) basilar membrane
D) all of the above
E) both B and C

Accepted Answer

The semicircular canals are not included because they are vestibular, not auditory, structures.

Question 2

Modern neuroscientific theory considers sensory systems to be
A) analog, parallel, and general.
B) functionally segregated, serial, and parallel.
C) hierarchical, functionally segregated, and parallel.
D) functionally segregated, serial, and sequential.
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The chapter is based on this three-part concept.

Question 3

For humans,sounds are those molecular vibrations between about __________ hertz.
A) 20 and 200
B) 2,000 and 20,000
C) 200 and 2,000
D) 200 and 8,000
E) 20 and 20,000

Accepted Answer

The range of molecular vibrations that humans can perceive as sound is between 20 and 20,000 hertz. This includes most of the sounds that we encounter in our daily lives, such as human speech, music, and environmental noises. Choice E is the only answer that includes this entire range.

Question 4

The simple process of detecting the presence of stimuli is often referred to as
A) seeing.
B) hearing.
C) sensation.
D) perception.
E) attention.

Accepted Answer

This is true by historical definition.

Question 5

Because functional segregation is an important feature of all sensory systems while perceptions are largely holistic,there is a
A) binding problem.
B) need for feedback circuits.
C) flaw in serial coding.
D) flaw in parallel coding.
E) segregation problem.

Accepted Answer

The binding problem is discussed in the text and is a classic problem of cognitive psychology.

Question 6

The malleus,incus,and stapes
A) are small bones that transmit vibrations from the ear drum to the oval window.
B) are small bones that transmit vibrations from the oval window to the round window.
C) were the three ships of Christopher Columbus.
D) are small bones in the inner ear.
E) both B and D

Accepted Answer

The malleus, incus, and stapes are also known as the three auditory ossicles or middle ear bones. They are the smallest bones in the human body and are located in the middle ear. Their main function is to transmit vibrations from the ear drum to the oval window, which then pushes fluid in the cochlea causing the stimulation of the auditory nerve.

Question 7

The auditory system is organized
A) retinotopically.
B) geographically.
C) tonotopically.
D) somatotopically.
E) volumetrically.

Accepted Answer

The auditory system is organized tonotopically, meaning that different frequencies of sound are processed in different areas of the auditory cortex based on their physical properties (i.e. pitch). This allows for efficient processing of complex auditory stimuli, such as speech and music.

Question 8

Which of the following contains the receptors of the vestibular system?
A) basilar membrane
B) semicircular canals
C) ossicles
D) vestibular nucleus
E) cochlea

Accepted Answer

The vestibular nucleus contains no receptors: D is incorrect.

Question 9

Which of the following auditory structures has the appearance of a snail and has a name that is derived from the Greek word for land snail?
A) ossicles
B) cochlea
C) malleus
D) tectorial membrane
E) olive

Accepted Answer

The cochlea is a spiral-shaped auditory structure that resembles a snail and its name is derived from the Greek word for land snail. The other choices (ossicles, malleus, tectorial membrane, and olive) do not resemble snails and do not have names derived from the Greek word for land snail.

Question 10

Areas of neocortex that receive most of their input from the thalamic relay nuclei of one sensory system are classified as
A) association cortex.
B) tertiary cortex.
C) motor cortex.
D) secondary sensory cortex.
E) primary sensory cortex.

Accepted Answer

This is true by definition.

Question 11

Each cortical level of a sensory system (primary,secondary,or association)is itself composed of different areas that mediate different psychological processes.This pattern of sensory system organization is referred to as
A) functional segregation.
B) parallel processing.
C) the binding problem.
D) hierarchical organization.
E) serial processing.

Accepted Answer

This is true by definition.

Question 12

The loudness,pitch,and timbre of a sound are directly related to the __________,respectively,of the vibrations that produced it.
A) frequency, amplitude, and complexity
B) amplitude, complexity, and frequency
C) amplitude, frequency, and complexity
D) complexity, frequency, and amplitude
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

The loudness of a sound is directly related to the amplitude of the vibrations that produced it. The pitch of a sound is directly related to its frequency, with higher frequency sounds being perceived as higher pitch. The timbre of a sound is directly related to its complexity, with more complex sounds having a greater variety of harmonics. Therefore, the order should be amplitude, frequency, and complexity, which corresponds to choice C.

Question 13

A system in which information is conducted in a single route through its various components,like a string through beads,is called a
A) parallel system.
B) functional system.
C) hierarchical system.
D) serial system.
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

This is a key concept because it is a common way of thinking about neural systems and because it is totally incompatible with modern parallel-systems approach.

Question 14

A hierarchical system is one in which
A) there is one absolute top.
B) there is one absolute bottom.
C) each element has specific levels or ranks with respect to one another.
D) no two elements are at the same level.
E) there is no cortical involvement.

Accepted Answer

A and B may be partially true, but C is the best answer to this question.

Question 15

Resting on the auditory hair cells is the
A) cochlea.
B) basilar membrane.
C) organ of Corti.
D) tectorial membrane.
E) auditory nerve.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Resting on the auditory hair cells is...

Question 16

A major principle of sensory system organization is
A) hierarchical organization.
B) functional segregation.
C) parallel processing.
D) all of the above
E) both A and B

Accepted Answer

All three principles are emphasized in the text.

Question 17

The visual system is to retinotopic as the auditory system is to
A) homotopic.
B) spatiotopic.
C) intensity topic.
D) tonotopic.
E) timbre topic.

Accepted Answer

The auditory system is organized tonotopically, meaning that neighboring neurons within the auditory pathway respond to different ranges of sound frequencies. This is similar to the retinotopic organization of the visual system, where neighboring neurons in the visual pathway respond to different areas of the visual field.

Question 18

Which ossicle is attached to the round window?
A) malleus
B) incus
C) hammer
D) both A and C
E) none of the above

Accepted Answer

E is correct because the ossicles are attached to the tympanic membrane and oval window, not the round window.

Question 19

An area of cerebral cortex that receives substantial input from more than one sensory system is classified as
A) hierarchical cortex.
B) primary sensory cortex.
C) secondary sensory cortex.
D) association cortex.
E) both A and B

Accepted Answer

This is true by definition.

Question 20

The frequency of sound waves is to the complexity of sound waves as the
A) pitch of sound is to the timbre.
B) amplitude of sound is to the loudness.
C) pitch of sound is to the amplitude.
D) timbre of sound is to the loudness.
E) loudness of sound is to the timbre.

Accepted Answer

The frequency of sound waves refers to the pitch of the sound, while the complexity of sound waves refers to the timbre. Pitch and timbre are both aspects of how a sound is perceived, but they are different properties. Therefore, choice A is the best answer.

Quiz 7: Mechanisms of Perception

Which of the following is part of the organ of Corti?

Modern neuroscientific theory considers sensory systems to be

For humans,sounds are those molecular vibrations between about __________ hertz.

The simple process of detecting the presence of stimuli is often referred to as

Because functional segregation is an important feature of all sensory systems while perceptions are largely holistic,there is a

The malleus,incus,and stapes

The auditory system is organized

Which of the following contains the receptors of the vestibular system?

Which of the following auditory structures has the appearance of a snail and has a name that is derived from the Greek word for land snail?

Areas of neocortex that receive most of their input from the thalamic relay nuclei of one sensory system are classified as

Each cortical level of a sensory system (primary,secondary,or association) is itself composed of different areas that mediate different psychological processes.This pattern of sensory system organization is referred to as

The loudness,pitch,and timbre of a sound are directly related to the __________,respectively,of the vibrations that produced it.

A system in which information is conducted in a single route through its various components,like a string through beads,is called a

A hierarchical system is one in which

Resting on the auditory hair cells is the

A major principle of sensory system organization is

The visual system is to retinotopic as the auditory system is to

Which ossicle is attached to the round window?

An area of cerebral cortex that receives substantial input from more than one sensory system is classified as

The frequency of sound waves is to the complexity of sound waves as the