Question 1

Why might it actually be less painful to sleep on a bed of nails than to be stabbed in the finger with one (at least in theory)?

Accepted Answer

The distribution of force over a larger area (like a bed of nails) reduces pressure on any single point, whereas a single nail concentrates force, causing more pain. Additionally, fingers have more nerve endings, making them more sensitive to pain.

Question 2

Which of the following would probably not be a goal of human factors, or human engineering?

Accepted Answer

Enhancing pain reduction is not typically a goal of human factors or human engineering. These fields focus on improving the interaction between humans and technology or environments to increase safety, efficiency, and overall effectiveness. While pain reduction may be a desirable outcome, it is not a primary goal or focus of these fields.

Question 3

The experience of pain or discomfort from body parts that have been amputated is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of The experience of pain or discomfort from...

Question 4

Attending to many modalities simultaneously is a phenomenon called

Accepted Answer

Parallel processing refers to the ability of the brain to attend to multiple sensory modalities simultaneously. This allows us to process information from different sources at the same time and integrate them into a coherent perceptual experience. Bottom-up processing refers to the processing of sensory information from the environment, while top-down processing refers to the influence of prior knowledge and expectations on perception. Selective attention refers to the ability to focus on a specific stimulus while ignoring others.

Question 5

________ processing is conceptually driven and influenced by our beliefs and expectations.

Accepted Answer

Top-down processing is driven by concepts and prior experiences rather than solely by sensory input. It is influenced by our beliefs and expectations and can lead to perceptual biases and illusions. Bottom-up processing, on the other hand, is driven by sensory input and builds up to more complex perception, while parallel processing refers to the brain's ability to process multiple aspects of a stimulus simultaneously. Sensory processing is a general term for the brain's initial processing of sensory information.

Question 6

Which of the following sensory difficulties is likely to be the most dangerous?

Accepted Answer

Pain insensitivity can lead to serious injuries or illnesses going unnoticed, which could result in significant harm or even death. Blindness, deafness, and loss of smell can also pose significant challenges to an individual, but they are less likely to directly lead to life-threatening situations.

Question 7

A slap to the back is perceived as less painful than a paper cut on one's finger because of ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of A slap to the back is perceived...

Question 8

Endorphins are the neurotransmitters that ________.

Accepted Answer

Endorphins act as natural painkillers by binding to certain receptors in the brain and reducing the perception of pain. They are released in response to stress or pain and can also induce feelings of pleasure or euphoria.

Question 9

In ________ processing, we construct a whole stimulus from its parts.

Accepted Answer

Bottom-up processing, also known as feature analysis, involves constructing a whole stimulus from its smaller sensory details. This is a data-driven process, where the brain takes in information from the environment and analyzes it in a step-by-step manner until a complete perceptual experience is formed.

Question 10

Huey, Dewey, and Louie are playing soccer and each rolls his ankle. However, Huey is experiencing such pain that he isn't willing to put any weight on his leg while Dewey and Louie continue to play. This provides evidence that people have different ________ for pain.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Huey, Dewey, and Louie are playing soccer...

Question 11

Jeremy notices that whenever he gets into a rental car, it takes him several minutes to locate the petrol tank. Such difficulties could be avoided if more car companies sought the input of professionals in ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Jeremy notices that whenever he gets into...

Question 12

What is the danger of lacking the ability to sense pain?

Accepted Answer

The answer of What is the danger of lacking the...

Question 13

Information about ________ travels to the spinal cord and brain more quickly than information about ________.

Accepted Answer

Touch information travels faster because it is transmitted via myelinated fibers, whereas pain information is often carried by slower, unmyelinated fibers.

Question 14

The receptors for the proprioceptive senses are located in the

Accepted Answer

The receptors for the proprioceptive senses, which provide information about the position and movement of the body, are located in the muscles and muscle tendons. Other senses, such as hearing (inner and middle ears) and vision (visual cortex), have their own specialized receptors and pathways. The temporal and parietal lobes are involved in processing sensory information, including proprioception.

Question 15

Jan is holding her pet cat, Belle. The fact that she is getting information about Belle's weight as she sits on Jan's lap, the sound of Belle's purrs, and the sight of Belle's eye movements all at the same time is an example of

Accepted Answer

Parallel processing refers to the ability of our brain to process multiple streams of information simultaneously. In this scenario, Jan is able to process Belle's weight, purrs, and eye movements all at the same time. Bottom-up processing refers to the processing of individual sensory stimuli to build a perception, while top-down processing refers to the use of prior knowledge and context to interpret sensory information. Subliminal processing refers to the processing of stimuli below the level of conscious awareness.

Question 16

Why is it that rubbing the site of an injury can make it feel like the pain caused by that injury is being reduced?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Why is it that rubbing the site...

Question 17

What discipline within psychology seeks to optimise the interaction between equipment and technology and our human sensory and perceptual abilities?

Accepted Answer

Human factors is the discipline within psychology that seeks to optimize the interaction between equipment and technology and our human sensory and perceptual abilities. It is also known as ergonomics or human engineering.

Question 18

Pedro is so fearful of getting hurt while playing sports that he often stops playing when he experiences the slightest degree of discomfort. His father refers him to a sports psychologist to deal with this problem. The sports psychologist is likely to help Pedro by showing him how to control his ________ reactions to pain.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Pedro is so fearful of getting hurt...

Question 19

A disorder of the inner ear would be most likely to impact our

Accepted Answer

The inner ear is responsible for maintaining our sense of balance and equilibrium. A disorder of the inner ear, such as Meniere's disease or vestibular neuritis, can lead to dizziness, vertigo, and difficulties with balance and coordination. Disorders of the inner ear are not typically associated with hearing loss, pain, or smell.

Question 20

The fact that our beliefs and expectations often influence our sensory experiences is known as

Accepted Answer

The statement refers to the concept of top-down processing, where our prior knowledge, expectations, and beliefs shape our perception and interpretation of sensory information.

Quiz 4: Sensation and Perception

Why might it actually be less painful to sleep on a bed of nails than to be stabbed in the finger with one (at least in theory) ?