Question 1

The phenomenon in which we perceive movement in objects that are actually standing still is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Apparent movement is the phenomenon in which we perceive movement in objects that are actually standing still. It can occur through two types of visual illusions: stroboscopic motion and phi phenomenon.

Question 2

A child is asked to estimate the size of a poker chip. The child is then allowed to exchange the poker chip for candy. The child is then asked to estimate the size of an identical poker chip. This time the child's estimate of the poker chip is substantially larger, because the child has learned to place value on the poker chip. This shows the effects of ________ on perception.

Accepted Answer

Motivation affects perception as the child's desire for candy increases the perceived value and size of the poker chip.

Question 3

The walls of a very long, narrow corridor appear to come together as they recede from the viewer. This distance cue is known as ________.

Accepted Answer

Linear perspective is a depth cue that refers to the way parallel lines appear to converge as they recede into the distance, which explains why the walls of a long, narrow corridor seem to come together as they move away from the viewer.

Question 4

If you place a stick in the water, the part of the stick that is under the water appears bent. This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of If you place a stick in the...

Question 5

Size constancy explains why ________.

Accepted Answer

Size constancy is the perceptual phenomenon in which objects are perceived as having constant dimensions (size, shape, and orientation) regardless of their distance from the observer. This means that a pencil held close to the eye appears larger than the same pencil viewed from across a room, but we perceive it as having the same size due to size constancy.

Question 6

When one object partially blocks another, the distance cue is called ________.

Accepted Answer

Interposition, also known as occlusion, occurs when one object partially blocks another, providing a distance cue to the viewer. Linear perspective refers to the way parallel lines appear to converge in the distance, while texture gradient refers to the way texture appears to become denser and smaller as it recedes from the viewer. Shadowing can also provide distance information, but it is not specific to objects partially blocking each other.

Question 7

Clues to sound localization that require the use of one ear are called ________ clues.

Accepted Answer

Monaural cues are the sound localization clues that require the use of one ear.

Question 8

Texture gradient refers to the fact that texture appears to become ________.

Accepted Answer

Texture gradient refers to the fact that as objects appear farther away, the texture appears less detailed. This is because the details of the texture blend together, making it less distinguishable.

Question 9

Color constancy explains why ________.

Accepted Answer

Color constancy is the phenomenon where the perceived color of an object remains relatively stable under varying lighting conditions. This means that we perceive an object as being the same color whether we see it in bright sunlight, dim candlelight, or any other type of lighting. Therefore, option B is the correct answer.

Question 10

While attending a cocktail party, you find you can clearly hear one particular conversation above all the others, even though that conversation is not very loud. To a Gestalt psychologist, the conversation represents the ________, and the rest of the party is the ________.

Accepted Answer

This is because the concept of figure-ground perception in Gestalt psychology refers to the tendency of the brain to separate a visual scene into the main object of focus (the "figure") and the background or context that surrounds it (the "ground"). In this scenario, the conversation that is clearly heard is the "figure" and the rest of the party becomes the "ground."

Question 11

The autokinetic illusion is exemplified by ________.

Accepted Answer

The autokinetic illusion refers to the apparent movement of a stationary object when viewed in a dark environment. The best example is the apparent drifting of a tiny, constantly shining light, as it creates the illusion of movement even though it is actually stationary.

Question 12

Alice is walking home from school when she notices a change in the weather. She hears thunder in the distance, sees lightning and dark clouds approaching, feels the wet breeze of an approaching storm, and even smells the difference in the wind from the storm. Alice is able to organize all of these sensory cues into a meaningful idea due to her powers of ________.

Accepted Answer

Perception involves taking in sensory information and interpreting it in a meaningful way. Alice is able to make sense of the sensory cues she is experiencing, which is an example of perception. Therefore, C is the best choice. A) Intuition is a feeling or hunch about something without conscious reasoning, and there is no evidence that Alice's interpretation is based on this. B) Sensation is the process of detecting stimuli from our environment, but it does not necessarily involve organizing it into a meaningful idea. D) Sensory acuity refers to the ability to detect fine differences between stimuli, but it is not directly relevant to Alice's ability to organize her sensory cues.

Question 13

The process of creating meaningful patterns from raw sensory information is ________.

Accepted Answer

Perception is the process of creating meaningful patterns from raw sensory information. Sensation is the process of detecting sensory information through our senses. The phi phenomenon is an illusion of movement that is created when two or more adjacent stimuli blink on and off in quick succession. Transduction is the process of converting a sensory signal into an electrical signal that can be processed by the brain.

Question 14

Our tendency to see objects as relatively stable and unchanging despite changing sensory information is called perceptual ________.

Accepted Answer

Perceptual constancy is the tendency to perceive objects as relatively stable and unchanging, despite changes in sensory information. This can apply to various aspects of perception, including size, shape, color, and brightness.

Question 15

Recent research indicates that endorphin release ________.

Accepted Answer

Recent research suggests that endorphin release is not the only factor responsible for pain reduction associated with either acupuncture or placebos.

Question 16

An illusion due to misleading cues in stimuli which cause us to create perceptions that are inaccurate or impossible is called a(n) ________ illusion.

Accepted Answer

Perceptual illusions are created by the brain's interpretation of sensory information, resulting in inaccurate or impossible perceptions. Physical illusions are created by the physical properties of stimuli, while induced illusions are created by external factors like drugs or hypnosis. Stroboscopic illusions occur when a rapid series of images gives the illusion of continuous motion.

Question 17

You are watching a tennis match and your seat is located at the side of the court, in line with the net. If you keep your eyes on the net but move your head from side to side, the people a few rows in front of you will appear to ________.

Accepted Answer

When you move your head from side to side while keeping your eyes on the net, the people in front of you will appear to move in the opposite direction due to the relative motion effect.

Question 18

Combining the retinal images from both eyes results in ________.

Accepted Answer

Combining the retinal images from both eyes results in stereoscopic vision, which allows for depth perception and the perception of three-dimensional space.

Question 19

When you stop at a railroad crossing at night, instead of correctly perceiving two red lights that flash alternately you may perceive a single red light that moves back and forth from left to right. This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

The phi phenomenon is the optical illusion of perceiving continuous motion between separate objects viewed rapidly in succession, such as the alternating red lights appearing as a single moving light.

Question 20

Even though a motion picture actually consists of a series of still frames, we perceive it conveying continuous movement. This is an example of ________.

Accepted Answer

The answer of Even though a motion picture actually consists...

Quiz 3: Sensation and Perception