Question 1

In observing fluid travelling on the cochlea, you note that there is a wave peak close to the oval window. According to von Bekesy and place theory, this should be interpreted as

Accepted Answer

According to the place theory of hearing, which was proposed by Georg von Békésy, high frequency sounds produce peak vibrations closer to the base of the cochlea (near the oval window), while low frequency sounds produce peak vibrations near the apex of the cochlea. Therefore, observing a wave peak close to the oval window indicates a high frequency sound.

Question 2

In order to use the depth cue of convergence, it is necessary to have

Accepted Answer

Convergence is a binocular depth cue that involves the inward turning of the eyes to focus on an object as it gets closer. This process requires two eyes to work together, hence the necessity of having two eyes to use the depth cue of convergence.

Question 3

Let's say that you are in a signal detection experiment. If I wanted you to have the lowest possible detection threshold, I should

Accepted Answer

Increasing the rewards for hits and the costs for misses incentivizes the participant to be more vigilant in detecting signals, thereby lowering the detection threshold. This approach encourages participants to try harder to identify true signals (hits) and avoid missing them, without overly penalizing false alarms, which could otherwise raise the threshold by making participants overly cautious.

Question 4

The frequency theory of pitch makes good sense, but it has a major problem. What is this problem?

Accepted Answer

The frequency theory of pitch perception suggests that the frequency of the sound wave is mirrored by the firing rate of the auditory nerve. However, a significant limitation is that individual neurons cannot fire fast enough to directly match frequencies above 1000 Hz, as neurons have a refractory period that limits their firing rate.

Question 5

If you were an artist who painted pictures on a canvas, you would probably consider using all of these to create the illusion of depth EXCEPT

Accepted Answer

Convergence is not a technique used in painting to create the illusion of depth; it refers to the way lines appear to come together at a distance in the physical world, but in art, this concept is more accurately described as linear perspective (A). Techniques like linear perspective, relative size, light and shadow, and interposition are all used by artists to create depth on a two-dimensional surface.

Question 6

Jonas has just broken his arm. His best friend tells him to focus on good positive feelings rather than the pain. This seems to work. Which of the following may help to explain this effect?

Accepted Answer

The gate control theory of pain suggests that psychological factors play a role in the perception of pain. By focusing on positive feelings, Jonas may be able to influence the neurological gates that control the transmission of pain signals to the brain, effectively reducing his perception of pain.

Question 7

Which of the following is FALSE with respect to the Muller-Lyer illusion?

Accepted Answer

The Muller-Lyer illusion is not experienced uniformly across all cultures. Research has shown that people from non-Western cultures, particularly those not exposed to carpentered corners and straight lines in their environment, are less likely to fall for this illusion. This suggests that the illusion may be partly due to the visual context one is accustomed to.

Question 8

In order for your visual system to process all the parameters of a visual image it is necessary to use

Accepted Answer

The visual system processes various parameters of a visual image simultaneously through parallel processing. This allows for the efficient and rapid analysis of different aspects of the visual field, such as color, motion, and shape, at the same time.

Question 9

You are recording the electrical activity in a feature detector. Where are you recording from?

Accepted Answer

Feature detectors are specialized neurons in the visual cortex that respond to specific features of a visual stimulus, such as edges, angles, or movement.

Question 10

Let's say that you can just distinguish between 100 grams of Swiss cheese (the initial test stimulus) and 105 grams. According to Weber's law, how much cheese would you need to notice a difference if we changed the test stimulus to 300 grams?

Accepted Answer

The answer of Let's say that you can just distinguish...

Question 11

If you were born without cochlear nerves, we still might be able to restore some of your hearing. Which of the following procedures would we have to examine?

Accepted Answer

An implant directly to the cochlear nucleus could potentially restore some hearing in individuals born without cochlear nerves, as it bypasses the damaged or missing nerves and stimulates the brain's hearing center directly.

Question 12

If you were recording the electrical activity from cells in the visual cortex, you would most likely be monitoring

Accepted Answer

Feature detectors are specialized neurons in the visual cortex that respond to specific features of a visual stimulus, such as edges, lines, angles, or movements. This makes them the most likely target for monitoring when recording electrical activity in the visual cortex, as they play a crucial role in the interpretation and processing of visual information.

Question 13

Consider the following image: _________. We are likely to perceive this as a single line with a break in it. Why?

Accepted Answer

The Gestalt Law of Closure explains our tendency to see complete figures even when part of the information is missing. In this case, it leads us to perceive a single continuous line despite the break, as our minds fill in the gap.

Question 14

Let's say that you can just distinguish between 100 grams of Swiss cheese (the initial test stimulus) and 105 grams. According to Weber's law, how much cheese would you need to notice a difference if we changed the test stimulus to 300 grams?

Accepted Answer

Weber's law states that the just noticeable difference (JND) is a constant proportion of the original stimulus. In this case, the JND for 100 grams is 5 grams (105 - 100), which is 5% of 100 grams. Applying this proportion to 300 grams, a 5% increase would be 15 grams (5% of 300), making the total 315 grams. However, the question's phrasing could imply that any increase that is noticeable (e.g., 305 grams, which is a 5-gram increase but not 5% of 300) might be considered correct, leading to both "315 grams" and "305 grams" being correct interpretations based on different understandings of Weber's law application.

Question 15

Bloodhounds are very good at tracking a person by smell. The Weber fractions (for smell) for five types of dogs are: Targus: 1/20
Bloomer: 1/10
Fugi: 1/15
Cambridge:½
Otis: 1/8
Which of these dogs has the best sense of smell?

Accepted Answer

The Weber fraction is a measure of the smallest change in a stimulus that can be detected. A smaller Weber fraction indicates a more sensitive sense of smell. Targus, with a Weber fraction of 1/20, has the smallest fraction, indicating the best sense of smell among the options.

Question 16

Bloodhounds are very good at tracking a person by smell. The Weber fractions (for smell) for five types of dogs are: Targus: 1/20
Bloomer: 1/10
Fugi: 1/15
Cambridge: ½
Otis: 1/8
Which of these dogs has the worst sense of smell?

Accepted Answer

The Weber fraction is a measure of the smallest change in a particular stimulus that can be detected. A larger Weber fraction indicates a poorer sensitivity to changes in that stimulus. Therefore, Cambridge, with a Weber fraction of 1/2, has the worst sense of smell among the options listed.

Question 17

If your lens in the eye did not thicken enough, such that a focused image falls behind your retina and you see a blurry image, you are said to have _____________.

Accepted Answer

Hyperopia, also known as farsightedness, occurs when the eye does not refract light enough, causing the image to be focused behind the retina. This results in difficulty seeing objects up close clearly.

Question 18

At the level of the visual receptors in the retina, which theory seems to explain colour vision the best?

Accepted Answer

The trichromatic theory, proposed by Young and Helmholtz, explains color vision at the level of the visual receptors in the retina best. It suggests that there are three types of cone cells in the retina that are sensitive to different wavelengths of light, corresponding to red, green, and blue. This theory accounts for the initial stage of color perception.

Question 19

Recognition of a visual target requires that the neural information ultimately reaches the

Accepted Answer

The answer of Recognition of a visual target requires that...

Question 20

Imagine a species that was born with only 2 cones in the retina sensitive to colour-one in the red range and one in the blue range. We would predict that colour vision in this species would be most similar to a

Accepted Answer

Dichromats have two types of cone cells in their retinas, allowing them to see two primary colors. A species with two cones sensitive to red and blue would have a similar color vision to dichromats, who typically can see colors but have a limited range compared to trichromats, who have three types of cones.

Quiz 5: Sensation and Perception

In observing fluid travelling on the cochlea, you note that there is a wave peak close to the oval window. According to von Bekesy and place theory, this should be interpreted as

In order to use the depth cue of convergence, it is necessary to have

Let's say that you are in a signal detection experiment. If I wanted you to have the lowest possible detection threshold, I should

The frequency theory of pitch makes good sense, but it has a major problem. What is this problem?

If you were an artist who painted pictures on a canvas, you would probably consider using all of these to create the illusion of depth EXCEPT

Jonas has just broken his arm. His best friend tells him to focus on good positive feelings rather than the pain. This seems to work. Which of the following may help to explain this effect?

Which of the following is FALSE with respect to the Muller-Lyer illusion?

In order for your visual system to process all the parameters of a visual image it is necessary to use

You are recording the electrical activity in a feature detector. Where are you recording from?

Let's say that you can just distinguish between 100 grams of Swiss cheese (the initial test stimulus) and 105 grams. According to Weber's law, how much cheese would you need to notice a difference if we changed the test stimulus to 300 grams?

If you were born without cochlear nerves, we still might be able to restore some of your hearing. Which of the following procedures would we have to examine?

If you were recording the electrical activity from cells in the visual cortex, you would most likely be monitoring

Consider the following image: _________. We are likely to perceive this as a single line with a break in it. Why?

Let's say that you can just distinguish between 100 grams of Swiss cheese (the initial test stimulus) and 105 grams. According to Weber's law, how much cheese would you need to notice a difference if we changed the test stimulus to 300 grams?

Bloodhounds are very good at tracking a person by smell. The Weber fractions (for smell) for five types of dogs are: Targus: 1/20 Bloomer: 1/10 Fugi: 1/15 Cambridge:½ Otis: 1/8 Which of these dogs has the best sense of smell?

Bloodhounds are very good at tracking a person by smell. The Weber fractions (for smell) for five types of dogs are: Targus: 1/20 Bloomer: 1/10 Fugi: 1/15 Cambridge: ½ Otis: 1/8 Which of these dogs has the worst sense of smell?

If your lens in the eye did not thicken enough, such that a focused image falls behind your retina and you see a blurry image, you are said to have _____________.

At the level of the visual receptors in the retina, which theory seems to explain colour vision the best?

Recognition of a visual target requires that the neural information ultimately reaches the

Imagine a species that was born with only 2 cones in the retina sensitive to colour-one in the red range and one in the blue range. We would predict that colour vision in this species would be most similar to a