In an experiment, researchers find that certain neurons in the visual cortex preferentially fire in response to a bar of light that is oriented at a specific angle, and that different neurons similarly respond to bars of light oriented at different angles. This finding provides the strongest evidence for:

Question

In an experiment, researchers find that certain neurons in the visual cortex preferentially fire in response to a bar of light that is oriented at a specific angle, and that different neurons similarly respond to bars of light oriented at different angles.  This finding provides the strongest evidence for:

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

11ecba2d_0d9b_5127_a3bf_6f7eaa036701_MD0008_00 Feature detection involves the perceptual discrimination of specific aspects of a given stimulus via feature detectors. Feature detectors are specific neurons that preferentially fire in response to very specific stimuli. Feature detection occurs for all the senses but is most often described regarding vision. Feature detectors in the visual system respond to aspects of the visual stimulus, such as horizontal lines or right angles (among others). The visual system is organized such that feature detectors synapse on neurons that respond to more complex stimuli (eg, faces) localized in certain areas of the brain (eg, fusiform face area). An experiment in which researchers find that certain neurons in the visual cortex preferentially fire in response to specific stimuli (eg, a bar of light oriented at a specific angle) provides the strongest evidence for feature detection. (Choice B) Parallel processing describes the brain's ability to simultaneously process various components (eg, color, motion) of a visual stimulus. This experiment did not demonstrate the simultaneous firing of different neurons detecting different components of a stimulus, so it does not provide strong evidence for parallel processing. (Choice C) Spreading activation occurs when a node (ie, concept) within an individual's semantic network (a uniquely organized cognitive web of information) triggers the activation of other, related nodes, a process known as priming. Because the experiment did not test priming, its findings do not provide evidence for spreading activation. (Choice D) Sensory adaptation is a diminished nervous system response over time to stimuli that remain constant, resulting in diminished stimulus perception (eg, a constant odor becomes less noticeable over time). This experiment did not present stimuli until the response diminished, so its findings do not provide evidence for sensory adaptation. Educational objective: Feature detection involves feature detector neurons that preferentially fire in response to specific stimuli (eg, a right angle causes feature detectors in the visual system to respond).

In an Experiment, Researchers Find That Certain Neurons in the Visual