Question 1

Which of the following is true of place theory?

Accepted Answer

Place theory states that different frequencies of sound waves vibrate different areas of the basilar membrane, with high frequencies causing maximal displacement closer to the base of the cochlea and low frequencies causing maximal displacement closer to the tip of the cochlea. This allows for the perception of sound frequency, particularly in relation to how it is coded by the auditory nerve, and is particularly useful for explaining how the ear perceives high-frequency sounds.

Question 2

Which of the following is true of pain receptors?

Accepted Answer

Pain receptors, also known as nociceptors, are specialized sensory receptors that react to physical stimuli that distort or damage the tissue or to chemical stimuli that irritate them into action. Unlike receptors for temperature and touch, pain receptors have a much lower threshold for firing. Furthermore, pain receptors differ anatomically, which means that different types of pain may be sensed by different receptors in different parts of the body. Therefore, option A and B are incorrect.

Question 3

Place theory states that

Accepted Answer

Place theory states that in hearing, each frequency produces vibrations at a particular spot on the basilar membrane. This theory explains how the ear can distinguish different frequencies of sound based on where they stimulate the cochlea.

Question 4

Endorphins are

Accepted Answer

Endorphins are neurotransmitters that act like natural opiates, producing feelings of pleasure and pain relief. They are released in response to various stimuli, such as exercise, laughter, and sex.

Question 5

The difference between the fast and slow neural pathways of pain messages is that, in the fast pathway

Accepted Answer

In the fast neural pathway, pain fibers connect directly with the thalamus, which then sends the information to the cerebral cortex. This pathway allows for a rapid response to pain, as information is processed quickly.

Question 6

In the context of the auditory system, frequency theory states that

Accepted Answer

Frequency theory proposes that the perception of a sound's pitch is directly related to the frequency of neural impulses generated by hair cells in the inner ear. This means that the firing rate of auditory nerve fibers matches the frequency of incoming sound waves, resulting in a code that is proportional to the original sound frequency.

Question 7

Which of the following is true of the sense of touch?

Accepted Answer

In touch, we detect mechanical energy, or pressure against the skin. This can also include sensations of heat, cold, and vibration.

Answer: B 
 The brain devotes more space to analyzing touch signals coming from the hands and face than from the legs, as these areas are more important for interacting with the environment and social communication.

Therefore, the best choices are C and B.

Question 8

You touch a baby's forehead and realize that he feels warm and must have a fever.What type of sensory receptors relayed information about the baby's temperature to your brain?

Accepted Answer

Thermoreceptors are specialized sensory receptors that respond to changes in temperature. They are responsible for relaying information about temperature changes to the brain, allowing us to detect sensations such as warmth, coldness, and fever. Endorphins are a type of neurotransmitter that are involved in pain perception and mood regulation, and have no direct involvement in temperature detection. Rods and cones are specialized cells in the retina of the eye that are involved in visual perception, and are not directly involved in temperature detection.

Question 9

Which of the following actions involves the application of chemical senses?

Accepted Answer

Smelling a flower involves the chemical sense of olfaction.

Question 10

The sensory receptors for taste called taste buds are located in the

Accepted Answer

Taste buds are located in structures called papillae. Papillae are small bumps on the tongue that contain taste buds.

Question 11

Which of the following statements about cochlear implants is FALSE?

Accepted Answer

Cochlear implants do not work by amplifying sound like hearing aids do. Instead, they bypass the damaged hair cells in the cochlea and directly stimulate the auditory nerves with electronic impulses.

Question 12

The lining of the roof of the nasal cavity that contains a sheet of receptor cells for smell is known as the

Accepted Answer

The olfactory epithelium is the lining of the roof of the nasal cavity that contains receptor cells for the sense of smell. The semicircular canal is involved in balance and spatial orientation. Papillae are small bumps on the tongue and contain taste buds. The cochlea is part of the inner ear and is responsible for hearing.

Question 13

Samantha was injured in a skiing accident, and she lost her sense of hearing.The doctor who operated on her injuries stated that the hair cells in Samantha's ears were damaged.In order to help Samantha detect sound again, the doctor should suggest

Accepted Answer

Since Samantha's hair cells in her ears are damaged, a cochlear implant would be the best option to help her detect sound again. A cochlear implant is a device that is surgically implanted in the ear and directly stimulates the auditory nerve, bypassing the damaged hair cells. This device allows individuals with hearing loss to detect sound and thereby improve their communication and quality of life. Neither proprioceptive feedback nor subliminal perception would be effective in restoring Samantha's sense of hearing. Hair transplant is also not an option because simply transplanting hair cells would not restore their functionality.

Question 14

_____ best explains those high-frequency sounds that are above 1,000 times per second.

Accepted Answer

A combination of frequency and place theory best explains the perception of high-frequency sounds. Frequency theory is more applicable to lower frequencies, while place theory is used to explain how we perceive higher frequencies. Together, they provide a more comprehensive understanding of how we perceive sounds across a wide range of frequencies.

Question 15

Which of the following is true of auditory processing in the brain?

Accepted Answer

Most of the auditory information from the left ear is processed in the right hemisphere of the brain, while information from the right ear is processed in the left hemisphere. This is known as contralateral processing.

Question 16

When something warm touches your skin, you feel warmth.When something cold touches your skin, you feel coldness.If things both warm and cold touch your skin, stimulating adjacent thermoreceptors for warmth and cold, you will feel

Accepted Answer

The answer of When something warm touches your skin, you...

Question 17

In the _____, fibers connect directly with the thalamus and then to the motor and sensory areas of the cerebral cortex.

Accepted Answer

The fast pathway, known as the dorsal column pathway, connects sensory fibers directly with the thalamus and then sends information to the sensory areas of the cerebral cortex. This pathway is responsible for transmitting touch, pressure, and proprioceptive information. The slow pathway, on the other hand, is the spinothalamic pathway and is responsible for transmitting pain and temperature sensations. Kinesthetic and vestibular senses are not directly related to these pathways.

Question 18

In the context of the chemical senses, which of the following is true of the neural pathway of smell?

Accepted Answer

The neural pathway of smell first goes to the olfactory areas in the temporal lobe. Unlike other sensory pathways, it does not pass through the thalamus before reaching the cortex. Additionally, the olfactory system is closely linked to the limbic system, which is involved in emotion and memory, making it a unique sensory pathway.

Question 19

Jenny is a little girl whose experience of pain is different from other children her age.She does not have quick reactions to pain that help her avoid painful situations, such as pressing a pin between her fingers or biting down on her hand.However, she is able to feel the prolonged pain from these injuries.Which of the following provides the most likely explanation for Jenny's responsiveness to pain?

Accepted Answer

Jenny's slow pathway, which transmits the prolonged pain signals, appears to be functioning normally, while her fast pathway, which transmits quick signals to help her avoid injurious stimuli, is likely impaired. This could explain why she doesn't have quick reactions to painful situations but is still able to feel the prolonged pain.

Question 20

One criticism of place theory is that it

Accepted Answer

Place theory proposes that different frequencies of sound activate different areas along the basilar membrane of the inner ear, which in turn are perceived as different pitches. However, the theory is better at explaining the perception of high-frequency sounds than low-frequency sounds.

Quiz 3: Sensation and Perception