Question 1

A target that can be reached with a hand-held stick is perceived to be closer than the same target when it cannot be reached with a hand-held stick or otherwise. This phenomenon provides evidence for the hypothesis that

Accepted Answer

The phenomenon described in the statement is known as the action-specific perception, which suggests that perception is closely tied to the opportunities for action that an environment provides. This phenomenon supports the idea that perception is embodied, as it is intricately linked to the physical movements and interactions with the environment. Therefore, options A and C are correct, which makes option D the best answer. Option B, perception is disembodied, is incorrect.

Question 2

A spoonerism is

Accepted Answer

A spoonerism is a linguistic phenomenon where the initial sounds or letters of two or more words are swapped to create new words, often resulting in a humorous or nonsensical outcome. This is usually done by mistake, but can also be done intentionally as a form of wordplay or comedy.

Question 3

An experiment was described in the textbook showing that the common housefly has expectations. This experiment involved

Accepted Answer

The experiment described in the textbook involved reversing the left-right positions of the fly's eyes and studying the fly's optomotor responses. This allowed researchers to conclude that the flies have expectations about how their visual environment should appear.

Question 4

Filming of skilled typists' fingers shows that

Accepted Answer

Studies on skilled typists have shown that their fingers often move simultaneously rather than sequentially, allowing for faster typing speeds. This means that the order in which fingers start moving is not necessarily the order in which they complete their keystrokes, indicating a high level of coordination and efficiency in typing. This phenomenon contrasts with a strictly sequential movement of fingers, where each finger would complete its motion before the next begins, and demonstrates the presence of coarticulation (the overlapping of motions) in typing.

Question 5

In a negative feedback loop, the reference condition defines the __________ , the plant defines the _____________ , and the comparator defines the __________ .

Accepted Answer

In a negative feedback loop, the reference condition is the intended outcome, the plant is where the actual outcome is produced, and the comparator calculates the difference between the intended and actual outcomes.

Question 6

Which two terms are synonyms mean the same thing)?

Accepted Answer

Ballistic and open-loop both refer to processes or movements that are not controlled by feedback during their execution, meaning once initiated, their course cannot be altered based on sensory feedback.

Question 7

Relying on mechanics may help solve the degrees of freedom problem because

Accepted Answer

The degrees of freedom problem refers to the challenge of controlling all the variables involved in human movement and stability. Relying on mechanical features of the body and external environment, such as joints and support surfaces, may reduce the number of variables that need to be actively controlled by the nervous system, making it easier to achieve stability and efficient movement. Therefore, option C is the best choice. Option A is incorrect because it is not related to the concept of degrees of freedom. Option B is partially correct, as mechanics is a branch of physics, but it does not directly address the problem of degrees of freedom. Option D is incorrect because other methods, such as training and rehabilitation, can also help solve the degrees of freedom problem.

Question 8

Thanks to feedforward

Accepted Answer

All of the above are examples of how feedforward helps to suppress feedback and prevent us from being overwhelmed by sensory information. Feedforward allows our brain to predict the movements and sensations that will occur based on our actions, so we can filter out unnecessary sensory input.

Question 9

The textbook described a study in which experienced basketball players took shots at varying distances from the basket. The surprising result was that

Accepted Answer

The correct answer is C because it suggests an unexpected outcome that experienced basketball players were more accurate from the foul line than what would be predicted by a simple linear relationship between shooting accuracy and distance. This implies a deviation from the expected decrease in accuracy with increased distance, highlighting a specific proficiency at the foul line distance.

Question 10

Which term is used to describe a change in the way a task is performed depending on what will be done in the near future?

Accepted Answer

Coarticulation refers to the phenomenon where the way a sound is produced is influenced by the sounds that come before or after it. Similarly, when performing a task, the way it is performed may be influenced by the upcoming task, in a process referred to as task coarticulation.

Question 11

Two efficiency principles for motor control are

Accepted Answer

Both principles A and B contribute to efficient motor control. Ending movements in comfortable postures reduces the risk of injury and energy expenditure, while smooth acceleration and deceleration reduce jerk and improve accuracy.

Question 12

If you heard that a person who had suffered an amputation of a finger could later make finer discriminations with the neighboring fingers than s/he could before the amputation, you could say, based on the textbook, that this was an example of

Accepted Answer

Neural plasticity refers to the brain's ability to reorganize itself by forming new neural connections throughout life. In this case, after the amputation, the neural connections in the neighboring fingers may have strengthened and improved, leading to greater discrimination abilities.

Question 13

When people pick up a standing toilet plunger and move it to a new position, the result that demonstrates anticipation of their future position is that

Accepted Answer

When people pick up a standing toilet plunger and move it to a new position, they grasp the plunger low when they bring it to a high location and they grasp the plunger high when they bring it to a low location. This demonstrates anticipation of their future position, as they adjust their grip on the plunger to better accommodate their upcoming movement. Option B is incorrect because it is the opposite of what actually occurs. Option C is incorrect because it does not account for the adjustment in grip seen in this scenario. Option D is incorrect because A is the correct answer.

Question 14

Synergies may help solve the degrees of freedom problem because

Accepted Answer

Synergies are couplings between effectors, which means that they allow for simultaneous and coordinated movement patterns of multiple joints and muscles. By utilizing synergies, the nervous system can reduce the number of degrees of freedom that need to be controlled, simplifying the movement planning process and making it more efficient.

Question 15

The Core Problems chapter described research findings from flies, fish, monkeys, and humans. Seeing common principles exemplified in these species can be taken to suggest that

Accepted Answer

The research findings suggest that human motor control relies on principles that probably evolved in the animal kingdom, similar neural mechanisms are likely to underlie human motor control and animal motor control, and similar perceptual-motor challenges are likely to confront humans and animals. Therefore, all of the above choices are correct.

Question 16

Contrary to the "pure talent" theory of skill acquisition i.e., the theory that you've either got talent or not, studies of violin students and skating students among others show that

Accepted Answer

Studies have shown that putting in a significant number of hours of deliberate practice is a key factor in developing significant skill, debunking the pure talent theory. Therefore, both options A and B are correct. The concept of having the right degrees of freedom is not mentioned and is not supported by research as a key factor in skill acquisition.

Question 17

Mirror neurons

Accepted Answer

Mirror neurons are specialized brain cells that fire when an individual performs an action or observes someone else performing the same action. They are not specifically activated when looking at oneself in a mirror, shiny surfaces, or smooth surfaces.

Question 18

A demonstration that movement enhances perception came from

Accepted Answer

The example given in the question matches with option B, where a woman suffered brain damage that left her unable to recognize objects though she could use vision in the control of action. This demonstrates that movement enhances perception, as the woman was able to use her visual perception to guide her actions despite being unable to consciously recognize objects through vision.

Question 19

When people try to synchronize foot and finger taps

Accepted Answer

According to research, the foot leads the finger by a small amount of time, indicating that people cannot sense motor commands but instead strive for simultaneous sensory signals from the foot and finger. This phenomenon is known as sensory integration, where the brain combines inputs from different senses to make a coherent perception of the environment.

Question 20

How many degrees of freedom typically exist for a physical task?

Accepted Answer

The degrees of freedom in a physical task can be considered infinite because there are countless ways to perform a task due to the continuous nature of joint angles and muscle activations.

Quiz 2: Core Problems