Question 1

Activation of the receptors by stimuli is called

Accepted Answer

D

Question 2

Jamica is participating in a psychology experiment and has been placed in a room that is pitch black.The researcher repeatedly asks Jamica to indicate whether or not she has seen a light stimulus.The researcher is testing Jamica's

Accepted Answer

The researcher is testing Jamica's ability to detect the presence of a stimulus, which is known as the absolute threshold. The other options are not applicable in this scenario. The difference threshold is the minimum amount of change in a stimulus that can be detected by an individual, while the just noticeable difference is the smallest difference in stimuli that can be noticed. The adaptation threshold is the point at which an individual becomes accustomed to a stimulus and no longer responds to it.

Question 3

The organization and interpretation of olfactory information is one example of

Accepted Answer

Olfactory information is processed in the brain to create meaningful experiences and perceptions of smell, making the organization and interpretation of this information an example of perception. Sensation refers to the initial detection of sensory stimuli, while transduction involves the conversion of sensory inputs into electrochemical signals that can be processed by the brain. Accommodation refers to the process by which the lens of the eye changes shape to focus on objects at different distances, and is not relevant to olfactory processing.

Question 4

The belief that our sensory systems are infallible and that our perceptions are perfect representations of the world around us is called

Accepted Answer

Naive realism is the belief that our sensory systems provide us with perfect representations of the world around us, leading us to believe that our perception accurately reflects reality. However, in reality, our perceptions are often influenced by biases, expectations, and other factors that can distort how we perceive the world.

Question 5

Sounds that we hear are converted into electrical signals in neurons through a process called

Accepted Answer

The process described in the question, converting sounds into electrical signals in neurons, is known as transduction. Sensory adaptation refers to a decrease in sensitivity to a constant stimulus. Psychophysics is the study of the relationship between physical stimuli and the resulting sensations or perceptions. Signal detection is the process of distinguishing between a signal and noise in the presence of background stimulation.

Question 6

The sensitivity of our sensory abilities and systems is demonstrated in our __________ thresholds.

Accepted Answer

Absolute thresholds refer to the smallest amount of stimulus that can be detected by a sensory system half the time. This demonstrates the level of sensitivity of our sensory abilities and systems. Difference thresholds refer to the minimum amount of difference between two stimuli necessary for detection of a difference, and pain thresholds refer specifically to the minimum amount of stimulation that produces pain. Psychophysical thresholds encompass all of these thresholds and the study of how they relate to psychological experiences.

Question 7

__________ refers to the study of how we perceive sensory stimuli based on their physical characteristics.

Accepted Answer

Psychophysics is the branch of psychology that studies the relationship between the physical characteristics of sensory stimuli and our sensory experiences of them. It seeks to understand how we perceive and discriminate between different stimuli, such as light, sound, taste, and touch, based on their physical properties, such as intensity, frequency, and wavelength. Psychophysicists use a variety of methods, such as threshold testing, scaling, and signal detection theory, to measure and analyze these relationships.

Question 8

Activation of our sense receptors is greatest when

Accepted Answer

The activation of our sense receptors starts when we first detect the presence of a stimulus. This is because the receptors are triggered by the presence of a stimulus, sending signals to the brain to process the information.

Question 9

The conversion of external energy into something that the nervous system can understand is known as

Accepted Answer

The process of converting external energy into a neural signal that can be understood by the nervous system is known as transduction. This is an essential step in the process of sensation, which refers to the detection and initial processing of sensory information. Accommodation refers to the process by which the eye changes shape to focus on near or far objects, while perception refers to the interpretation of sensory information in the brain.

Question 10

The ability to detect physical energy through our visual or touch systems is known as

Accepted Answer

Sensation is the ability to detect physical energy through our visual or touch systems. Accommodation refers to the lens of the eye changing shape to focus on objects at different distances. Perception is the interpretation of sensory information by the brain. Transduction is the process of converting sensory information into neural signals.

Question 11

Which of the following is conceptually similar to the process of transduction?

Accepted Answer

Transduction is the conversion of one form of energy to another, such as converting the physical stimulus of sound waves into electrical signals in the auditory system. Similarly, thinking about information and then encoding it in written form involves converting mental energy into written language.

Question 12

The process by which unchanging information from the senses of taste,touch,smell,and vision is "ignored" by the sensory receptor cells themselves is called

Accepted Answer

Sensory adaptation refers to the process by which sensory receptor cells become less responsive to unchanging information from the senses of taste, touch, smell, and vision. This allows us to focus on new or important sensory information, rather than being overwhelmed by constant sensory input.

Question 13

__________ are the raw data of experience,based on the activation of certain receptors located in the various sensory organs.

Accepted Answer

Sensations are the raw data of experience that are based on the activation of certain receptors located in the various sensory organs. Accommodations refer to the adjustments made by the lens in the eye to focus on objects at different distances. Perceptions refer to the interpretation of sensory information based on previous experiences and cognitive processes. Transductions refer to the process of converting one form of energy into another, such as the conversion of light into neural signals in the retina.

Question 14

When you first put your hat on,you can feel it quite easily,but after a while,you forget that you are wearing a hat at all-the sensation is gone.What happens?

Accepted Answer

Sensory adaptation is the process by which the brain becomes less sensitive to a constant or unchanging stimulus over time, which is why sensations such as wearing a hat can quickly fade into the background. Sensory fatigue refers to a decrease in sensitivity due to prolonged exposure, but this term is not commonly used for hat-wearing. Subliminal perception refers to processing of stimuli that is below the threshold of conscious awareness, and perceptual defense refers to the unconscious avoidance of stimuli that might cause anxiety or discomfort.

Question 15

In the process known as __________,sensory receptors become less sensitive to repeated presentations of the same stimulus.

Accepted Answer

Sensory adaptation is the process by which sensory receptors become less sensitive to repeated presentations of the same stimulus. This allows us to focus on new or changing stimuli in our environment. Option A (sensory fatigue) refers to the temporary impairment of sensitivity following prolonged exposure to a stimulus, while option B (subliminal perception) refers to the unconscious processing of stimuli below the threshold of conscious awareness. Option D (perceptual defense) is a phenomenon where individuals unconsciously block or distort their perception of certain stimuli that are threatening or challenging to their beliefs or values.

Question 16

The perceptual process of filling-in is guided by

Accepted Answer

The perceptual process of filling-in refers to the brain's ability to complete or fill in missing information in our sensory input based on prior knowledge and expectations. This process is guided by preconceived notions and past experiences, which help the brain to interpret and make sense of the sensory information it receives.

Question 17

By presenting research participants with incomplete objects,psychologists have been able to see how the participants come to determine what they are viewing.This research suggests that our daily experiences are the result of

Accepted Answer

By presenting incomplete objects, psychologists can manipulate the sensory information that participants receive, causing them to experience illusions. However, these illusions are only possible because of the underlying reality that the objects exist within. Therefore, our daily experiences are a combination of both reality and illusions.

Question 18

Zach and David decide to go exploring the forest behind their farm on a cold December day.The fact that they felt much colder when they initially got outdoors than they do five minutes later,despite having not done anything to warm themselves,is known as

Accepted Answer

The fact that Zach and David felt less cold after five minutes of being outdoors suggests that their sensory receptors for temperature have adapted to the cold environment, which is known as sensory adaptation. Choice A, sensory interaction, involves the influence of one sense on another, such as how taste and smell interact. Choice B, sensory illusion, refers to a false or misleading perception, such as the moon appearing larger on the horizon than it does in the sky. Choice C, transduction, refers to the process by which sensory information is converted into neural signals that the brain can understand. None of these choices fit the scenario described in the question as well as choice D.

Question 19

As the number of people talking in a room increases,the stimulus intensity needed to detect a change in the number of people talking becomes

Accepted Answer

As the number of people talking increases, the background noise level also increases, making it harder to detect small changes in the number of people talking. Therefore, a larger stimulus intensity is needed to detect a change.

Question 20

Cells that are triggered by light,vibrations,sounds,touch,or chemical substances are called

Accepted Answer

Sense receptors are specialized cells that respond to sensory stimuli such as light, vibrations, sounds, touch, or chemical substances. Ganglion cells and bipolar cells are types of cells found in the retina of the eye, and ossicles are tiny bones in the ear that help with hearing. These options are not as broad in terms of their function as sense receptors.

Quiz 4: D: Sensation and Perception