Chapter 5: Sensation and Perception

Question 1

________ refers to the minimum amount of stimulus energy required to be detected 50% of the time.

a. absolute threshold
b. difference threshold
c. just noticeable difference
d. transduction

Answer 1

a. Absolute threshold

Question 2

Decreased sensitivity to an unchanging stimulus is known as ________.

a. transduction
b. difference threshold
c. sensory adaptation
d. inattentional blindness

Answer 2

c. Sensory adaptation

Question 3

________ involves the conversion of sensory stimulus energy into neural impulses.

a. sensory adaptation
b. inattentional blindness
c. difference threshold
d. transduction

Answer 3

d. transduction

Question 4

________ occurs when sensory information is organized, interpreted, and consciously experienced.

a. sensation
b. perception
c. transduction
d. sensory adaptation

Answer 4

B. perception

Question 5

Which of the following correctly matches the pattern in our perception of color as we move from short wavelengths to long wavelengths?

a. red to orange to yellow
b. yellow to orange to red
c. yellow to red to orange
d. orange to yellow to red

Answer 5

b. yellow to orange to red

Question 6

The visible spectrum includes light that ranges from about ________.

a. 400–700 nm
b. 200–900 nm
c. 20–20000 Hz
d. 10–20 dB

Answer 6

a. 400–700 nm

Question 7

The electromagnetic spectrum includes ________.

a. radio waves
b. x-rays
c. infrared light
d. all of the above

Answer 7

d. all of the above

Question 8

The audible range for humans is ________.

a. 380–740 Hz
b. 10–20 dB
c. less than 300 dB
d. 20-20,000 Hz

Answer 8

d. 20-20,000 Hz

Question 9

The quality of a sound that is affected by frequency, amplitude, and timing of the sound wave is known as ________.

a. pitch
b. tone
c. electromagnetic
d. timbre

Answer 9

d. timbre

Question 10

The ________ is a small indentation of the retina that contains cones.

a. optic chiasm
b. optic nerve
c. fovea
d. iris

Answer 10

c. fovea

Question 11

________ operate best under bright light conditions.

a. cones
b. rods
c. retinal ganglion cells
d. striate cortex

Answer 11

a. cones

Question 12

________ depth cues require the use of both eyes.

a. monocular
b. binocular
c. linear perspective
d. accommodating

Answer 12

b. binocular

Question 13

If you were to stare at a green dot for a relatively long period of time and then shift your gaze to a blank white screen, you would see a ________ negative afterimage.

a. blue
b. yellow
c. black
d. red

Answer 13

d. red

Question 14

Hair cells located near the base of the basilar membrane respond best to ________ sounds.

a. low-frequency
b. high-frequency
c. low-amplitude
d. high-amplitude

Answer 14

b. high-frequency

Question 15

The three ossicles of the middle ear are known as ________.

a. malleus, incus, and stapes
b. hammer, anvil, and stirrup
c. pinna, cochlea, and utricle
d. both a and b

Answer 15

a. malleus, incus, and stapes

Question 16

Hearing aids might be effective for treating
________.

a. Ménière’s disease
b. sensorineural hearing loss
c. conductive hearing loss
d. interaural time differences

Answer 16

b. sensorineural hearing loss

Question 17

Cues that require two ears are referred to as
________ cues.

a. monocular
b. monaural
c. binocular
d. binaural

Answer 17

d. binaural

Question 18

Chemical messages often sent between two members of a species to communicate something about reproductive status are called ________.

a. hormones
b. pheromones
c. Merkel’s disks
d. Meissner’s corpuscles

Answer 18

b. pheromones

Question 19

Which taste is associated with monosodium glutamate?

a. sweet
b. bitter
c. umami
d. sour

Answer 19

c. umami

Question 20

________ serve as sensory receptors for temperature and pain stimuli.

a. free nerve endings
b. Pacinian corpuscles
c. Ruffini corpuscles
d. Meissner’s corpuscles

Answer 20

a. free nerve endings

Question 21

Which of the following is involved in maintaining balance and body posture?

a. auditory nerve
b. nociceptors
c. olfactory bulb
d. vestibular system

Answer 21

d. vestibular system

Question 22

According to the principle of ________, objects that occur close to one another tend to be grouped together.

a. similarity
b. good continuation
c. proximity
d. closure

Answer 22

c. proximity

Question 23

Our tendency to perceive things as complete objects rather than as a series of parts is known as the principle of ________.

a. closure
b. good continuation
c. proximity
d. similarity

Answer 23

a. closure

Question 24

According to the law of ________, we are more likely to perceive smoothly flowing lines rather than choppy or jagged lines.

a. closure
b. good continuation
c. proximity
d. similarity

Answer 24

b. good continuation

Question 25

The main point of focus in a visual display is known as the ________.

a. closure
b. perceptual set
c. ground
d. figure

Answer 25

d. figure